Product Development Manager

Michael Page

UAE

Ref: HP350-1907

Job description / Role

Employment: Full Time

The Product Development manager is a key enabler in the delivery of the short and medium term innovation pipeline together and in collaboration with Marketing & the cross-functional project team for the designated category (Bakery). The position is expected to lead and execute the product development part of an agreed set of projects and ensure flawless execution from concept to implementation into the plant.

Provide the technical and scientific expertise to support the Continuous Improvement Program for existing range, such as recipe re-formulation for quality improvement or cost saving opportunities.

Client is a leading, fully integrated food and beverage company and manages a world class portfolio of integrated businesses providing high-quality trusted food and beverage products for customers across the UAE, GCC, Turkey and the wider Middle East.

Having been in the Middle east industry for over 11 years, the company employs approximately 2,000 - 3000 employees working across their two main business divisions: B2B and B2C. The company operates under major leading brands and is growing its operations with over 20% increase in profit and 11% increase in sales in the second quarter of 2015.

The role of Product Development Manager - Bakery will include, but not limited to the following:

Develop New Product in line with business strategy:
Working closely with the Marketing, Manufacturing, Quality & Food Safety & Procurement teams, the Product Development Manager will be responsible for the Bakery category to:

* Define benchmark (BIC) / assess competitor
* Develop concept / recipes against a target cost
* Select raw materials / suppliers accordingly
* Prepare finished product prototypes for qualitative consumer validation either internal or external (to ensure high product acceptance at launch)
* Use sensory evaluation as a tool to define/evaluate quality attributes to achieve (versus competition)
* Work with Packaging Technologist for the development of a suitable packaging solutions for the product.
* Arrange for Technical feasibility (pilot plant or line Trials), in house or with suppliers/universities when production lines/equipment not available within business units & produce samples for shelf life studies & for quantitative consumer research (if required)
* Prepare ingredients list & nutritional facts for the declaration on the pack. Ensure that the recipe meets the claims on the pack, and that all ingredients are meeting the GSO standards
* Write & arrange sign off of raw materials specifications, BOM, product specifications (including identifying Key Quality Attributes)
* Lead the commissioning of new product & handover to production (prepare log sheet / recipe sheet with targets and tolerances)

Manage raw materials / Recipes/ process cost saving initiatives

Working closely with the QA, procurement and production teams, the jobholder will be responsible for the designated category to: -
* Identify opportunities in raw material cost saving: alternative supplier / alternative specifications.
* Identify opportunities in recipe cost saving: reduction/replacement of costly ingredients (without impacting product quality)
* Organize trials to produce samples for evaluation (sensory/ analytical, physical), organize sensory tests, compile data/ results into report with final recommendation & publish on the R&D folder for future reference/audit

Manage the designated lab facility in the R&D Center & manage 1 technologists

Job Offer:
competitve

Requirements

* Must have extensive R&D experience
* Must have worked in Food Manufacturing industry
* Minimum of 5 years of functional experience with 3 year or more within a Bakery / R&D team in product or process development preferably in the Flour / bakeries
* Experience in MNC's in preferable
* Knowledge of product stability tests / evaluation (including sensory tools)
* Knowledge of food safety and food hygiene standards, Food laws, Packaging and Raw materials specifications

About the Company

Michael Page is one of the world's leading professional recruitment consultancies, specializing in the placement of candidates in permanent, contract, temporary and interim positions with clients around the world.

The Group has operations in the UK, Continental Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Americas. In the Middle East we focus on the areas of:

Finance & Accounting Banking & Financial Services Procurement Property & Construction Engineering & Supply Chain Oil & Gas Technical and Engineering Human Resources Sales Marketing Technology Secretarial Executive Search Legal

The Group operates through 161 offices in 33 countries and employs over 5,000 employees worldwide.

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Procurement Coordinator salaries in UAE

Average monthly compensation
AED 8,500

Breakdown available for industries, cities and years of experience