Product Development Manager

Here at Hain Daniels we've developed a real recipe for success: we create tasty food and drinks with goodness at their core, and work with some incredible brands whose ethos is the same as ours.

We aim to make a positive difference in our local communities, and create a work environment that is friendly, fun and rewarding.

Job Description

The purpose of the role is to manage the development and delivery of 'best in class' commercially viable products from an approved product brief to concept sign off and supporting the Head of NPD
Support the Head of NPD

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES:
-Management of the concept development process to concept sign off
-To ensure management of all NPD projects from receipt of project brief through to concept sign off using appropriate NPD tracking tools. This involves working closely with Commercial / Operations / Procurement / Planning / Technical.
-Setting up and leading project teams, coordinating project meetings and producing project meeting minutes.
-To ensure timely completion of development product benchmarking and submission of results to the customer recommending next steps.
-To coordinate and manage Competitive Shopping producing reports that accurately supports the findings.
-Liaise with the packaging team for timely development and delivery of suitable packaging.
-To keep the development critical path on track, managing and guiding internal and external customers to ensure that tasks are completed on or before time.
-Assist with internal feasibility assessment and handovers in terms of product and packaging design and the method to manufacture, to ensure that products / processes are introduced in accordance with adhering to all technical food safety, legality or quality requirements and meet the anticipated margin requirements for the business

1. Team development and management
-To manage, motivate and develop alongside the Head of NPD
-Monitor and distribute workload evenly.

2. Budget & KPI Management
-To exercise budgetary control with respect to all development costs
-To manage all cost associated with concept development, namely courier, travel, comp shopping costs etc to ensure departmental budget met
-To set yearly budget and reforecast

3. Customer relationship & Management
-To manage, develop and maintain the relationship between the Hain Daniels Group and all Retailers/customers through the effective communication with the Product Developers and Technologists throughout the development process.
-Maintain customer communication throughout the development procedure.

4. Generic Management Responsibilities and Cross-functional Working
- Ensure the development needs of the Product Development team, as a whole and of individuals, are met to ensure quality of service provided to the site(s);
-Up-to-date awareness with business activities and progress & a full understanding of all Company and departmental objectives allowing effective dissemination to the Product Development team through regular team meetings and briefs

CAPABILITIES

-Full driving licence
-Ability to be flexible in their approach
-Willingness to visit & work out of different factories across the Daniels sites, stay away overnight on business when required and work longer hours when required.
-Able to work under pressure
-Man-management & inter-personal skills
-Excellent numeric & literacy skills to enable full provision & interpretation of information
-Attention to detail demonstrated in excellent record-keeping / report-writing
-Basic culinary skills
-Willingness to:
Visit & work at different factories across the Group, staying away overnight when required
Work flexible / longer hours when required

-Adhere to Company's Equal Opportunities and Health & Safety Policies.
-Ensure high quality standards and hygiene are maintained.
-Adhere to Company Financial procedures.
-Respect individual and Company confidentiality rights.

DIMENSION & SCOPE

Management of the Hain Daniels launch procedure, To manage new product development activity in accordance to business procedures and in line with divisional strategy, commercial targets and customer critical paths
To exercise budgetary control with respect to all aspects of product development costs. Management of set KPIs.

To manage, develop and maintain the relationship between Hain Daniels Group and all Retailers through the effective communication with their development teams.

Ensure all expectation of HR responsibilities and internal communication are met

Reporting to Senior Management on NPD activity, e.g.
-Period End Report
-Launch Trackers and KPI
-Key project updates for Leadership team

Qualifications
Food related degree or course and basic culinary skill

If you have the relevant skills and experience then we look forward to hearing from you