pladis
biscuits and confectionery
HeadofProductDevelopment
“Head of Product Development at pladis. Skills: Product Development, Leadership, Innovation, Business Continuity. Shape and deliver savoury biscuits growth agenda. Lead R&D professionals team”
What You'll Achieve.
Deliver the three-year growth plan; Delivery of the projects for cost saving programme; Ensure new products are launched with robust specifications and quality standards; Ensure clear plans are in place to upskill against the areas of technical competency required to deliver your growth, productivity and improvement pipeline; Ensure a long-term succession plan for all key roles; Achieve organization's business goals
Industry & Context.
resolution of any CIM projects; Support resolution of EDQ issues
Requirement to travel to our manufacturing sites across the UK
What They're Looking For.
Must Have
Degree or equivalent in Food or related science or Engineering, Expansive experience in a food manufacturing environment in baked products and snacks, Proven track record of project leadership with several product launches, Proven interpersonal skills and team building/motivating experience, Understanding of lean sigma techniques
Nice to Have
experience in chocolate and secondary processes (e. g. creams, flavourings etc. . . ), some of which should have included the installation of new technology, formats, machinery or processes, Proven experience in baked and chocolate products, Previous experience in a similar leadership role in a food manufacturing business, Accreditation in six sigma/lean sigma
What You'll Do.
Shape and deliver savoury biscuits growth agenda
Lead R&D professionals team
Define product development strategy
Deliver three-year growth plan
Own test bakery facility
Manage site engagement activities
Oversee site health & safety
Act as technical expert for product development
Provide guidance on innovation projects
Serve as R&D contact for site challenges
Serve as R&D contact for supply chain challenges
Build future pipeline
Build technical capability
Identify new ingredients
Identify new processes
Identify new ways to strengthen business
Maintain compliance with procedures
Define forward-looking plan for capability
Manage team prioritisation
Manage team development
Utilize consumer knowledge for innovation funnel
Utilize customer knowledge for innovation funnel
Utilize competitor knowledge for innovation funnel
Authorize key stages within technical change process
Oversee end-to-end NPD process
Highlight potential for growth
Build partnership with suppliers
Assess new ingredients
Assess new technology
Ensure collaborative partnerships with suppliers
Build excellent cross-functional partnerships
Ensure successful delivery of plans
Ensure appropriate resource allocation
Ensure timely resource allocation
Ensure collaborative ways of working
Ensure seamless handovers
Follow competitor moves
Collaborate with marketing
Collaborate with consumer insight team
Understand consumption occasions
Understand evolving consumer needs
Assess opportunities for improvement to core products
Support creation of cost saving programme
Accountable for delivery of cost saving projects
Establish clear requirements for product characteristics
Distinguish essential product characteristics
Distinguish less defining product characteristics
Review project charters
Agree project charters
Make recommendations for product changes
Ensure business continuity programme is resourced
Ensure business continuity programme is executed
Support business with timely resolution of CIM projects
Offer brand technical expertise
Provide key technical support for line transfer projects
Provide key technical direction for line transfer projects
Ensure new products launched with robust specifications
Ensure new products launched with quality standards
Align specifications and quality standards
Review specifications and quality standards post launch
Support resolution of EDQ issues
Lead team and broader R&D team
Set high standards of delivery
Exhibit high work ethics
Exhibit high standards of delivery
Be ambassador for R&D
Ensure deep understanding of team capabilities
Ensure clear plans to upskill team
Develop team capabilities
Fulfil personal potential
Ensure long-term succession plan
Demonstrate effective leadership
Work with others to meet shared objectives
Communicate function's strategy
Clarify actions needed to implement strategy
Engage others to commit to extraordinary things
Achieve organization's business goals
Demonstrate effective leadership at R&D centre
Be part of site leadership team
Drive improvement at R&D centre
Drive engagement of R&D team
How You'll Work.
Team & Collaboration
working with cross-functional partners; Build partnership with suppliers; Build excellent cross-functional partnerships; Follow market and competitor moves whilst collaborating closely with marketing and consumer insight team; Collaborate with marketing; Collaborate with consumer insight team; Work with others to meet shared objectives; Drive collaboration
Process & Methodology
Project leadership, Technical Change Process, NPD Process, Project Charters
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