Join the team!

MAIN PURPOSE OF JOB:

• To oversee products from concept to launch in line with an agreed brief and critical path.
• Develop products which have clear reasons to believe, are delicious and take on board any relevant trends to ensure that they exceed expectations.
• Input product knowledge and customer insight within the category team to ensure product development is aligned with all key customer requirements and meets financial measurements.
• Build and maintain customer relationships acting as the dedicated contact to provide accurate and consistent communication internally and externally whilst identifying and resolving issues promptly. To display a confident and knowledgeable manner in order to engage with customers; to research and understand their market/customer base/strategy and their processes to best understand best fit / use and application of products and their processes.
• Create and collate customer product samples for projects.

KEY TASKS:

• Project management of NPD/EPD/NPV briefs from concept to launch with the right first time approach (including sample submissions and sample amendments, customer presentations, critical path, launch matrix, trials, artwork and packaging development process, manufacturing and palletisation guidelines, post-implementation reviews)
• Lead innovation taste panels either internally or externally to the standard required whilst being the authority on the products being presented. Ensure all tasting notes, actions and next stages are recorded and issued accordingly.
• Continuously develops their knowledge of fruit, nut and seed markets including product knowledge on eating quality, specifications, price, countries of origin, varieties and sustainability.
• Leads factory trials for new products to ensure that products are only progressed where truly feasible without risk to product integrity, technical standards and commercial viability. Builds a strong relationship with the factory and technical teams.
• Understand the factory kit, process and limitations to ensure that they are considered within all new products and packaging. Highlighting any risks to ensure that they are managed or mitigated.
• Source and verify the feasibility of new raw materials within RM Curtis specifications and approved suppliers clearly understanding allergen and MOQ considerations.
• Brief suppliers and closely work with them in order to meet briefs in the best possible way. Coordinate suppliers’ value engineering and innovation meetings where appropriate.
• Keep assigned market benchmarking documents up to date and accurately highlight any new launches, products or re-designs to the business in a timely manner. Be the expert and go to for your areas.
• Store visits, collection of samples from retail, attendance at trade events as and when necessary.
• To be aware of and continuously develop an understanding of trends, consumer behaviours, insight and new opportunities which may present business opportunities for RM Curtis brands or customers. On a need-by-need basis, keep up to date with new launches through regular competitor shopping or directional shopping either online or in person.
• Understand and know who key centres of excellence are for the manufacturing customers to ensure we stay ahead of the trends and can inspire them where possible.
• Develop a basic understanding of packaging to include cutters, printing processes, substrates and design files.
• Support or lead specific business innovation projects when requested for either customer-specific or branded products
• To maintain the standards for product safety, legality, traceability, quality, hygiene and housekeeping requirements.
• The role involves liaising with all departments including Marketing, Accounts, Technical, Quality, Sales, Engineering, Procurement, Transport and Distribution, Planning and Warehousing.
• Sample request management, ordering stock, traceability of samples.
• Oversee and support the daily time management of the junior developer.
• Assisting other members of the NPD team with NPD or EPD projects when required
• Assisting the Marketing team during brand development
• Any other duties requested by a Manager or Director

ESSENTIAL SKILLS:

• Ability to work autonomously and with a team;
• Ability to deal with a complexity of products, projects and customers
• Computer literate in Excel, Word and PowerPoint.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Customer facing - to display a confident and knowledgeable manner in order to engage with customers
• Basic culinary knowledge of flavours, flavour pairings and how to make delicious products
• Ideally, have some background in technical/quality/NPD sales
• Understanding health/nutritional/dietary benefits of products to be suggested or presented to the customer.
• Project management skills; flexible to travel and attend launches outside normal office hours
• Experience in a similar role within a food/ beverages manufacturing environment
• Preferably a Food science/technology/nutrition, Product design Graduate or a foodie / passionate cook with a Chef background or experience