Senior Product Development Manager

Bel, makers of iconic cheese brands including Babybel, The Laughing Cow, and Boursin, is a growing global company that values your contributions, strives to create a sense of belonging for everyone and offers career growth and development opportunities, as well as competitive total compensation and meaningful well-being benefits from day one. For All, For Good, our company signature, reflects Bel's commitment to sustainability and healthier and responsible food for all. Bel Brands USA has been named Chicago's "101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For" for 10 years in a row. The company is headquartered in Chicago and operates three manufacturing plants in Little Chute, WI, Leitchfield, KY, and Brookings, SD.
Job Description Summary
The Senior Product Development Manager is an expert in cheese technology with deep knowledge in milk, cheese formulation, phage and cheese manufacturing. This position is responsible for developing products from initial concept to production ensuring they are aligned with the Brand innovation strategy, including but not limited to ingredient selection, formulation, pilot plant trials, chemical, physical and sensory analysis, production scale up, shelf-life testing, line start-up, process improvement and problem solving.
Key Responsibilities:
Portfolio Management:

• Portfolio management determines required headcount, project prioritization, timeline and resource plan. Develops a strategy to support the different mix of projects between innovation, renovation, industrial excellence, and preliminary studies (Feasibility Requests) for the plants
• Responsible for the manufacturing plant stage gate governance meetings and contribution as necessary to the country and brand stage gate governance meetings
• Responsible for leading the (Research, Innovation, Development) RID plant trial budget building, execution, and monitoring for the US & Canadian Mini Babybel factories

Product Development:

• Develops products from initial concept to production ensuring strategy is aligned with the Brand innovation strategy, including ingredient selection, formulation, pilot plant trials, chemical, physical and sensory analysis, production scale up, shelf-life testing to line start-up
• Ability to create mock-ups of products, relating to ideas or concepts
• Leads identification and technical qualification of new ingredients and/or suppliers

Project Management:

• "End to End" project management: from ideation to production mastering while respecting the stage gate process and delivering the right quality level on time and in full with the best time to market
• Extensive cross-functional teamwork including marketing, purchasing, production, quality, engineering, finance, co-manufacturers, vendors and customers
• Ability to manage several projects simultaneously
• Leads risk assessments, planning/scheduling and task prioritization

People Development:

• Coaches the manufacturing Plant Technologists and manages their competency development in partnership with the direct manager

Optimization:

• Enhances cross-fertilization of good practices to improve quality/cost/performance
• Analyzes the formulations and processes, challenge the status quo and propose innovative solutions to improve the performance of the line and cost of production without reducing the perceived quality of the finished products
• Assures the local technical knowledge is captured to assure transition of know-how, speed up training and avoid loss of information
• Other duties as assigned

Travel: Up to 20% travel may be expected nationally. Periodic travel internationally may be expected.
Qualifications and Competencies:

• Dairy Science, Food Science, Food-Process Engineering degree or equivalent
• Deep knowledge in dairy science, microbiology and technology required
• Minimum 5 years' experience in cheese industry
• Agile and resilient with ability to work in an ambiguous environment
• Connected to external ecosystem, creator of opportunities: suppliers, universities
• Passion for cheese and innovation
• Appetite for project management
• Value-driven approach
• Proactive, solution-based
• Adaptability to different function / styles (from technical to marketing)
• Dynamic and enthusiastic
• Daring mindset
• Innovation oriented
• Impeccable personal integrity and commitment to ongoing individual professional development
• Excellent attention to detail and communication skills
• Model Bel values of Dare, Commit and Care

Performance Expectations: Confidentiality, quality, accuracy, timeliness, reliability, and thoroughness of work performed; ability to gain the trust and respect of management, coworkers; maintain the integrity of confidential business and product information; ability to communicate effectively and develop good working relationships with other employees is essential to accomplish goals and objectives of the RID Department.
Work is performed largely in an office and plant environment. This is a hybrid role with 2-3 days per week in office. Hours of work will generally be during regular business hours with at least 40 hours a week. At times there will be some variation in work hours due to, special projects, deadlines and other concerns and the Development Portfolio Manager must be willing to put in the extra time & efforts to manage expectations. Some business travel may be required with this position.
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Bel Brands is an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran status, disability status or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. Bel Brands also prohibits harassment of applicants or employees based on any of these protected categories. It is also Bel Brand's policy to comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws respecting consideration of unemployment status in making hiring decisions.
Bel Brands is committed to recruiting, hiring and promoting people with disabilities and veterans. If you need an accommodation or assistance in using the website, please call 312-462-1500.
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