Culinary Product Development Jobs in Washington (NOW HIRING)

Director, Supply Chain & Product Sourcing

(Commercial Team - Restaurant Support)

WHO WE ARE

Nando's PERiPERi USA is a growing restaurant group looking for a fulltime Director, Supply Chain & Product Sourcing to join our Restaurant Support family. We're known for our flamegrilled chicken, our South African roots, and our passion for putting people at the center of everything we do. We believe in changing lives through food, connection, and opportunity - and we lead with heart in every decision we make.

NANDO'S VISION

We want to be the most loved restaurant brand in North America - sharing the spirit of Nando's PERiPERi with everyone who chooses to access it. We will redesign and build a business that thrives as it fully answers our consumers' needs and endures over time by putting people at the heart of what we do. We will lead with our values and act with care, compassion, and kindness. By doing this, we will Change Lives Together, every day and everywhere.

THE ROLE

This Director role is a key leadership position within our Commercial team - responsible for building, strengthening, and stewarding the supplier ecosystem that keeps our restaurants running with excellence, consistency, and heart. You will lead the full "fieldtofork" supply chain for ingredients and products, ensuring that everything we serve reflects our brand hallmarks, our commitment to quality, and our ambition to scale.

You will shape the sourcing strategy, deepen supplier partnerships, and ensure our supply chain is safe, resilient, and ready for the future. You'll collaborate closely with Culinary, Operations, Marketing, and crossfunctional partners to bring new products to life, protect food safety, and ensure our restaurants have what they need to deliver 14 Brilliant Shifts.

As with all members of the Nando's Restaurant Support team, the Director of Supply Chain & Product Sourcing is expected to wear multiple hats, seek out opportunities to make Nando's better every day, and be a valuesled teammate who lifts others through clarity, care, and collaboration.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Supply Chain & Product Management

• Lead the full sourcing lifecycle for all ingredients and products - from field to fork - ensuring quality, consistency, and alignment to brand hallmarks.
• Partner with Culinary, Operations, and Marketing to evaluate new products, assess feasibility, and ensure scalability across fullservice and fastcasual environments.
• Serve as the connective tissue between suppliers, distributors, and internal teams to ensure smooth communication, proactive issue resolution, and operational readiness.
• Identify emerging trends, technologies, and supplier capabilities that strengthen efficiency, resilience, and distribution evolution.
• Oversee product transitions, exceptions, and communications to ensure restaurants have what they need to deliver brilliant experiences.

Supplier Collaboration & Commercialization

• Build strong, strategic partnerships with suppliers to enable rapid innovation and seamless product launches.
• Oversee product specifications, compliance, and quality standards during development, first production runs, and commercialization.
• Negotiate and manage supplier agreements that support longterm brand objectives, cost stewardship, and supply reliability.
• Monitor supplier performance and proactively address risks to maintain consistency, integrity, and trust across the supply chain.

Food Safety & Quality Compliance

• Embed, measure, and calibrate food safety and quality assurance KPIs across all products - present and future.
• Ensure suppliers maintain scalable food safety programs aligned with FDA Food Code, FSMA, GFSI, and industry best practices.
• Monitor emerging food safety technologies and regulatory changes to keep Nando's ahead of compliance requirements.
• Partner with internal and external stakeholders to ensure safe manufacturing, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement.

CrossFunctional Leadership

• Collaborate with Operations, Culinary, Marketing, Training, and Commercial partners to ensure product readiness, operational feasibility, and brand alignment.
• Serve as a strategic advisor on supply chain risk, cost implications, and longterm sourcing strategy.
• Support new restaurant openings and market expansion through supply chain readiness and vendor alignment.
• Lead with an "I am because we are" mindset - strengthening trust, removing friction, and ensuring shared success across functions.

WORK ARRANGEMENT

Work Location -This role is based in Washington, D.C. and includes full-time presence at our Restaurant Support Office. You are expected to travel as needed for business purposes, which may occasionally include weekends and special events. All business travel must comply with our company's travel policies. Eligible business-related expenses, including airfare, lodging, car rental, parking, and meals, will be reimbursed upon submission of a properly completed and timely expense report, subject to approval. Additionally, you are required to maintain all necessary travel documents in good standing throughout your employment.

Compensation: $130,000-$170,000

TYPICAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Food Science, or related field preferred.
• 10+ years of experience in foodservice supply chain management, either on the client or vendor side including poultry experience.
• Proven leadership in multicity distribution networks with custom ingredients in their portfolio (strongly preferred).
• Demonstrated expertise in vendor, freight, and distribution management.
• Familiarity with supply chain systems and data analytics tools to support performance measurement and decisionmaking.
• Knowledge of manufacturing processes, GMPs, FSMA requirements, and GFSI schemes preferred.
• Ability to travel up to 25% across North America.
• Strong communication, relationshipbuilding, and crossfunctional leadership skills - grounded in care, clarity, and accountability.

Compensation: $130,000-$170,000