Food Scientist - New Product Development

Primary Purpose of Role:

The position provides support to multiple global and regional projects with an emphasis on new product development, product line extensions, product/process improvements, cost optimization, margin improvement, or other work as assigned. The incumbent will work in partnership with the other disciplines involved in the project team following the general principles of project management

Roles and Responsibilities & Key Deliverables:

Product Development projects and execution:

- Generation of timelines taking into consideration all aspects of the project following the Stage Gate process as project technical lead, in partnership with Commercial Lead and Project manager.

- Follow structured product development process to develop commercially viable products in line with the Brief to agreed time, cost and quality requirements.

- Due diligence to Innovation Management process, procedures and documentation ensuring all necessary information is available. Member of a project team to deliver workable solutions

- Develop a focused implementation plan including agreed and approved documentation to ensure smooth handover to production and QA

Customer and Supplier Support:

Interface with customers, suppliers and Co-Man, as required to meet R&D and Company objectives:

- Lead assigned projects at Co-Man and McCain Inter company

- Realize customer needs by developing new concepts, prototypes and products

- Coordinate ingredient and technology sourcing, evaluation, improvement activities with suppliers and technology partners

- Assist Sales and Marketing in developing and delivering effective customer presentations

Provides technical support to Operations, QA, Procurement, Engineering and other departments, as assigned, in identifying and solving product design and manufacturing issues

- Provides project management leadership for complex work or problems

- Provides effective cross-functional team leadership as necessary on a project basis

- Operate online specification management system

- Present products professionally and confidently both internally and externally when required always completing necessary records

Organizational Relationships:

This position reports to the Head - R&D:

- Ability to work independently to make sound business decisions and can accurately balance risks with business needs

- Main Interactions Within & Outside Organization

Name of Contact (Title, Group) Purpose of Interaction Frequency:

(Daily, Monthly) lnternal Marketing. Innovation Finance:

- Integrated Supply Chain Gains understanding of consumer and insights and translates that into product that delivers against the insight. Interfacing with stage gate process Regular

- Engage the experts to solve the technical problems Regular To understand product costs Monthly Interface to ensure successful commercialization of product and flawless technology transfer into the production facilities. Interface during gate process Regular

- External Retailers and Food service customers

- Ingredient and Equipment suppliers

- Provide technical support when meeting with customers

Knowledge/Experience:

- Minimum of 5years of demonstrated successful work experience in food product development and related area.

- Professional/ Technical Competencies

Critical Technical (Function-Specific) Competencies:

- Demonstrates thorough understanding of Food manufacturing operations and production facilities, possesses extensive familiarity with production equipment and capabilities

- Applies scientific principles and analytical methodologies to assigned projects and problems

- Ability to perform mathematical calculations and utilize statistical techniques to analyze and present data

- Ability to interpret consumer research data and apply to product development

- Has working knowledge of statistical process control concepts

- Has working knowledge of general mathematics and scientific weights and measures

- Strong working knowledge of food laws and regulations required, including nutritional facts development, ingredient declarations, formulation development and maintain proper R&D documentation

General Behavioral and Business Competencies:

- Ability to prioritize workload and be well organized on projects

- Able to work both as an individual and as a team player with good interpersonal skills

- Demonstrated project management skills

- Ability to work in a matrix organization and across regions and cultures

- Focus on action and outcomes and attention to detail

- Positive attitude and highly self-motivated

- A lateral thinker who seeks to present solutions, not problems

- A flexible individual, able to handle multiple tasks competently

- Communications - ability to communicate with both technical and non-technical; able to communicate complicated technical matters

Behavioral Competencies:

Academic:

Must have:

- Bachelor's degree Btech (Food Technology/ Science) B.Sc (Food Science)

Must/Nice to have:

- Masters -Msc. (Food tech)/ M.Tech Food Science