Product Developer : Pet & Baby

Woolworths; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 400,000 - 600,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading retail company in Cape Town is seeking an experienced product developer to interpret customer needs and deliver innovative product plans in the Pet and Baby categories. The ideal candidate will possess a strong understanding of the market and project management skills, along with a relevant degree. This role entails integrating product strategy and achieving developmental milestones collaboratively. Competitive compensation is offered, along with a commitment to transformation and diversity.

Qualifications

• 3-5 years of foods product development or related experience.
• Understanding of the Pet & Baby market.
• Proven ability to work with a design team.

Responsibilities

• Interpret customer needs to deliver a product development plan.
• Integrate product strategy into development plans.
• Achieve milestones while encouraging quality outputs.

Skills

Product development

Project management

Strong communication skills

Innovation strategy

Attention to detail

Education

BSc Consumer Science or Relevant degree

Job description

Main Purpose

To interpret customer needs and lifestyle trends to deliver a product development plan that delivers leading innovation, maximises core growth, ensures consistent high quality, value for money and exceeds our customer’s expectations, whilst contributing to the respective category’s overall profitability.

Key Responsibilities

Integrate and implement product strategy into development plans for the relevant department(s):

• Understand the retail competitor market & customer need states to meet and exceed expectations.
• Apply customer & trends insights into product development briefs for suppliers.

Drive and maintain a world-class sustainable product and packaging standard and framework:

• Integrate with Central Quality & Suppliers to conduct and analyse comparative and directional benchmarking and translate outcomes into product plans where applicable.
• Display a clear understanding of the science (aesthetics, sensorial elements, safety aspects) of the relevant category, while keeping abreast and implementing new advancements where relevant.

Inspire and influence the product teams and key stakeholders to deliver industry leadership positions:

• Collaboratively and inclusively integrate with key stakeholders in achieving key product development milestones, ensuring a commercial and sustainability lens is considered at all times.
• Timeously achieve milestones by consistently encouraging and aligning quality outputs

Amplify and embody an environment of creativity, growth, knowledge and empowerment:

• Demonstrate a strong work ethic and commitment to quality, setting a high standard for the team to follow.
• Understand and actively share culinary and technical product knowledge with suppliers, matrix, and PD teams.

Drive, integrate, and own product development processes and supporting systems:

• Ensure alignment and integration with the Packaging Support Specialist to ensure packaging is considered throughout the development process.
• Demonstrate a clear understanding of how relevant and effective FMCG products are developed from conceptualisation to post-launch on shelf, including production processes within our supplier base.

Key Competencies

• BSc Consumer Science or Relevant degree/ diploma.
• 3- 5 years + foods product development or related experience
• Pet and / or Baby experience will be advantageous
• A Passion and understanding of Pet and Baby category
• Understanding of the Pet & Baby market
• A superior eye for detail and product flair is essential
• Ability to interpret and drive innovation strategy across category
• An innovative specialist that can work independently, who can assertively initiate, drive and execute new product development
• Understanding of retail, foods & lifestyle trends and target market & range segmentation
• Customer knowledge & understanding
• Strong planning and project management skills
• Results driven
• Innovative / continuous improvement mind-set
• Team player with appreciation of diversity
• Computer literate
• Strong communication skills (both written and verbal)
• Proven commercial aptitude – ability to understand and use financial indicators
• Ability to incorporate product strategy into supplier base
• Proven ability to work with design team to ensure appropriate visual imagery is developed within the corporate brand identity
• Strong integrator – proven ability to work within in a matrix and lead / drive cross group projects
• Strong presentation, communication and negotiation skills
• Ability to set and improve quality standards in a complex supplier base.

“As a proud South African brand, Woolworths is committed to transformation. Meeting our employment equity goals will be taken into account in our recruitment decisions.”

If you are interested in the above position please send your CV to [e-mail] and specify in the subject line the position you are applying for.