Product Development Executive

Role Purpose/Summary

This role supports new product development initiatives designed to create the robust pipeline of innovations across categories to meet the short and the long-term priorities of the brand. The ideal candidate will have prior experience in a similar role and be eager to be part of the product development.

Product development executive Seasonings (Noodles & Pasta) will be responsible for the design and implementation of new products, the improvement of existing products; prepares and coordinates projects according to established schedules and costs; ensures that the company standards of quality are met.

The PD Executive may serve for multiple small-to-mid-sized projects. Some projects require co-owning projects with more experienced product development team. The individual will provide strong technical support for commercialization and apply expertise to grow the business. The associate influences the business by bringing solutions that have business impact. Effectively uses technical and business expertise to explain difficult concepts to technical and non-technical audiences, tailoring communications to meet diverse needs.

Reporting to:

Requirements:

1. Bachelor or Master’s degree in Food Technology, Food Science, Food Engineering and related field

2. 3 to 5 years’ experience in seasoning development.

3. Endurance & Flexibility: Willingness and ability to occasionally function effectively over extended periods of time.

4. Excellent written and oral communication skills, presentation skills

5. Must be have moderate knowledge of the Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)

6. Good team player

7. Self-starter and self-motivating

Key Responsibilities

1. Design and develop new seasonings for Noodles and Pasta from bench top to commercialization while staying within specified parameters of cost and label claims; evaluate new ingredients, verify nutritional profiles, and conduct product or packaging stability assessments to deliver against design.

2. Investigate, analyse, and execute new seasoning improvement and cost savings opportunities.

3. Manage documentation and records in order to ensure that they are complete, current, secure and easily retrievable. This may include designing, organizing or maintaining technical or regulatory records and reports.

4. Identify, classify, maintain, and protect files, documentation and sensitive information consistent with record handling and retention requirements. Record data from analyses or experiments in a computer, log book or laboratory notebook.

5. Self-training to keep abreast of developing technologies, lifestyle & nutritional trends to maintain a competitive edge.

6. Development of lab scale seasoning prototypes, producing pilot plans for final seasonings. Prepares sample and conducts analytical tests on taste and/or odour according to sensory guidelines, including qualifying taste panellists.

7. Provides expertise and recommendations of best practices for production of seasonings-based part or finished products during production trials with the plants or partners, which includes consulting line managers as appropriate on milestones and general guidelines and proactively provides advice inside & outside R&D community.

8. Participates in team projects, interdepartmental/divisional committees or company-wide initiatives in order to share information, represent the department/division perspective or assist with seasoning product development.

9. Leverages prior education, suppliers and literature to innovate within scope of briefs provided by other technical experts or supervisor.

10. Applies food science knowledge of ingredients, packaging, processing to assure safe and high-quality products.

11. Participates in commercialization scale test at manufacturing line with QA and commercialization team if needed.