Sr. Product Developer

Loblaw Companies Limited; Brampton; On-site; CAD 96,000 - 132,000; Full time

Job summary

Loblaw Companies Limited is seeking a Sr. Product Developer to lead product development, maintain standards, and ensure brand guidelines align with customer needs.

You will collaborate with vendors, product managers, QA, procurement, marketing and category management to drive innovation and timely product launches. You will manage plant trials, provide clear production guidance, and present new concepts to leadership to support Loblaw Brand goals.

Qualifications

• Post-secondary university degree in Food Sciences.
• Minimum 4–7 years of experience in food product development or quality assurance with strong technical skills.
• Minimum 2 years’ experience working in a manufacturing environment.
• Excellent communication skills and stakeholder management.
• Ability to work independently and in a team across various levels, including vendors and production teams.
• Strong problem-solving, analytical and change-management abilities.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain product standards and brand guidelines to meet customer needs and drive innovation.
• Collaborate with vendors, product managers, QA, procurement, marketing and category management to bring concepts to life.
• Lead vendor communication, data collection and specification reviews; ensure timelines and Critical Path milestones are met.
• Oversee plant trials, support first productions and optimize development processes to meet Loblaw Brand standards.
• Present new products to Loblaw Brands Management and broader organization.

Skills

Creative problem solver

Highly organized

Excellent communication

Interpersonal skills

Relationship management

Independent worker

Team collaboration

Influencing skills

Critical thinking

Change agent

Results oriented

Travel readiness

Education

Post‑secondary university degree in Food Sciences

Job description

Come make your difference in communities across Canada, where authenticity, trust and making connections is valued – as we shape the future of Canadian retail, together. Our unique position as one of the country’s largest employers, coupled with our commitment to positively impact the lives of all Canadians, provides our colleagues a range of opportunities and experiences to help Canadians Live Life Well®.

At Loblaw Companies Limited, we succeed through collaboration and commitment and set a high bar for ourselves and those around us. Whether you are just starting your career, re-entering the workforce, or looking for a new job, this is where you belong.

All of our Loblaw control labels and brands make us proud because they follow our philosophy of taking something good and making it better – and that’s what our customers expect when they shop in our stores! It’s been true since the introduction of The Decadent Chocolate Chip Cookie, and it’s still true today, with our PC Blue Menu and PC Organics products.

We market our control label products in the food, health and beauty, apparel and general merchandise categories under brand names that include President’s Choice, PC, No Name, Blue Menu, Joe Fresh, Club Pack, PC Organics, Life Brand and Exact.

The Sr. Product Developer plays a crucial role in the innovation process. We are seeking a candidate with a strong technical food sciences background who has expertise in Product Development. Your role involves technical, formula, and sensory validation of products, as well as understanding global industry developments and food trends. You should also have a strong culinary (or equivalent) background and industry-specific manufacturing and production knowledge. It is important to have a thorough understanding of ingredient specifications, manufacturing processes, plant trial processes, packaging, regulatory requirements, nutrition, and labeling.

As a Sr. Product Developer with Loblaw Brands, your main responsibility is to develop and maintain product standards and brand guidelines to meet customer needs and drive innovation. You will collaborate with various teams such as vendors, product managers, quality assurance, procurement, marketing, and category management to identify opportunities and bring product concepts to life.

In addition to your technical expertise, you will also be involved in vendor communication, data collection, and specification reviews. You will work in a lively and fast-paced environment, collaborating with various teams and being a key player during product launches and brand presentations. Strong timeline management and people influencing skills are important, as well as a deep knowledge of ongoing food trends.

Overall, your role as a Sr. Product Developer is to ensure that Loblaw’s control brand products meet high standards, align with customer expectations, and contribute to the company’s philosophy of taking something good and making it better.

