NPD Product Manager

Role Overview:

To deliver and shape Oscar Mayer’s key customers retail and branded product agenda with responsibility of managing the Stage & Gate Process from concept to launch. Driving a customer first approach, achieving commercially viable, consumer focused, innovative meal solutions across the total business manufacturing capabilities.

Key Responsibilities & Accountabilities:

• Manage the full customer brief lifecycle from concept to launch to deliver commercially viable first-class NPD across all manufacturing facilities.
• Own and maintain critical paths, meeting cadence and documentation working closely with all relevant internal cross functions, in line with the Stage & Gate Process.
• Input accurate product information, ensuring key milestone completion on the business recipe management system.
• Lead, motivate and manage direct reports, supporting their continuous growth.
• Develop & maintain a strong collaborative working relationship with customers at relevant levels, leading customer panels, and presentations.
• Build and lead presentations to Inspire customers, internal and external in a professional and confident manner.
• Support the NPD Director in scoping and shaping a consumer centric long term product pipeline to drive a proactive approach, influencing customers briefs and product ranges.
• Work collaboratively with the wider NPD function and supporting cross functions to Identify and translate, Food, Consumer and Lifestyle trends into retail ready food products.
• Proactively drive internally a customer, food first agenda challenging processes, ingredients, and packaging to deliver newness.
• Identify and deliver continuous improvement opportunities to renovate and refresh the current product portfolio, through benchmarking, category analysis, and new raw material optimization.
• Drive commercial awareness ensuring product launches achieve agreed commercial targets.

Key Attributes:

• Excellent Food Development & Manufacturing knowledge.
• Exceptional communication, presentation, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Strong Project management skill set.
• Ability to translate market & consumer insights into commercially viable innovative products.
• Confident in managing multiple prioritize in a fast-paced environment.
• A passion for food, Innovative, curious, and adaptable to change.
• Collaborative mindset with the ability to influence.
• Proactive & organized.
• Result driven, Customer focused.

Required Experience and Qualifications:

• Qualified to degree level or above in Food Science or a related subject.
• Additional training in Project Management would be beneficial.
• Strong and proven track record of NPD achievements at a relevant level within food manufacturing or FMCG
• Experience managing multiple projects across multiple business units, working with retail and branded customers.
• Demonstrable experience of managing people through leadership and coaching.

Additional Information:

• Site based with regular travel to customers and Oscar Mayer business units.

Please note: This job description outlines the core responsibilities and duties of the role. It is not an exhaustive list, and the role may evolve over time to include additional tasks and responsibilities in line with business needs.

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