Senior Manager of Product Development

Job Description

A leading food and pet product company is seeking passionate, driven individuals to join a dynamic team dedicated to creating accessible and delicious food for people and pets.

The company is expanding into new markets while maintaining a focus on quality and innovation, driven by the mission to enhance lives through great-tasting food.

Location : this position offers hybrid flexibility out of our corporate campus in Lakeville, MN. Relocation assistance provided for highly qualified candidates.

JOB ACTIVITIES / DUTIES

• Manage and provide direction to staff of scientists and engineers to achieve annual goals.
• Provide technical guidance and work direction in the development of new products and improvements to existing products in the areas of innovation, cost savings and quality.
• Ensure the product development team activities meet company cost capacity, quality, IBT and product development requirements.
• Manage and prioritize team activities including : supervision of staff resources, project / product assignments; monitoring results, and taking corrective action when necessary.
• Communicate and work with staff to ensure successful job performance and meet stated expectations. Aid in development of staff and conduct annual formal performance reviews.
• R&D representative on Integrated Business Teams (IBTs).
• Leads R&D programs in the area of Cost Out and Innovation.
• Partner closely with Marketing, Procurement, Finance and the IBTs to develop team priorities.
• Ensure the product development team partners and works effectively with other technical functions including, but not limited to products research, consumer insights, process engineering, packaging, QFS, etc.
• Provide technical expertise and serve as a resource to the company in areas including, but not limited to, product and process development, ingredient-and-package material interfaces, shelf-life testing, consumer acceptability, attribute drivers of liking, ingredient functionality, and ingredient-in-equipment interactions, reactions, and predicted outcomes.
• Monitor developments outside the company including, but not limited to, new ideas / concepts, competitive activity, new product / technology introductions, regulatory and legal landscape, consumer and customer feedback.
• Provide technical support to operations to continuously reduce cost of goods and improve quality.
• Oversee start ups of all new product introductions or renovations to assure they meet time line expectations and to assure the performance metrics match P&L expectations.
• R&D point person for Co-Manufacturing and Business Development teams.
• Carry out all company programs, policies, and procedures.

Qualifications

Education : BS / MS in Chemical Engineering, Food Science, Animal Science or a related field required.

Experience :

• Minimum of 7 years of experience in the food industry in product and process development or improvement roles.
• Broad, successful experience in bringing many different types of new unique products to market - from concept to national launch.
• Expertise in process optimisation, product formulation, statistical process control, and quality improvements.
• Experience working in a production facility required.
• Experience in pet food development required.
• Experience managing technical scientists and / or engineers required.
• Able to provide quick technical direction and guidance to product and process developers on many different projects simultaneously.

Skills :

• Must have excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to understand the balance between dependence and independence as it pertains to decision making and bringing in upper management.
• Able to foresee technical issues with new product development well in advance in order to effectively determine the right solutions to keep projects on time and at budget.
• Ability to organize and interact, support, facilitate and lead multi-functional work teams
• Ability to provide work direction to assigned resources
• Ability to lead team to a consensus; strong negotiation and influencing skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, in a fast paced environment, meeting deadlines, and communicating status. Demonstrated problem-solving skills.
• Proven innovation and creativity.
• Experience using statistical methods and design of experiments.

Other Requirements :

• Travel up to 25% domestic and some international.
• Ability to lift 25 kg.
13 hours ago