Key deliverables: 

Strategy and Business Knowledge 

• Interact with R&D to guide and commercialise key technologies essential for new innovation both internally and externally  

• Interact with brand managers to populate savoury pipeline in line with strategy 

• Interact with flavour houses, seasoning and ingredient suppliers to create both base and topical flavour systems. 

• Knowledge and understanding of regional taste differences and is able to apply to work appropriately as well as advise others.  

• Working closely with sensory to get to the right product. 

• Utilise supplier technology to deliver unique solutions to the marketplace 

Creation/Project Management 

• Demonstrate a leadership role in new projects and initiatives on savoury crisps and snacks. 

• Proactive in using new materials and advancing technology 

• Continue to prove commercial success through new and aligned relevant innovation and new wins 

• Demonstrate consistent year-over-year portfolio progression 

• Direct technology development and implementation 

• Create and execute training programs for technical and commercial staff on seasoning and flavour. 

• Key input and/or leadership role into savoury community of practice. 

• Anticipate, investigate and resolve problems related to raw materials, flavour systems, finished prototypes and initial scale up procedures 

• Proactive in new raw material evaluation 

• Continue to expand own knowledge 

• Proactively work with new flavour systems and specific areas of improvemen 

• Foster cross category collaboration and knowledge sharing 

This includes:  

• Provide a technical response to the commercial brief and completing Acorn. Input technical detail into Stage & Gate process then translate this into a Product Development Programme. 

• Identify technical hurdles, compile technical risk assessment and contingencies, communicate to product design lead/Project Manager any project issues (including non-functional issues). 

• Ensure timely completion of project documentation and monitor, acting upon it accordingly. 

• Ensure technical gates are completed at each stage plus ensure the completion of ingredient specs, product specs, HARA, and product quality attributes delegating tasks to project team as appropriate. 

• Overall responsibility for the development of bench samples, planning and running pilot plant and factory trials (pladis and Suppliers), and presentation of samples to marketing. 

• Ensure that all work is carried out in a safe and hygienic manner, following factory or bakery GMPs. 

• Regular review trial's budget for a project and the associated phased spend ensuring regular update of cost tracking spreadsheet and reviewing with line manager. 

• Draw up product specs to final status ensuring effective handover of the development to the factory following an appropriate post launch review. 

Leadership & Team management: 

• Manage, empower and mentor team, so that their personal and technical development needs are identified and acted upon - the outputs should be evaluated through the appraisal system. Be a role model for the team promoting high standards of work, and behaviours. 

• Ensure that personal development plans are built, kept current and actioned as appropriate 

• Use their breadth of experience to act as a technical mentor across the team to ensure mitigation of risk to execution of projects. 

• Work with colleagues to ensure that product development facilities are maintained to a safe and hygienic standard and operate using lean principles. Drive for continuous improvement.