Job Title: NPD Executive
Location:
donnelly fresh foods, Snugborough Road Blanchardstown, Dublin 15
Working hours –
Monday to Friday 8.00am– 4.30pm
About Us
At donnelly fresh foods, we blend innovation and imagination to create exciting bespoke fresh food solutions for Ireland's top retailers and foodservice outlets. Our group comprises donnelly fresh produce, donnelly fresh foods, and donnelly fresh farms.
Role Overview
We are seeking an organised, self-motivated, and ambitious NPD Executive with a proven rack record in NPD and hands-on food or chef-related experience. The ideal candidate will have a passion for food, a good understanding of foodservice and retail operations, and the ability to translate culinary trends into commercially viable products. You will be a key point of contact for some foodservice and retail clients, ensuring their needs are met through innovative product development and exceptional project management.
Role Responsibilities
The main areas of duty for this role will be supporting the NPD Manager with customer account management. In addition, taking on NPD & EPD projects through the NPD process from concept to Launch.
* PROJECT MANAGEMENT
* WEEKLY PLAN: Develop weekly plan and report on agreed objectives with manager.
* NPD: Project manage NPD projects from concept to launch Management of Launch Critical Paths, updating trackers, ensuring sensory analysis is to standard, oversee all production trials and all other validation documentation are completed and correct.
* NPD MEETING: Provide project status updates at weekly NPD meeting attended by all relevant departments.
* STAKEHOLDERS MANAGEMENT: Work with internal stakeholders in the business including Quality, Commercial, Production, Procurement & Marketing to identify new and innovative NPD opportunities and implement these effectively for customers.
* APPROVALS: Liaise with Technical Team in the compliance of packaging, ingredients and labelling for all relevant product launches.
* EPD PROJECTS: Manage EPD projects by introducing recipe improvement, cost savings or process efficiencies where required.
* IDENTIFY GAPS: In customers ranging, develop solutions for these.
* Lead associated project team members including management of any students doing work placements with NPD.
* COSTINGS: Complete recipe costings for all recipes developed.
* TASTE PANELS: Organise taste panels to review new concepts. Capture minutes from meeting and circulate actions and next steps.
* CUSTOMER MANAGEMENT
* THE CUSTOMER: Dealing with day-to-day customer correspondence, responding to queries and requests in a timely manner.
* NPD: Delivering on NPD briefs as requested by customers. This can be multiple briefs from each customer relating to different categories in their range.
* EPD: Identify EPD and cost saving opportunities and recipe renovation needs for customer base. Drive these EPD projects within business and with customers to achieve completion in timely manner.
* PRESENTATIONS: Attend customer meetings both onsite and offsite including organisation and preparation of samples and setting up displays.
* BENCHMARK: Carry out product benchmarking, customer reviews and gap analysis on products.
* SAMPLES: Preparation of samples required during the development process and organising transportation.
* ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITES
* MARKET RESEARCH & TRENDS: Attending conferences, meetings, and industry events as required. Maintain awareness of changes and seasonal updates to customers ranges.
* KITCHEN MANAGEMENT: Play active role in maintaining NPD Kitchen and NPD Production Area to a high standard.
Qualifications / Job Requirements
* Food Science, Culinary Arts, Culinary Entrepreneurship, Food Innovation or similar type degree.
* This role could also suit candidate with relevant Food Industry experience looking for a new creative and dynamic role.
* Minimum 3 years' experience in Product Development/Research & Development or another transferable role, experience dealing with customers beneficial.
* Ability to work on own initiative and work to agreed timelines / adhering to critical paths is a must.
* Full driving licence and access to a car required.
* A passionate foodie with excellent communication and interpersonal abilities, able to build and maintain customer relationships.
* Creative with strong analytical skills and attention to detail with a good working knowledge of product innovation
* Excellent IT skills including MS Excel.
* Fluency in English written and oral.
* Commercial awareness when developing recipes is a must for this role.
* Energetic attitude with ability to be flexible.
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