Job Description

Reporting directly to the NPD Manager. Responsible for driving NPD projects from initial concept to launch whilst adhering to the critical path and following the NPD process controls in an efficient and timely manner to achieve both customer and internal business expectations.

Key Duties:

• Working closely with the Production, Commercial, Procurement and Technical teams to interpret customer brief recipe formulations and analytical information for all NPD/EPD activity for key major accounts from initial concept brief to product launch.
• Responsible for the control and preparation of samples and customer specific technical data documentation to the agreed specification in the most representative manner suitable to existing factory process controls for customer presentations and sample despatches.
• Ensuring that the necessary TDS/Pack copy documentation is completed accurately and distributed accordingly within analytical targets.
• Storing and updating both a paper file and shared hard drive recipe formulation system for each project that can be easily identified by customer and referred to as required. Ensure all amends to recipes are tracked by version number, date and reason for changes.
• Updating correct and concise information for the Best Mix \xc2\xae nutritional database system and ensuring that the information is shared as necessary.
• Attending on line tutorial and external courses to learn the various customer specific specification systems.
• Accurately inputting concise product/packaging information into customer specific database to create pack copy information to generate artwork.
• Checking and completing the artwork approval check list document LREC 160 to ensure all information is correct for pack copy label.
• Attending the NPD daily morning meeting in the lab kitchen and setting out and updating the daily task sample despatch planner (white board). Updating tasks as completed whilst highlighting any issues to the NPD/Commercial teams during the working day regarding not achieving that day\xe2\x80\x99s tasks. Reporting of sample despatches and technical data sheets via email at the end of each day to the NPD/Commercial team.
• Working closely with the Commercial/NPD team to achieve sales objectives and priority projects in a timely manner as set out within the sales pipeline/ priority documents to ensure that customer briefs and objectives are met and that the critical path is followed to deliver to customer expectation. Adhering to project co-ordination targets and ensuring emerging market opportunities are maximised to achieve commercial objectives.
• Liaising with the NPD Manager/Commercial Director/Project Coordinator to identify which are the priority projects and ensuring that these projects are completed first.
• Supporting the Management Team and fellow colleagues alike to adhere to a continuous improvement quality management system regarding the introduction of any new documentation and procedures that would benefit the business.
• Identifying and implementing new and emerging opportunities and monitoring new development processes to optimise efficiencies and enhance resource utilisation.
• Providing accurate concise product information by supporting the Commercial, Production, Technical and Planning teams for new product launches and to identify cost saving techniques

and processes as part of the company continuous improvement plan directive. Adhering to stringent specifications and producing high quality work at all times with a positive \xe2\x80\x98can-do\xe2\x80\x99 attitude.

• Building strong relationships with other departments, attending and contributing to the weekly sales pipeline meeting to update the Commercial and NPD team regarding project updates and sharing/reviewing the sample movement calendar log. Attending consistency and benchmarking product meetings and sharing knowledge with product specification queries.
• Collating weekly update reports regarding products currently in development and reporting on any issues or concerns. Liaise with Directors, Managers, Quality Assurance, Technical and Operations to ensure that all these departments are engaged in the process.
• Work closely with the process and operations teams to ensure that you have a good understanding of the company\xe2\x80\x99s manufacturing capabilities.
• Collating and controlling a central database for all benchmarking/sample stock held in the lab kitchen store room that can be easily located.
• Attending weekly factory trial meetings as necessary, coordinating raw materials and conducting factory trials to record all relevant information. Collating and distributing reports to identifying needs for both new and EPD processes. Identifying machinery and staff training requirements and to identify yields, giveaways and cost insights for both new and existing products to maximise cost benefits and reduce wastage whilst maximising efficiencies.
• Communicating with the Procurement and Purchase Manager dealing directly with approved ingredient suppliers to source new raw materials. Reviewing both primal and finished pack specifications for meat and raw material ingredients to minimise costs and waste.
• You will strive to continually improve products by;

• Being aware of current and new competitor products
• Ensuring products are best in their class
• Keeping up to date on the latest trends by researching the market and finding new ideas for packaging and ingredients.
• Ensure all NPD, Ingredient, packaging and supplier databases are kept up to date, accurate and complete, with relation to new materials.
• Work with the rest of the management team to optimize resource and support team members.
• Working at all times in clean and tidy manner, with a clear organised focus.

Health and Safety Duties

• Maintaining H&S and hygiene standards in accordance with Company rules and regulations.

Resourcing Partnership