Development Manager - VAB - FTC

Rich’s, also known as Rich Products Corporation, is a family-owned food company dedicated to inspiring possibilities. From cakes and icings to pizza, appetizers and specialty toppings, our products are used in homes, restaurants and bakeries around the world. Beyond great food, our customers also gain insights to help them stay competitive, no matter their size. Our portfolio includes creative solutions geared at helping food industry professionals compete in foodservice, retail, in-store bakery, deli, and prepared foods, among others. Working in 100 locations globally, with annual sales exceeding $4 billion, Rich’s is a global leader with a focus on everything that family makes possible. Rich’s—Infinite Possibilities. One Family.

PURPOSE STATEMENT

Hands on role working with a dedicated and innovative R&D team from product concept to launch. Working collaboratively with internal stakeholders and customers to deliver projects on time to the highest possible standards for our customers. This is an all encompassing role covering both proactive platform innovation projects as well as the delivery of customer led briefs through the development of new product from kitchen concepts to a successful launch to market.

This role is a fixed term contract for 9 months

Key Accountabilities/Outcomes

• Working with customer teams to agree new product plan by channel / customer
• Plan, manage and deliver new product development projects from concept to launch, meeting project deadlines
• Understand the complexity of recipe and assembly as it relates to the manufacturing line as well as the impact of the cost structure of the overall product
• Develop packaging solutions in parallel with recipe
• Interpretation and delivery of customer brief to agreed cost model and customer needs
• Act as the Voice of the Customer by forming close working relationships with allocated customers to truly understand and deliver their needs
• Preparing costings, nutritional and ingredient declarations
• Working with the category team to understand market trends and be able to translate new product propositions into viable products for our customers
• Support the scale up of kitchen samples to factory trials
• Carry out shelf life from factory trial including the appropriate organoleptic testing
• Complete customer submission forms
• Leverage supplier innovation and manage IP accordingly, seeking every opportunity to own the IP from the outset
• Work with Procurement to source new raw materials where necessary and ensure that MOQ’s, lead time and shelf life support the product feasibility
• Present new product concepts internally and to customers
  
  

Knowledge/Skills/Experience

Critical

• Degree educated or equivalent in a food disciple. With a minimum of 2-3 years experience within a food manufacturing environment
• Experience of implementing the NPD process from concept to launch
  
  

Desirable

• Bakery or related experience
  
  

Rich Products Corporation welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.