Product Development Technologist

Product Development Technologist

Haddenham UK (Hybrid role)

The role is responsible to deliver R&D activities, from concept to launch, for Innovation, Performance & Integrity programmes for Consumer Regional EMEA Growth Platforms, Local (UK, WE, IT) markets, Own Label and Branded Foodservice. Collaborates with R&D counterparts in other EMEA sites and teams, and R&D Enabling Functions (Culinary, Sensory, Packaging) to provide regional and cross-functional excellence across brands and sites in Consumer EMEA R&D. Enhance capabilities of EMEA Consumer R&D team, manage direct reports in team.

This position will be a Hybrid role with ability to work from home as well as required to work out of our Haddenham site for at minimum 50% of the time.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES
Deliver R&D activities for Consumer EMEA Growth Platforms, Local (UK, WE, Italy) Markets & Own Label to deliver Innovation agenda.
- Support the Innovation strategy with creative expertise in consumer-centric concept design; create winning concepts and flavours for existing and adjacent product categories – Dry (Herbs, Spices, Seasoning) and/or Ambient Wet (Condiments & Culinary Aids) products.
- Deliver R&D activities from concept design to implementation, working closely with cross-functional departments to influence and deliver NPD brief and launch timelines – formulation development, process instructions, costings, label weight, production trials, functionality and shelf-life modelling, nutrition calculations, culinary application, RTS creation and pack copy process.
- Collaborate with Co-Manufacturers and Global/EMEA Product Development counterparts to deliver excellence in Product Development and implementation.
- Collaborate with cross-functional R&D enabling functions, specifically Culinary, Sensory and Packaging, to deliver an R&D one-team approach to all innovation projects.

Provide R&D expertise to local Marketing & Commercial teams to support customer collaboration, sell in and launch execution; attend relevant customer meetings and provide product information for presentations and digital execution, as required.

Deliver R&D activities for Consumer EMEA Performance & Integrity Projects;
- Collaborate with Marketing, Commercialisation, CCI, Procurement, Supply Chain and Operations functions to deliver performance and integrity projects to meet business targets for existing product portfolios. Projects including (but not limited to); CCI, De-risking, Blend Transfer, Harmonisation, Rationalisation, Repatriation, Raw Material Shortage, Regulatory/Technical Compliance, Sustainability/Packaging, Shelf-Life Mgt.
- Deliver R&D activities to meet agreed project brief and timelines; product assessment, reformulation, process instructions, costings, label weight, production trials & equipment commissioning, functionality and shelf-life modelling, nutrition calculations, culinary application, RTS creation and pack copy process.
- Collaborate with R&D counterparts in other EMEA sites and teams to deliver regional excellence in Product Development and implementation activities across brands and sites.

Enhance capabilities of EMEA Consumer R&D Team as a critical member of the team
- Promote effective ways of working and knowledge sharing across the regional EMEA Consumer R&D team to deliver a one-team approach to concept design, Product Development and implementation activities; utilise and advance processes, procedures and systems.

Engage a culture of long-term research & development; research and optimise new technologies and ingredients within category and adjacent categories, empower an innovative research spirit and deliver pro-active activities to support long term strategy planning for EMEA Innovation pipelines.

CANDIDATE PROFILE
- Degree level qualification in a technical/food-related discipline.
- Comprehensive experience in the food industry in a Product Development role, with project management experience ideal.
- Strong, proven track record of successful ‘hands on’ Product Development, knowledge and expertise in either seasoning or condiment/culinary aids and associated technologies.
- Demonstrated experience in implementing products from bench to factory in manufacturing sites.
- Successful track record of partnering with cross-functional marketing and operations teams to support and deliver commercial, operational and strategic business growth.
- Excellent communication and influencing skills required. Must be well organized with excellent project management skills to manage multiple projects, brands, customers and stakeholders.

COMPANY
At McCormick, we bring our passion for flavor to work each day. We encourage growth, respect everyone's contributions and do what's right for our business, our people, our communities and our planet. Join us on our quest to make every meal and moment better.

Founded in Baltimore, MD in 1889 in a room and a cellar by 25-year-old Willoughby McCormick with three employees, McCormick is a global leader in flavour. With over 14,000 employees around the world and more than $6 Billion in annual sales., the Company manufactures, markets and distributes spices, seasoning mixes, condiments and other flavourful products to the entire food industry, retail outlets, food manufactures, food service businesses and consumers.

While our global headquarters are in the Baltimore, Maryland, USA area, McCormick operates and serves customers from nearly 50 locations in 27 countries and 135 markets in Asia-Pacific, China, Europe, Middle East and Africa, and the Americas, including North, South and Central America with recognized brands including Schwartz.

At McCormick, we have over a 100-year legacy based on our “Power of People” principle. This principle fosters an unusually dedicated workforce requiring a culture of respect, recognition, inclusion and collaboration based on the highest ethical values.

Agencies: McCormick as needed will work with external recruitment vendors through our Agency Portal. Unless previously contacted, McCormick does not accept unsolicited resumes from external recruiting agencies. 

McCormick & Company is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, colour, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.

As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/ies.