Product Development Specialist

Job Responsibilities

Project Coordination

• Coordinate Retail Private Label and Club Store projects from initial customer request through commercialization and full-scale production.
• Gather organize and maintain project information including customer requirements product specifications timelines samples pricing inputs and supporting documentation.
• Support the development and renovation of products and formulas requested by Corporate Sales Management Customers and internal ideation initiatives.
• Assist in coordinating communication between internal departments including Quality Finance Marketing Purchasing Sales Operations and Product Development.
• Work with existing suppliers and assist in identifying new manufacturers ingredient suppliers and vendors for current and new FOODMatch products.
• Support project launches by helping cross-functional teams complete required tasks documentation approvals and deliverables.
• Maintain and update project launch timelines to help ensure milestones deadlines and customer requirements are met.
• Track organize receive log and distribute new product samples ensuring accurate documentation and timely communication with relevant departments.
• Maintain project databases reference documents sample logs and shared files to ensure project information remains current and accessible.
• Assist with vendor scheduling sample coordination and planning of approved product deliverables for customer meetings internal reviews and industry trade shows.
• Help develop and update internal processes forms and operating procedures to improve project organization and workflow efficiency.
• Assist with other duties projects and responsibilities as directed by Management demonstrating flexibility and responsiveness to departmental and business needs.

New Product Development Support

• Support innovation and new product development projects from concept through commercialization.
• Assist with research on product concepts market trends competitive products ingredients packaging and potential vendor capabilities.
• Support recipe development product prototype coordination and sensory evaluation activities.
• Assist in tracking prototype submissions feedback revisions and approvals with vendors internal teams and customers.
• Coordinate with vendors to request evaluate modify and monitor product samples based on internal and customer requirements.
• Help ensure new product samples and supporting documentation align with brand standards quality expectations and project objectives.
• Assist with sourcing testing and validating new ingredients materials packaging and processes needed for customized product development.
• Prepare and maintain project status updates meeting notes action items and follow-up communications for Product Development Product Evaluation and Private Label projects.
• Assist with cost model inputs basic cost comparisons and analysis product transition planning contingency tracking market research and annual reporting as needed.
• Attend food shows vendor meetings and industry seminars as needed to support research on trends innovation and prospective suppliers.
• Support Innovation Customer Meetings alongside Sales Directors and Product Development team members by preparing materials samples project notes and follow-up items.
• Receive open track log and route product samples while ensuring accurate documentation and timeline communication with relevant departments.
• Assist with additional administrative project or operational tasks as assigned by Management.

Qualifications :

Qualifications

• 2-5 years of professional experience in food product development project coordination project management support or a related food industry role.
• Bachelors degree in Food Science Culinary Arts Business Supply Chain or a related field preferred.
• Basic understanding of FDA regulations food safety requirements FSMA and FSVP preferred.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel Office Outlook SharePoint Adobe and Navision preferred.
• Basic knowledge of quality control cost models label compliance purchasing and supplier documentation preferred.
• Ability to manage multiple projects organize details and follow up on deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Highly detail-oriented with strong organizational time management and documentation skills.
• Ability to adapt quickly to changing business priorities and support urgent project needs.
• Resourceful persistent and comfortable taking initiative to move projects forward and resolve issues.

Skills

• Ability to coordinate with key stakeholders including vendors customers Sales Quality Purchasing and Product Development.
• Strong cross-functional team player with a collaborative and service-oriented approach.
• Ability to track project requirements communicate updates and help move projects through established timelines.
• Interest in food trends product innovation recipe development and culinary applications.
• Comfortable learning new systems databases and internal software programs.
• Strong follow-up skills and ability to maintain accurate records sample logs and project documentation.
• Cultural awareness and ability to work effectively with diverse vendors customers and internal teams.
• Confident communicator who can partner effectively with Sales ask clear questions provide timely updates and follow through on next steps

Additional Information :

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Remote Work :

No

Employment Type :

Full-time