Food Product Developer

Lock Search Group; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Lock Search Group in Ottawa is seeking a Food Product Developer focused on Value Engineering to optimize existing products and support new development. You will work with Product Development, Category Management, Procurement and Operations to deliver cost savings while preserving nutrition and taste.

The role requires post-secondary education in a food-related subject and experience in food product development, with strong analytical and collaborative skills to drive continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Post-secondary education in a food-related subject or equivalent.
• Experience in food product development or related commercial food environment.
• Experience managing projects with measurable outcomes.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Innovative, organized, adaptable with good communication and team work.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support value engineering projects to reduce cost while maintaining product quality and nutrition.
• Analyze recipes, yields, portions, and manufacturing processes to identify savings.
• Evaluate alternative ingredients and suppliers for best cost/quality balance.
• Partner with Procurement to source cost-effective ingredients.
• Identify ingredients to rationalize across the range.
• Conduct kitchen bench samples and product evaluations to validate changes.
• Improve existing products through recipe optimization and process improvements.
• Ensure cost reductions do not negatively impact taste, texture, or customer experience.
• Investigate product quality issues and drive corrective actions.
• Support manufacturing efficiency initiatives to reduce waste and improve yields.
• Document trials, costs, and outcomes clearly.
• Manage multiple projects with timelines and objectives.
• Support the broader Product Development team as required.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Decision making

Culinary skills

Communication

Teamwork

Stakeholder management

Education

Post-secondary education in food-related subject

Job description

Food Product Developer – Value Engineering & Continuous Improvement

Our client is a leading provider of prepared meal solutions for healthcare, senior care, and community-based food service organizations. The company operates across multiple international markets and also provides home-delivered meal solutions to seniors.

The Role

We are looking for a commercially minded Product Developer to join our Product Development Team, with a primary focus on Value Engineering across the company's product portfolio. Reporting to the Product Development Manager, the successful candidate will work to optimize existing products and support new product development by identifying opportunities to improve cost, quality, nutrition, functionality, and operational efficiency. The role will play an important part in ensuring our products deliver the best possible value to both our customer and the business.

Working closely with other members of Product Development, Category Management, Procurement, Operations, Quality Assurance and other key stakeholders, the Product Developer will investigate and implement opportunities to reduce cost while maintaining or improving the customer experience.

The role will involve evaluating recipes, raw materials, and operational processes to identify opportunities for improvement. This may include ingredient substitutions, recipe optimization, supplier changes, yield improvements, and process efficiencies.

Key Responsibilities

Value Engineering & Cost Optimization

• Lead and support value engineering projects across the existing product portfolio, identifying opportunities to reduce cost while maintaining or improving product quality, nutrition and customer appeal.
• Analyse recipes, ingredient specifications, yields, portion sizes and manufacturing processes to identify cost‑saving opportunities.
• Evaluate alternative ingredients, suppliers, and specifications to determine the best balance of cost, quality, functionality and availability.
• Partner with Procurement and suppliers to identify cost‑effective ingredients and alternative sourcing opportunities.
• Identify ingredients to rationalize across the range where appropriate.
• Conduct kitchen bench samples and product evaluations to validate proposed changes.

Product & Continuous Improvement

• Improve existing products through recipe optimization, ingredient changes, process improvements and specification changes.
• Ensure cost reductions do not negatively impact taste, texture, appearance, nutritional value, portion size or overall customer experience.
• Investigate product quality issues and identify opportunities for corrective action and continuous improvement.
• Use sensory evaluation and product testing to validate changes before implementation.
• Support initiatives to improve manufacturing efficiency, reduce waste, and optimise product yields.
• Maintain clear documentation of trials, changes, costs and project outcomes.
• Manage multiple projects and priorities while ensuring timelines and objectives are achieved.
• Support the broader Product Development team as required.

Qualifications

• Post‑secondary education qualification (or equivalent) in food related subject and / or demonstrable track record within food product development
• Experience of working within food product development, food manufacturing or a related commercial food environment.
• Experience managing projects and delivering measurable outcomes.
• Strong analytical, problem‑solving and decision‑making skills.
• Innovative, organised, adaptable and conscientious, with good communication and team working skills.
• Experience within frozen food manufacturing
• Excellent culinary skills
• Good presentation and stakeholder management skills

Applicants must be legally entitled to work in Canada without sponsorship.

We are equal‑opportunity and affirmative action employers that do not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, religion, age, colour, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by local, state, provincial, or federal laws, rules, or regulations. Our policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment.

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