New Product Development Manager

Llantrisant

£40,000 - £42,000 P/A

Sector: Food Production

My client is a privately owned bakery business based in Llantrisant, South Wales. They are a business built on hunger for growth, formed in the 80's they have gone through exceptional growth since then. They have successfully increased turnover substantially, with capacity to continue this impressive growth. Excellent opportunity to join a truly passionate and dedicated team.

Overview of the role of New Product Development Manager

• Customer facing role managing the development process from concept to launch, owning, and driving critical paths for NPD / EPD launches
• Developing full understanding of the Chilled Pastry Category coupled with a desire to translate new trends & consumer needs into winning New Product Development
• Leading the business into new profitable areas through proactive Innovation / New Product development
• Proactively managing recipe generator software, liking in with Procurement & Commercial to ensure up to date recipe costings
• Planning coordinating & communicating all factory and kitchen trials / sample generation
• Managing the development kitchen space to be safe and clean & to ensure we have the tools necessary to minimize factory impact when generating samples
• Leading on-going re-engineering and development of recipes and processes to aid efficiency & consistency in the factory
• Designing, recording & reporting on all new recipes and recipe amendments
• Maintaining & developing strong links between NPD and Factory
• Generating key product submission documentation

Product Make Up

• Proactive management of recipe generator software, liking in with Procurement & Commercial to ensure up to date recipe specifications & costings.
• To act as link between NPD and Production to implement new recipes, products or processes in the factory
• Modifying existing products and processes and develop new ones
• Ensure validation work is carried out on ingredients, products, processes & equipment during development process.

Product Launches

• To coordinate scale up factory trials & product launches - Including organising and leading concept to launch / critical path meetings, recording and communicating required actions, owners and deadlines.
• To generate relevant information to ensure products are manufactured according to standards agreed with customer
• Working closely with the wider team to provide suitable packaging solutions.

Quality Standards

• Working alongside production team to develop solutions to production issues whilst maintaining food safety.
• Working with QA team in daily taste panels to monitor ongoing quality within the bakery and proactively making recommendations to improve overall quality.

Projects

• To become involved in key company projects / initiatives to drive efficiency & profitability

Health and Safety

• To assume responsibility for the safety of self and staff whilst at work
• Ensuring that all requirements as laid down within the Company's Health and Safety Policy are implemented, monitored, and maintained in order to fulfil all legislative requirements. Ensuring that all staff are aware of their responsibilities for Health and Safety and that safe working practices are always adhered to.

• To be responsible for the assessment of risk within the department or area of control.

Requirements:

• 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 & Influence stake holders both internal and external
• Ambitious, growth minded, problem-solving, can-do attitude
• Desire to grow market knowledge, to spot opportunities for product development & 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 & strive for getting things right first time

Excellent opportunity to join a growing organisation, for more information contact Sarah at Work Wales