The Company is looking to develop new products, commercialize and innovate activities to meet strategic business objectives, and optimize existing products to ensure product quality and consistency.
Requirements
- 15+ years industry experience in product development, including strong experience in R&D management
- Problem solving, decision making, conceptual and project management skills are essential
- Preference for food and pet food experience
- Individuals should be a recognized expert in their field of expertise
- Bachelor’s Degree in Food Science, Animal Science, Animal Nutrition, Meat Science or related degree
- Related M.S or higher
- Additional business management or related degrees
Responsibilities
- Optimize & maintain a balance of projects which meet short and long term needs to support strategic business objectives
- Develop and implement a technology and portfolio strategy to align with the business strategy
- Ensure balance of new & replacement projects as well as internal (supply chain) and external customer needs
- Identify technical knowledge gaps and ensure plans are in place to close them
- Maintain a robust innovation funnel to change over time from a customer pull to push activity by developing prototypes for review
- Directly responsible for research, development and evaluation of products, including nutritional, sensory and shelf life studies
- Develop a creative innovation platform that leverages market data and observations as well as the capabilities of the larger cross-functional group to improve the quality of projects at the start of the development funnel
Other
- Set clear personal & department objectives and review performance against them
- Mutually set growth & improvement plans including training needs
- Review department requirements versus staffing levels and make recommendations to supervisor relative to future needs
- Develop & implement succession planning and career pathing, including identification of key consultants, to maintain continuity of R&D quality output over the long term
- Travel: Travels domestically to and from multiple facilities or work-sites or customer visits, often requiring overnight stays. Approximately 30% travel
