Product Controller for International Fast Food Chain

Apt Resources is currently seeking a dedicated and experienced Product Controller to join our client, a renowned International Fast-food chain. Operating over 100+ Restaurants in several countries of the Middle East and North Africa. As a Product Controller, you will be responsible for managing the product mix and ensuring the brand consistently delivers high-quality products that meet customer expectations.

Responsibilities:

• Take primary responsibility for all procurement of goods and select services within the business.
• Develop and maintain strong professional relationships with stakeholders and suppliers to ensure a steady supply of goods in the right quantities, at competitive prices, and with the desired quality.
• Ensure the company acquires quality products in a timely and cost-effective manner.
• Collaborate closely with the planning team to forecast product demand, ensuring accuracy in demand planning and consistent product availability.
• Work in partnership with the exports/imports team to facilitate timely ordering, importation, and distribution of imported products, minimizing stock outages at the distributor's facility.
• Ensure all locally sourced or manufactured specified products meet strict quality standards.
• Collaborate with local distribution partners to secure competitive pricing for locally sourced products, identify alternative supplier partners, and guarantee on-time, in-full delivery of distributed products.
• In coordination with the Operations Team, ensure that franchise partners purchase Licensed Products exclusively from the company and Specified Products from designated local suppliers or manufacturers.
• Reduce and manage procurement and product risks within the business.
• Address all product-related inquiries from manufacturing partners, company stores, and franchisees, ensuring clear communication about any product or recipe changes across the network.
• Assist the operations manager in running tenders, evaluating bids, and making recommendations based on commercial and technical factors.
• Ensure that purchase orders, invoices, and receipts for specified goods and services are properly recorded and approved in the internal workflow system.
• Strive to keep procurement, storage, and distribution expenses within or below budget by continuously seeking ways to reduce departmental costs and overall supply chain operating costs.
• Ensure the collection of receivables from distribution partners and the prompt payment of payables.
• Foster effective and smooth relationships between stakeholders and the finance team.

Logistics & Warehousing

• Ensure that Supply Chain, Warehousing, and Logistics Food Safety procedures are established, monitored, and maintained to the highest standards.
• Guarantee the timely delivery of supplies from suppliers to all restaurant outlets.
• Collaborate with the Finance team to implement accurate inventory procedures, including stock receiving, stock takes, stock rotation, stock dispatch, and reconciliations with suppliers and distribution/warehousing partners.
• Work closely with warehousing and logistics partners to safeguard company assets, products, and trade secrets at all times.
• Partner with warehousing, distribution, and logistics teams to develop a robust model for the competitive sourcing of local products from a diverse range of high-standard suppliers.
• Collaborate with operations teams to minimize out-of-stock and reduce product write-offs.
• Coordinate with the exports team on planning, ordering, inspecting, and importing Licensed products.
• Work with the Finance team to calculate, confirm, and communicate landing costs.

Other duties

• Prepare presentations and present at Brand Conferences and Brand Strategy Sessions
• Any other duties that may be assigned.