Senior Product Development Manager

pladis; High Wycombe; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job description

Want to help us bring happiness to the world? Want to join an ambitious and fast growing global biscuits and confectionery business investing heavily in iconic global brands, infrastructure and people? Then this is the place for you.

As proud bakers and chocolatiers and custodians of iconic global brands, we don’t compromise on the quality of ingredients in our products or on the people we hire. We are looking for entrepreneurial spirits who share our passion for bringing happiness to our consumers and who embody our Winning Traits.

To succeed at pladis you need to be purpose-led, resilient, and positive to succeed here because we expect pace and agility, we insist on collaboration and demand accountability. If that is your thing, then pladis offers global ambition, a clear Vision and roadmap for success, challenge, and unrivalled opportunities to learn and make an impact.

What will this role achieve?

We have an opportunity for a Senior Product Development Manager to join our R&D Team in High Wycombe. This vacancy has opened due to an internal promotion. The successful candidate will join our elevated indulgence team which will include projects on McVitie’s chocolate coated products (Club, Signature, Gold). The role is both proactive, taking opportunities to develop concepts to fit with brand strategies and reactive to technical briefs from the marketing teams. This person reports into the Head of Product Development and will lead a team of 2 Product Development Technologists.

What will be your key deliverables?

• Manage and be accountable for all technical aspects of product design and deliver developments to market, meeting the quality, cost and timings encouraged.
• Collaborate with others to build and deliver appropriate solutions to defined technical hurdles.
• Provide a technical response to the commercial brief and completing Acorn. Input technical detail into Stage & Gate process then translate this into a Product Development Programme.
• Propose and manage resource requirements, within design team and propose resource from other technical teams.
• Identify technical hurdles, compile technical risk assessment and contingencies, communicate to product design lead/Project Manager any project issues.
• Ensure timely completion of project documentation and monitor, acting upon it accordingly.
• Ensure technical gates are completed at each stage plus ensure the completion of ingredient specs, product specs, HARA, and product quality attributes delegating tasks to project team as appropriate.
• Overall responsibility for the development of bench samples, planning and running pilot plant and factory trials (pladis and Suppliers), and presentation of samples to marketing.
• Ensure that all work is carried out in a safe and hygienic manner, following factory or bakery GMPs.
• Regular review trial's budget for a project and the associated phased spend ensuring regular update of cost tracking spreadsheet and reviewing with line manager.
• Draw up product specs to final status ensuring effective handover of the development to the factory following an appropriate post launch review.
• Contribution to regional pladis Innovation strategy through support of conceptualisation and proactive NPD.
• Manage, empower and mentor subordinates, so that their personal and technical development needs are identified and acted upon.
• Work with colleagues to ensure that product development facilities are maintained to a safe and hygienic standard and operate using lean principles. Drive for continuous improvement.
• Ensure that personal development plans are built, kept current and actioned as appropriate.
• Use their breadth of experience to act as a technical mentor across the team to ensure mitigation of risk to execution of projects.
• Have technical ownership for several products/brands on behalf of the Product Development Lead.

Bring your experience.

Essential

• Proven experience in more than one category (snacks, cake, sweet, savoury biscuits, confectionery) in a technical or commercial role.
• Validated experience in product development demonstrated through successful management of portfolio of projects.
• Experience in leading cross-functional project teams to achieve an agreed objective.
• Project management experience, including a good understanding of the roles and responsibilities of project team members.
• Demonstrable success in launching products.
• Creative approaches to problem solving.
• Food presentation skills.
• Strong understanding of food legislation.

Desirable

• University degree level qualification in Food Science/Technology.
• Experience in line management and mentoring, training and development of subordinates.
• Understanding of Lean principles/Lean Sigma.
• Process knowledge outside of ambient Cakes/biscuits/Snacks.
• Knowledge of global pladis brands, business, key competitors and key markets.

What will the interview process be?

• 1st stage interview – 45 minutes competency-based interview based on our company values and your experiences.
• 2nd stage interview – 60 minutes – a technical interview to understand your skill set/case study or presentation interview.
• Final interview based on Leadership Success Model Assessment/role competencies.

What does pladis offer you?

• Annual Car allowance, paid monthly (if eligible by grade).
• Annual Incentive Plan (AIP)– this is the business’s annual bonus scheme.
• Opportunity to self-enrol into Health Cash Plan.
• Private medical Insurance (if eligible by grade).
• Stakeholder Pension Scheme.
• Life Assurance Cover ~ upon enrolment to Stakeholder Pension Scheme.
• 25 days + bank holidays.
• Holiday Enhancement Scheme.
• 1 Volunteering Day per year.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Discounted gym membership – Carlisle and Chiswick only.
• Discount and Cashback Scheme – make your everyday spending work hard for you on major high street brands, supermarkets and services.
• Access to Employee Assistance Programme.
• Financial Wellbeing Support.
• Access to great training and development opportunities.

Our Values

Purpose led – We’re energised and guided by our purpose to bring happiness with every bite.

Agile – We’re ever evolving, we never stand still, always improving for our customers and our consumers.

Positive – We’re highly motivated optimistic, courageous, and we inspire each other to be better.

Resilient - We’re persistent in the face of setbacks, quick to adapt, learn and move forward.

Collaborative – We gain strength from operating as one pladis, winning and succeeding together.

Best mix of ingredients

pladis is an equal opportunities employer, like every great recipe we’re a thoughtful mix. A happy and inclusive place to work that’s as diverse as our consumers and the communities we support, live and work in, all around the world. Where every voice is heard, and difference is celebrated. Where fresh perspectives and new ideas help us grow and thrive.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform key job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

pladis is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to hiring a diverse workforce. All openings will be filled based on qualifications without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, marital status, veteran status, disability, age, religion or any other classification protected by law.