Senior Manager, Salty Product Development - Urgently Hiring!

Job Location : Hershey, PA

Summary :

Reporting to the Salty Division R&D Director and based in the Hershey Technical Center in Hershey, PA, the Sr. Manager is responsible for managing Dot’s product development, Hershey’s pretzels, and Private label business within Salty R&D.

Lead efforts which will include focus innovation development and commercialization. Additional responsibilities include continuous improvement and technical support.

Role may include supporting other Brands within The Hershey Company portfolio.

Lead a team composed of 4-6 professional level staff and consultants in multiple locations as needed for various projects.

Determine strategic direction for key formulation development strategies for innovation programs. Work closely with business partners in Consumer Insights, Marketing, Manufacturing, Engineering and Quality to ensure that the programs meet the Company’s business needs.

Assure timelines are met and provide ongoing progress reports to senior management. Manage, communicate, and resolve project risks to gain business alignment.

Set priorities for program and allocate resources for projects. Work with direct reports to determine goals and timetables for projects, and ensure diligence in development, scale up and commercialization of products and technologies.

Provide technical expertise leveraging product and process development principles and validation methodologies Resolve resource allocation and timing issues to ensure that business objectives are achieved or exceeded.

Major Duties / Responsibilities :

Summary of major duties :

Develop and Execute Dot’s (25%), Hershey’s Pretzel Platform (25%), and Pretzel Private label Business (10%) Innovation Program :

Work with business partners in Consumer Insights, Marketing, Manufacturing, Engineering and Quality to develop strategic direction and ensure that Company’s business needs are met.

Allocate resources between programs and work with team leaders of the programs to set priorities, goals, and timetables for projects, and deliver on required results.

Ensure diligence in development, scale up and commercialization of products and technologies.

Develop and Execute Dot’s, Hershey’s Pretzel Platform, and Pretzel Private Label Business Technical Support and CI Initiatives :

As needed, work with business partners to allocate resources, set priorities, goals and timetables for Business Continuity and Cost Improvement related projects, and deliver on required results.

Ensure diligence in development, scale up and commercialization of products, manufacturing strategies, and technologies.

Talent & Organizational Development :

Provide overall leadership as it relates to organization structure and people development. Attract, lead, manage, and mentor employees in such a way to ensure retention, development, and high performance of talent.

Minimum knowledge, skills and abilities required to successfully perform major duties / responsibilities :

• Demonstrated Management, Leadership, and Influencing Skills, Strategic as well as tactical thinker.
• Demonstrated a good understanding of product and process development and optimization, including formulation, manufacturing validation and implementation within salty snacks especially around baked snacks (pretzels, cookies, crackers).

Popcorn and extruded snacks experience is a plus.

• Change Agent : The ability and drive to challenge conventional wisdom.
• Proven administrative ability, decision-making skills, financial understanding, business integration skills and technical expertise.
• Advanced problem solving and evaluation capabilities.
• Strength in Food Product Development and Commercialization.
• Possess the appropriate combination of knowledge and experience in design of manufacturing systems for the food industry including : a basic understanding of common process unit operations and equipment used in the food industry, sanitary design, construction practices and general knowledge of common equipment suppliers in the food industry.
• Collaborative skills allowing effective interactions with Marketing teams, Consumer Insights, Sensory Evaluation, Operations and Manufacturing Teams, Quality and Regulatory Compliance Teams and Senior Management.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills capable of presentations to executive levels.
• Approximately 25% travel required, primarily within the US, but including occasional international travel.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements :

Education : Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Chemical, Food, or Biochemical Engineering or equivalent Scientific Discipline plus 15+ years of applicable work experience, or master’s degree plus 10+ years of applicable work experience.

Experience :

• Has successfully led New Product Development and innovation programs within a company known for best-in-class innovation and NPD processes.
• Strong knowledge of confection platforms, technologies, and formulation strategies.
• Proven history in developing and commercializing confections and / or salty snacks. Including pilot plant and full-scale manufacturing testing and implementation.
• Ability to partner with Sensory and Consumer Insight to develop and execute consumer learning strategies.
• New product pipeline development and project management through stage gate process while identifying resource needs, project risks and business alignment.
• Experience in translating unmet consumer needs with commercial objectives into science and technology strategies and plans.

Understands and appreciates the role of science and technology in the wider business context.

• Ability to partner with cross functional team members to align on project deliverables, risks, and timing to deliver business goals.
• Experience driving change in a complex business environment.
• Proven people leader with ability to develop career growth and team engagement strategies.

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