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Product Development Project Lead – Hybrid

This is a hybrid role (Monday / Friday work from home ~ Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday in office).

Serves as the regular contact between company Product Development / LP Management, Customer’s Menu Management, Quality Systems and all Supply Chain partners to help facilitate project management including communication regarding new product development, product commercialization, technical issues / opportunities, manage current projects, coordinate new concepts with product development within customer’s and company as well as ensure high quality customer service, rapid problem response and resolution.

Essential Functions:

• Facilitates communication regarding the development of new products or duplication of target products to conclusion including internal formulas submission and pricing requests into customers’ restaurants, as requested by customer, to ensure smooth operations and high-quality customer service. Facilitates resolution of technical product issues efficiently and to customer satisfaction.  25%
• Schedules and facilitates new and core product reviews to include new product launches including Pilot Plant product runs. Facilitates planning between customer’s Menu Management staff and company Product Development, Quality Assurance and Operations to ensure customer needs are met and company receives regular required feedback for effective decision-making.  20%
• Coordinates the presentation of new concepts to customers which includes providing samples for evaluation, creating presentation materials, attending focus groups, assisting with taste panel testing and following up with the appropriate company contacts. 10%
• Supports the communication between company and customer’s Supply Chain on New Product and LTO launches. Lead interactions, troubleshoots, problem-solves product development and new product and core supply chain issues regarding company products, national promotions, and regional promotional activities and to ensure rapid problem response and resolution with customers.  25%
• Participates in the customers’ New Products Supply Chain, Core Supply Chain and Supply Chain partners meetings and special project teams to provide input and direction on customers’ strategic initiatives and menu development. 5%
• Attends the customer’s QS product cuttings and attends the customer’s Liquid Product Innovation Team meetings. 5%
• Look for and anticipate opportunities outside of our current portfolio to gain market share within the customer’s business. 5%
• Maintain customer-facing Innovation Kitchen and shared office space to support customer evaluations, product testing, and internal evaluation efforts in the Innovation Center. 5%
• Performs other related and assigned duties as necessary.

Salary

$110,000 - $120,000 + Bonus, Car Allowance

Benefits Available

Minimum Qualifications:

Education / Certification:

• Bachelor’s degree in food science or related technical field from an accredited college or university.

Experience:

• 3-5 or more years of relevant experience in product development, customer service, customer interaction and support functions and/or marketing.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Knowledge of (B/basic, J/journey, E/expert)

• Customer’s operations (B)
• Food manufacturing processes and practices (J)
• Liquid product manufacturing processes (B)
• Management concepts and techniques (J)
• PC word processing / spreadsheet software (J)

Skills and Ability to:

• Communicate and coordinate effectively with internal and external customers verbally and in writing.
• Develop long-term, trusting relationships with customer contacts.
• Analyze and resolve complex problems using sound reasoning skills and technical tools e.g., Excel spreadsheets, other templates, etc.
• Interpret customer service problems or anomalies and identify appropriate solutions.
• Work effectively in a general business environment, with a focus on high levels of proactive quality and customer service.
• Must be able to lift up to 40 lbs.
• Act in accordance with company’s Values & Creed.

Expectations:

• Must be willing to come into the office on average 3 days per week, and up to 5 when necessary.
• Must be able to travel via airport and drive an automobile (travel up to 20%).

**If you’d like to hear more about this opportunity and others we are currently working on, please contact Jeff Fee at jfee@cps4jobs.com.

JO:  39.26JF
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