NPD & Process Manager

A growing UK food group who supply a range of chilled food products to the major retailers. Renowned for their quality and service, they have a strong focus on customer and supplier relationships with the capability to offer bespoke products to cater for all their client’s needs.

Key Responsibilities

Working on process to optimise yields and ensure consistency of both product quality as well as yields.  Chairing quality panels with key stakeholders to assess product quality and comparing against competitors in the market. Developing full understanding of the category coupled with a desire to translate new trends and consumer needs into winning NPD. Leading the business into new profitable areas through proactive innovation and NPD. Proactively managing recipe generator software, linking in with Procurement and Commercial to ensure up to date recipe costings.  Planning, coordinating, and conducting all factory and kitchen trials as well as sample generation. Assisting Technical Teams with generating key product submission documentation (e.g. product specifications) as well as QAS standards. Designing and project managing the installation of a new customer-facing development kitchen, working in conjunction with the Site Director.

Personal Profile

• Educated to degree level in food related subject, and/or 3 years’ experience within the food industry.
• Experience of driving profitable innovation which is supported by a solid understanding of food science and manufacturing processes.
• Experience of own label NPD within major retail sector.
• Comfortable working in a customer facing role and passionate about food.
• Previous success in delivering results in a food manufacturing environment where you have developed your customer management skills as well as an articulate, engaging presentation style. 
• Commercially astute, have superb project management skills with the ability to drive and influence to achieve success.
• Ability to work with production teams and understanding of the processes involved, to ensure that the factory can replicate kitchen samples.
• Ability to work with and Influence stake holders both internal and external.
• Ambitious, growth minded, problem-solving, can-do attitude.
• Not afraid to roll-up sleeves and carry out tasks such as making up samples.
• Desire to grow market knowledge, to spot opportunities for product development and engage the wider team to gain buy-in.
• Ability to organise and project plan complex pieces of work involving deadlines and multiple stakeholders.
• To Champion quality, set high standards in terms of work ethic and strive for getting things right first time.

Ref Code: FMW41496LHF

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