JO 14810 Corporate Director of Product Development- Pantry
POSITION AVAILABLE - # 14810
JOB TITLE: Corp Dir of Product Development -Pantry
LOCATION: Chicago area
SALARY: $ six figure base + 20% bonus
DESCRIPTION:
Responsible for overseeing the pantry team with the primary function of developing and launching of
new products with collateral material twice a year including a rolling three season pipeline. Highly
involved with the recipe applications team to direct testing of products for US/Canadian markets.
Member of the Core Director cross functional team- driving new development, testing, and legal
issues to ensure seamless product introductions.
Ensures production of Marketing and training materials that accurately reflect the products and
overall strategy. Acting General Manager of the category.
Position reports to the Sr VP, Product Development.
Drives the overall Food Pantry Strategy to significantly grow this category over the next 3yrs.
JOB FUNCTIONS
Direct and manager the pantry team in day to day product development initiatives while partnering
with the recipe applications team to insure superior flavor and a point of differentiation in the marketplace
for all new development. Maintained focus on a rolling three season pipeline and ensure the products are
integrated into the complete product assortment.
Member of the core director tea, to ensure priorities are aligned, testing procedures are
established and any other issues are reviewed to achieve successful product launches. Drive the strategic
direction of each product category by identifying market trends and recommending new products/sub-categories
of products.
Work closely with the director of quality assurance and legal to communicate the development to identify
all testing protocols at the front end of the development cycle. This is a key relationship.
Responsible for management of all categories/sub-categories while partnering with the director of global
procurement to achieve margin requirements (minimum 400%), deliver products with less than 2% air freight.
Leads the mini cross functional teams to ensure alignment to meet product deliverables which supports
seasonal launches, i.e. management of timelines, development, sourcing, costing parameters, and testing protocols
and working toward same priorities (product and non product related).
Responsible for determining the opening assortment/competitive analysis for new markets- International.
DECISION MAKING AUTHORITY:
-Make recommendations regarding development, pricing, & promotion of new products, product lines, or
untapped markets.
-Work with the Project Management Team to develop a cross Functional system specifically for the Product
Development process.
-Make recommendations to the Sr VP Product Development regarding staff performance management, Pay adjustments,
hiring, & disciplines.
-Approves departmental expenses commensurate with spending authority.
-Develop budget plans for Pantry Development
-Work with Creative Services Team & Promotions Team to turn in new product launches for catalogs &
promotional opportunities.
MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITY - 2
Directly supervises a category manager and a product category associate and is responsible for collaborative
decisions regarding pay, performance, hiring, time off requests, training, development and discipline.
OTHER LEADERSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES:
Conducts weekly meetings with the Core Director Team
Presents new products & gives updates on new product launches to CEO & Core Team members every 3 weeks.
Participate in the planning of the Product Showcase room for National Conference.
Expected to embody the highest level of professionalism & act as a role model for staff.
FISCAL ACCOUNTABILITY:
Assists with creation of the Pantry Development annual budget, controls & monitors department expenditures.
Recommends development of Market-Right products that contribute to the profitability of the company.
Makes collaborative decisions regarding staff pay adjustments.
EDUCATION AND SKILLS
BS/MS degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Culinary. MBA a plus.
10+ years experience in business and practical experience in test kitchens operations, product development,
with a specialization in seasonings, rubs, and wet sauces, specialty bread mixes etc.
High professional standard of confidentiality to protect integrity of not-yet-publicized company initiatives.
Sensory evaluation performance knowledge required
Excellent persuasive abilities required, must be able to create staff buy in to new processes and
initiatives.
Demonstrated expertise in cooking and food handling required
Ability to apply creative and strategic planning skills to pantry development required
Proven track record with food development from ideation to execution
General understanding of manufacturing food processes
Ability to handle multiple projects in various phases of development required
Strong knowledge of food trends required
Strong analytical and statistical skills required
Strong problem solving skills required
Vendor management skills required
Knowledge of consumer product life cycles required
Ability to interact with coworkers at all levels
Excellent verbal and written communication and presentation skills
Proficiency in MS Word and MS Excel required
Proven success in project and product management required
Demonstrated expertise in managerial/leadership role required
Ability to self motivate
Ability to travel domestically and internationally
Please reply to Terri Sherman 920-261-8890
tsherman@tsloan.com