Job Description
NPD Manager at Ballymaguire Foods
The NPD Manager will lead the creation and commercialisation of innovative food products, ranging from prepared meals to food service solutions. The ideal candidate will have a deep understanding of Irish food trends, regulatory standards, and industry practices.
Key Responsibilities:
* Driving Innovation:
o Lead the development of new food offerings with a focus on prepared meals and food service innovations.
o Stay ahead of trends in the food sector, ensuring that the product pipeline reflects the growing demand for healthier, sustainable, and locally sourced food products.
* Product Development:
o Identify market gaps and opportunities for product creation.
o Innovate new product concepts that incorporate robust recipes, seasonality, and the unique flavour profile of Irish ingredients.
o Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure that product development strategies align with company objectives, regulatory standards, and customer expectations.
* Customer Project Management:
o Take ownership of customer-driven projects, ensuring seamless transition of ideas from initial brief to handover to NPD teams.
o Implement and manage the stage-gate process for customer projects, guaranteeing that projects progress efficiently while addressing both customer and regulatory requirements.
* Sensory Analysis & Benchmarking:
o Conduct detailed sensory analyses and product benchmarking to evaluate how new concepts compare to market leaders.
o Collaborate with external sensory panels and internal teams to validate product success in real-world applications.
o Research and source high-quality, sustainable ingredients that align with consumer trends and sustainability goals.
* Concept to Launch Management:
o Lead the end-to-end process of taking new products from concept to commercialisation.
o Collaborate with Sales to ensure that the product launch is well-supported, including aligning promotional activities and ensuring adequate stock levels for both domestic and international markets.
* Presentation Skills:
o Present new product concepts, market insights, and development progress to both internal stakeholders and customers in a clear and persuasive manner.
* Documentation & Reporting:
o Ensure comprehensive and accurate documentation of all research, trials, and experimental results.
o Prepare and present regular updates to management, internal teams, and external stakeholders on project status, timelines, and key learnings.
Requirements:
* Education:
o Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Food Technology, or a related field.
o Minimum 5 years of experience in new product development within the food manufacturing sector, specifically in prepared meals or food service industries.
o Proven track record in product development, including expertise in ingredient sourcing, recipe formulation, sensory analysis, and gap analysis.
o Experience in managing cross-functional teams and working closely with customers' NPD teams to develop market-ready food products.
o Familiarity with stage-gate product development processes and the ability to manage the full cycle from concept through to commercialisation.
* Skills:
o Strong knowledge of Irish food safety regulations, HACCP, and FSAI guidelines.
o Ability to conduct comprehensive sensory evaluations and apply sensory data to product refinement.
o Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across departments.
o Exceptional attention to detail in documenting processes, research, and product development progress.
o Problem-solving skills, with the ability to troubleshoot and resolve challenges that arise during the product development process.