Senior Product Development Manager - 12 Month FTC

pladis operates in highly competitive, fast-moving markets where it is essential to maintain and extend market share through profitable branded growth. Successful innovation through product development, continuous value improvement and consumer perceived quality superiority vs. the competition are critical. This is a critical role responsible for building opportunities to explore, develop and implement protocepts to prototypes to fit concepts that will drive brand strategies across multiple geographies. They will work closely with marketing teams to activate and bring to reality technical briefs. They will support the Breakthrough Product Director in the delivery against an ambitious and transformational breakthrough product strategy that is aligned to the growth ambition and sustainability aspirations of the company.

Responsibilities

Managing the development and the Global Savoury Expansion initiative; Leading initiatives to unlock future technologies by applying product and process knowledge to build scale platforms for innovation; Defining and delivering technical concepts into product development; Developing solutions to technical hurdles; Providing a technical response to commercial briefs; Owning and delivering bench samples and pilot/factory trials; Managing trial budgets and project plans; Managing and being accountable for all technical aspects of product design and developments across global regions/markets; Collaborating with others to build and deliver appropriate solutions to defined technical hurdles; Inputting technical detail into Stage & Gate process and translating this into a Product Development Programme; Identifying technical hurdles, compiling technical risk assessments and contingencies and project managing projects; Ensuring timely completion of project documentation; Ensuring technical gates are completed at each stage plus ingredient specs, product specs, HARA, and product quality attributes; Overall responsibility for development of bench samples, planning and running pilot plant and factory trials; Ensuring all work is carried out in a safe and hygienic manner following GMPs; Regularly reviewing trial budget and associated phased spend; Drawing up product specs to final status and ensuring effective handover to regional Categories Product Development Teams; Contributing to regional Innovation strategy through support of conceptualisation and proactive NPD; Managing, empowering and mentoring subordinates; Ensuring product development facilities are maintained to a safe and hygienic standard using lean principles; Ensuring personal development plans are built, kept current and actioned; Acting as technical mentor across team; Proposing and managing resource requirements; Having technical ownership for several products/brands

Requirements

Purpose-led; Resilient; Positive; Pace and agility; Collaboration; Accountability; Entrepreneurial spirit; Embody Winning Traits; Competent and skilled at working across cultures and functions; Able to work effectively with internal and external partners; Excellent core technical skills; Strong understanding and experience in product development and managing projects/programs; Good understanding of process/chemical engineering principles; Able to understand the needs of the business, consumers and customers; Self-starter; Drive for results