New Product Development Manager - Centurion at RCL Foods

Job Description    

• RCL FOODS is on the lookout for an experienced New Product Development (NPD) Manager to join our Speciality Business Unit. The role will be based in Centurion and will report into the Customer Executive.
• RCL Foods entrusts the New Product Development Manager to Manage Product Development at the RCL Foods Speciality Factories by driving the process of planning, coordinating and the implementation of new
• product development, product quality improvement and cost reduction initiatives, while identifying new opportunities.

Minimum Requirements    

• Minimum 3 year’s NPD experience in product development and project management.
• Qualified Chef, Tertiary qualification in New Product Development
• Valid Code EB drivers’ licence
• Numerical and verbal aptitude, strong communicator.
• Intermediate computer skills (especially excel and word)

Duties & Responsibilities    
New Product Development for Woolworths, QSR and Foodservice Customers:

• Creating innovative new products from concept through to launch.
• Customer focused with a strong understanding of customer requirements and processes.
• Working closely with the Speciality development, technical and commercial departments to develop new and improved products.
• Leading the development function to deliver new products to spec on time and at cost
• Lead presentations on product ideas and attributes to major customers.
• Generate and maintain accurate and timely documentation concerning the NPD critical paths and development process.
• Manage the completion of product testing and verification, specifications and packaging/artwork signoff with the assistance of the departments.
• Coordinate and drive multi-disciplinary teams (marketing, commercial, planning, production etc.) through idea generation, product development and product testing.
• Coordinate all NPD meetings on new products and ensure all core and peripheral aspects have been considered and planned (e.g. packaging, equipment requirements, plant layout etc.).
• Ensure products are developed to specification and that product quality and profitability remain high priorities. Post launch quality checks to be done on a regular basis with the Technical Department.
• Drive ongoing collaboration with customer and marketing teams to identify a robust pipeline of new products.

Customer Relationship Management:

• Develop a deep understanding of customer product development, technical and quality assurance needs.
• Engage regularly with customer (internal/external) regarding issues and requirements and provide feedback on how the business is meeting their requirements.
• Act as an active Product Development Manager of RCL Foods at the customer and of the customer at RCL Foods.

Technical and Quality Coordination:

• Follow-up on the resolution of quality and technical issues raised by the customers.
• Facilitate interventions using multi-disciplinary teams, where necessary, to address any non-compliance.

Technical Expertise and Insight:

• Expert knowledge of Product Development in the Prepared Food Industry.
• Provide expertise in management team meetings to internal clients and colleagues and recommend solutions based on insights and findings.
• Provide practical expertise and insights to external clients as part of regular engagement and ad hoc requests.

Organisational Efficiency:

• Optimise the development of all products with the available resources in the most cost effective manner
• Implement and simplify appropriate business processes to increase organisational effectiveness and efficiency in support of key account requirements.
• Support corporate strategy alignment and business update meetings.