Accountabilities:

• Work closely with our team of experts to develop and test new and existing ingredients, develop and finalize recipes and pass the sensory approval process.
• Possesses a deep understanding of current and future food and industry trends and applies this knowledge in the development and planning process.
• Reviews product portfolio on an ongoing basis to ensure relevance and best quality in marketplace. As required, takes steps to optimize portfolio by addressing and correcting product performance issues.
• Work with Product Manager to provide detailed briefs to vendors and clear product development targets and timelines.
• Work with vendors through all stages of the development process to ensure Critical Path timelines are met.
• Work with the Product Management & Development teams to ensure brand and project targets are being met and provide clear and directive feedback to vendor to ensure project remains on track and address sidebar concerns
• Attend and execute successful plant trials and support first productions to optimize the product development process and take corrective actions that ensure products deliver to Loblaw Brand standards. Understands the variability of each manufacturer and works with the vendor to develop clear production processes per our required brand standards.
• Timely management of Product Development critical path timelines that are delivered at all key points, and lend in delivering the overall product plan, while ensuring product standard and targets are met.
• Present new products to the Loblaw Brands Management team and to the broader organization to drive understanding of product concept and outstanding product attributes and overall product context/historical understanding
• Creator and owner of new product specifications and ensures all appropriate process controls are mandated for the ongoing delivery of product standards

Role Requirements:

• Post‑secondary university degree in Food Sciences
• Proven experience (minimum 4-7 years) in food product development or quality assurance role with strong technical skills.
• Minimum 2 years’ experience working in a manufacturing environment
• Creative problem solver and strategist with a strong work ethic.
• Highly organized, able to prioritize multiple projects effectively and work independently in a fast‑paced environment.
• Sophisticated understanding and knowledge of product formulations, manufacturing, packaging and testing applications
• Require basic knowledge of applicable government regulations
• Excellent oral/written communication skills, interpersonal skills and relationship management
• Ability to work well independently and as a team with people across all levels, unionized and non‑unionized to address problems and communicate sophisticated topics to non‑technical audiences.
• Able to influence and interact optimally with all levels at retail/distribution, vendor and office locations
• Strong critical thinking and problem‑solving skills
• An effective change agent who possesses the influencing skills needed to help the organization adopt new ways of thinking and to accept more sophisticated business tools
• Results oriented – consistently delivering on time
• Travel will be required and will include local, national and international

At Loblaw, we respect the environment, source products with integrity and make a positive difference in the community. We offer our colleagues progressive careers, comprehensive training, flexibility, and other competitive benefits – these are some of the many reasons why we are one of Canada’s Top Employers.

Loblaw recognizes Canada’s diversity as a source of national pride and strength. We have made it a priority to reflect our nation’s evolving diversity in the products we sell, the people we hire, and the culture we build in our organization. At Loblaw, we celebrate diversity where differences are valued and supported. Commitment to being an equal opportunity employer is a priority to us, and we encourage people from all backgrounds and identities to apply to our jobs.

Accommodation in the recruitment, assessment, and hiring process is available upon request for applicants with disabilities.

Our commitment to Sustainability and Social Impact is an essential part of the way we do business, and we focus on areas where we can have the greatest impact. Our approach to sustainability and social impact is based on three pillars – Environment, Sourcing and Community – and we are constantly looking for ways to demonstrate leadership in these important areas. Our CORE Values – Care, Ownership, Respect and Excellence – guide all our decision-making and come to life through our Blue Culture. We offer our colleagues progressive careers, comprehensive training, flexibility, and other competitive benefits – these are some of the many reasons why we are one of Canada’s Top Employers, Canada’s Best Diversity Employers, Canada’s Greenest Employers & Canada’s Top Employers for Young People.

We are looking for varied perspectives which include diverse experiences that we can add to our team.

We have a long-standing focus on diversity, equity and inclusion because we know it will make our company a better place to work and shop. We are committed to creating accessible environments for our colleagues, candidates and customers. Requests for accommodation due to a disability (which may be visible or invisible, temporary or permanent) can be made at any stage of application and employment. We encourage candidates to make their accommodation needs known so that we can provide equitable opportunities.

Please Note:

Candidates who are 18 years or older are required to complete a criminal background check. Details will be provided through the application process.

Hiring Range / Échelle salariale à l’embauche :

$96,000.00 - $132,000.00 / 96.000,00$ - 132.000,00$ (per year / par an)

A candidate’s experience and knowledge as well as the geographical region in which the position is located may be factored into the pay a candidate receives for this position. This posting is for an existing vacancy. The Company uses artificial intelligence for the purpose of screening, assessing and/or selecting applicants for this position. / L’expérience et les connaissances d’un candidat ainsi que la région géographique dans laquelle le poste est situé peuvent être prises en compte dans la rémunération qu’un candidat reçoit pour ce poste. Cette offre d’emploi concerne un poste vacant existant. L’entreprise utilise l’intelligence artificielle dans le but de filtrer, d’évaluer et/ou de sélectionner les candidats à ce poste.

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