Project Manager- Spices and Groceries at Cape Herb & Spice

Purpose: The NPD department is looking for a dynamic Project Manager to lead projects & drive the team to bring together all elements for customer pitches and successful launches.

Role Objectives:

• Project management: Spice & Grocery Opportunities
• Sourcing Oversight
• Costing & Commercial
• Pitch Execution
• Problem Solving

Key Functional Duties:

Project Management - Product Development:

• Responsibility for consolidation of product portfolio to meet customer needs. (bringing it all together)
• Gather & map out capabilities and compliance of suppliers to international standards. Support departments when making required changes to supply relevant markets with the product developer.
• Drive and plan with internal departments to create trend-forward/relevant Spice & Grocery products that tap into innovation of flavour, packaging, and design.
• Responsibility for launch CPA from initiation to landing in customer warehouse.
• Project manage and drive teams to execute all relevant stages of the product development process within given deadlines to ensure product is launched on time and detail recorded is accurate and product meets customer/export requirements.
• Oversee timeline of sustainable sourcing of new product, raw materials, packaging, and kitchenware from compliant suppliers with the product developer/technical.
• Assist with design & development to create innovative and practical packaging concepts and eye-catching design - Concepts & Presentations.
• Problem solving to overcome development issues and meet customer requirements & deadlines.
• Ensure thorough communication related to new products between internal customer-focused and operational departments on all new projects to ensure effective launches.
• Monitoring & evaluating project performance.

Commercial Interface:

• Identify gaps and opportunities in current and new markets.
• Cost gifting & special buy products and deliver a commercially viable and competitive offering.
• Creation of pitch presentations & concepts on PowerPoint.
• Involvement in value engineering to create competitive products.
• Gain supplier buy-in by painting the commercial picture and size of the prize. Ensure targeted developments.
• Involvement in drawing up/maintenance of contracts.
• Ensure sales team are equipped with full product knowledge to drive growth.

Education & Required Knowledge:

• Either an equivalent of the below degree and 2 - 5 years’ related experience will be recognized:
  • Food Technology or Cons. Science
  • Bsc Food Science
  • Business Science
• Advantageous experience in:
  • Project Management
  • Product Development
  • Commercial exposure
• Computer Literacy (Microsoft Office)
• Excel Fluency – Intermediate level
• Excellent verbal and written communication in English

Personal Characteristics:

• Deadline driven
• Proactive and enthusiastic
• High attention to detail
• Ability to work in a high-pressure and fast-paced environment
• Ability to multi-task between multiple projects
• A creative thinker
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Optimistic solution finder
• Commercially minded
• Excellent communication skills
• Strong interpersonal skills
• A passionate & knowledgeable foodie
• A methodical approach and adhere to procedure