Product Development Executive

Brakes UK; Ashford; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

Brakes UK is seeking a Product Development Executive to enhance their product offerings. The role involves supporting product development across categories, requires food industry experience, and offers a hybrid working model with competitive salary and benefits.

Benefits

Generous holiday allowance

Pension scheme

Hybrid working

Discounts on food products

Cinema and shopping discounts

Career progression opportunities

Qualifications

• Previous experience in food technology or manufacturing.
• Communication skills to engage with multiple stakeholders.
• Ability to work independently and in a team.

Responsibilities

• Support food development panels for existing and new products.
• Create supplier-facing product development briefs.
• Track end-to-end new line setup process.

Skills

Project management

Food product experience

Commercial business awareness

Team collaboration

Job description

Brakes, part of Sysco GB, are currently recruiting for a Product Development Executive to join the team on a full time, permanent basis. As a Product Development Executive, you will be working across several product categories as part of the merchandising function, the product development role works alongside procurement, technical, category and supply chain to support and deliver the wider team business strategy goals.

Your role is to support elements of the end-to-end development process to expediate the delivery of projects across categories. You will shadow development managers to gain full insight and knowledge of the development process from brief to launch. You will be trained to look after a small product group within a category or a supplier for ongoing development and career planning.

This role is offering a hybrid working contract, working 3 days per week in our Ashford, Kent office for Team Collaboration, so you must be in a commutable distance and open to travel as this role will require regular UK travelling and occasional European/International travelling.

Key Accountabilities & Responsibilities:

• Supporting in all food Panels for existing product development and new product development.
• Product quality Benchmarking
• Organising of sample requests for external customers.
• Create supplier facing product development briefs for NPD & EPD
• Review & validate first draft supplier specifications.
• Activity Tracking: Track and monitor end to end new line set up process.
• Support with the implementation of Sysco product tiering
• Ownership of critical timelines by task by project.
• Obtaining all food samples internally and externally for panels and benchmarking

About you:

The ideal candidate will be a foodie at heart and have previous food product experience, within a food technology/ manufacturing and/ or hospitality industry. You will have some experience with project management and possess commercial business awareness, and will be able to communicate with multiple levels of stakeholders. You will have the ability to work independently and as part of a team to achieve your targets.

Successful candidates must hold a valid clean UK Driving License and have access to their own vehicle.

What you’ll receive:

• A competitive salary
• Generous holiday allowance, with option to purchase 5 additional holiday days
• Pension scheme
• Hybrid working contract
• Huge discounts on all sorts of lovely food and award-winning products through our staff shop
• Discounts on Cinema tickets, shopping and earn cashback on purchases through our colleague benefit scheme, Sysco Perks.
• Incentives and Recognition awards for exceptional and long service
• Career progression opportunities - being part of Sysco, the world’s leading foodservice business, opens up a world of possibility

At Brakes everyone is welcome. We don’t want you to ‘fit our culture’ we want you to help define it and we actively celebrate the unique talents of each and every colleague. We don’t just look at your CV, we’re more focused on who you are and your potential. As part of our values, we are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive culture where everyone has a voice, is appreciated and has the same opportunities. We work hard to ensure that everyone feels part of our business, as we care for one another and connect the world through food and trusted partnerships. Our ultimate goal is to ensure that everyone belongs and thrives at Brakes and we recognise that Brakes can only thrive when everyone feels they belong. We'll do everything we can to support you during your application. If you need us to make any adjustments to our recruitment process, speak to our resourcing team who will be happy to support you.