NPD Project Manager UK & IRL(Hybrid)

Looking for your next Career Move in ARYZTA?

If you are looking for your next step in your ARYZTA journey, you are in the right place to explore new opportunities across our business.

ARYZTA is for people who are passionate about what they do and doing it well. We take pride in our high quality, delicious food and in our leading position as the world’s number one frozen bakery.

Our employees are one of our key ingredients, and together we play a critical role in driving the continued success of our business. 

We value the development and retention of great people in our business, if you are resilient, ambitious, a team player, and passionate about driving forwards your career with us, we would love to hear from you!

Overall Purpose of the Role:

Reporting to the Head of NPD Manufactured, the NPD Project Manager UK & IRL will play a key role in developing and launching new and/or upgraded product concepts, project managing these concepts through the development process to launch on time and to cost, whilst ensuring that Quality standards are upheld.

In this varied role you will build strong effective relationships with key stakeholders within the customer base and internally so as to be on the forefront of customer briefs and NPD teams within our bakeries. You will own the Product relationship with key customers and be ultimately responsible for ensuring the ISB category is on point and remaining relevant with changing consumer needs.

Main Duties & Responsibilities include:

 New Product Development:

• Ensure the business is at the forefront of innovation and aware of new competitor launches and current food trends.

• Ability to work with insights & category data to identify opportunities within the customer base and lead category reviews

• Ensure that all new products are developed in line with product briefs.

 • Ensuring knowledge of new product development across the group and the suitability of them for both UK & Irish retailers.

• Clearly communicate development briefs (product, price and technical requirements) to each site and have constant communication through the entire development process.

• Ensure that all raw materials sourced are in line with preferred suppliers & customer brand standards.

• Ensure that all products developed are in line with company strategy and that all developments are well communicated to all internal functions.

 • Ensure that product benchmarking and new product panels are being carried out both internally & externally (with customers) across all our categories

• Set up products on SAP and work with Master Data to ensure a smooth launch is achieved.

• Work hands-on in the test bakery where required, baking samples for customer presentations and submissions.

Innovation & Market Awareness:

• Ensure a rolling NPD programme with aligned customer through projected NPD plans.

 • Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of the food retailing market, eg. via trade press, food magazines & competitor shopping, to ensure development of cutting edge & market leading products.

Customer Skills

• Develop strong & lasting relationships with customers by continual communications by way of updates and NPD plans.

• Present new products & upgrades to the customer in a professional manner, demonstrating your bakery, food ingredient & process knowledge & expertise. Preparing samples, presentation packs & any theatre required.

Other:

• Coordinate and communicate the status of all NPD projects

• Ensure a close working relationship with the Commercial, Finance and Operations teams

 • Attend internal & external taste panels when required

• Attend and lead weekly NPD meetings

• Attend site development meetings when possible

• Evaluate new & existing raw materials when required

• Conduct store visits on a regular basis

• Ensure a close working relationship with the aligned sites

• To be aware of and comply with customer brand standards and FSA standards.

To be successful in this role you will possess:

 • Experience in an NPD manager role with retail customer experience

• Love of food and deep knowledge of food trends

• Great project & time management skills

• Skills & experience of customer contact including presentations

• Drive & impetus to go out & seek new ideas and drive to launch

• Excellent interpersonal & communication skills at all levels

• Able to work both as an individual & a team player

• Need to be creative and have a thirst for knowledge

• Not frightened to challenge the “norm”

• Ability to create a favourable first impression, project yourself well and present with confidence

 • Have an outgoing & confident approach

• MS Office working knowledge (Excel, Word, Powerpoint) , SAP proficient

• Demonstrate an above standard knowledge & understanding of food

• Excellent presentation skills

Your Application

At ARYZTA our employees are our number one asset and we support your decision to explore other opportunities within the organization. If you are interested in applying for a new role, please ensure that you inform your current manager. 

Please submit your complete application documents (CV and motivation letter).

We are looking forward to receiving your application on http://www.aryztacareers.com/

Each of our employees throughout the world deserves to be treated with fairness, respect and dignity. 
We are an equal opportunity employer and committed to hiring, training, compensating, and promoting persons based on their individual talents and abilities. We embrace diversity and opportunities are extended to employees and prospective employees without regard to race, colour, gender, religion, age, natural origin, family status, veteran status, sexual orientation, disability, or any other criterion prohibited by applicable federal, state, local, or international laws.