Junior R&D Product Manager

Cerelia Bakery Canada LP; Mississauga; On-site; CAD 50,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a dynamic R&D team at an innovative bakery company as a Jr R&D Project Manager. This exciting role involves leading the development of new cookie products, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and managing ingredient inventory in the lab. You will have the opportunity to showcase your creativity and problem-solving skills while contributing to product innovation and quality assurance. If you have a passion for food and a background in food science, this position offers a unique chance to make a significant impact in the food industry.

Qualifications

• 3-5 years of experience in R&D in the food industry.
• Manufacturing experience with bakery products required.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support R&D projects from ideation to commercialization.
• Manage ingredient inventory for the R&D lab.

Skills

Attention to detail

Creativity

Problem-solving skills

Teamwork

Communication skills

Education

BSc in Food Science

Tools

MS Office

Genesis software

Job description

Summary:
As a member of the R&D team, the Jr R&D Project Manager both leads and supports on R&D projects from ideation through to full commercialization to develop cookie products that meet customer and business unit product strategies. In addition, this role is responsible for managing the ingredient inventory for the R&D lab.

Job Duties and Responsibilities (including but not limited to):

• Work in conjunction with marketing & the rest of the R&D team to generate innovative concepts and recipes.
• Execute the development of new cookie products from ideation through to launch.
• Lead reformulation projects for product improvement, ingredient substitutions, cost-reduction or plant simplification.
• Prepare benchtop prototypes for internal evaluation and customer sample submission.
• Champion plant trials & first production runs, including initiating requests for line time, preparing documentation, leading meetings, auditing processes, providing technical expertise, collecting data & samples, and analyzing products.
• Collaborate with procurement to source new ingredients during the product development process.
• Work with finance to ensure recipes meet cost targets.
• Develop cooking instructions for products.
• Conduct sensory, shelf life, product performance, and quality attribute testing of cookie products.
• Coordinate sample shipments to customers.
• Manage the R&D lab ingredient inventory, initiating raw materials requests & collecting ingredients from the plant as required.
• Maintain R&D lab cleanliness and organization.
• Demonstrate initiative, creativity, and rigor in the execution of R&D initiatives.
• Work closely with other departments to achieve cross-functional objectives.
• Provide support to other members of the R&D team as required.
• Adhering to all policies, procedures and programs of the company (GMP, Quality, Food Safety and Health & Safety etc) at all times.
• Other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• BSc in Food Science or related discipline required
• 3-5 years of experience in R&D in the food industry
• Manufacturing experience with bakery products required
• Excellent attention to detail, creativity & problem-solving skills
• Proficient in MS Office. Working knowledge of Genesis software an asset.
• Passion for food
• Strong teamwork & communication skills

Key Behavioural Competencies:

• Good communication skills
• Able to work under pressure.
• Team player
• Quality Oriented
• Good time management skills
• Adaptable / Flexible
• Good decision-making skills.
• Keen problem-solving skills.
• Result oriented.
• Organized
• Works with integrity
• Accountable and Dependable
• Able to Enforce polices, programs and Regulatory requirements.
• Good attention to detail
• Able to multi-task