Sr Product Development Specialist

Summary

Senior Product Development Specialist

 

At our Company, we grow People, Brands, and Businesses! We are seeking a dynamic Senior Product Development Specialist to manage all aspects of product development including:  design development, presentations, P&L and production execution for various lines.  Act as customer liaison for issues including PO’s, shipment delays, item sheets, etc.   This role is dedicated to multiple product lines and provides significant communication with various regional, corporate and international customers as well as vendor personnel.

 

Take this opportunity to join North America’s leading business solutions provider and build your career working with amazing people in a growing industry! Apply today!

 

What we offer:

• Full-Time Benefits (Medical, Dental, Vision, Life)
• 401(k) with company match
• Training and Career Development
• Generous Paid Time-Off 

Responsibilities:

• Work with suppliers to develop new product offerings based off of market research and analysis of the market place and trade shows trends for emerging products.
• Manage the in-house art designs for packaging; Source packaging materials (boxes, displays, ribbons, etc.) and coordinate co-packing needs as required.
• Create sales presentations with pertinent information including the item specifications, pictures and key selling features.
• Create Item Sheets, Vendor Commitment Forms, Promotional Request Forms (Costco US, Canada, Mexico, International and BJ’s).
• Provide necessary documentation in order to get government approval to import chocolate items.  Necessary documents may include: Sugar Letters, Proof of Country of Origin, Breakdown of Ingredients, Production Flow Chart.
• Assist VP as needed on various projects.

Qualifications:

• Associate's Degree in Marketing or equivalent experience required; Bachelor's Degree or equivalent experience preferred
• 5+ years of experience in Food Marketing and Product Development
• Excellent written communication and verbal communication skills
• Knowledge of product lifecycle and policy and procedure development techniques
• Ability to ensure a high level of service and quality is maintained

 

Job Will Remain Open Until Filled

Responsibilities

The Company is one of North America’s leading sales and marketing agencies specializing in outsourced sales, merchandising, category management and marketing services to manufacturers, suppliers and producers of food products and consumer packaged goods. The Company services a variety of trade channels including grocery, mass merchandise, specialty, convenience, drug, dollar, club, hardware, consumer electronics and home centers. We bridge the gap between manufacturers and retailers, providing consumers access to the best products available in the marketplace today.

 

Position Summary

 

The Senior Product Development Specialist manages all aspects of product development including:  design development, presentations, P&L and production execution for various lines.  Act as customer liaison for issues including PO’s, shipment delays, item sheets, etc. This role is dedicated to multiple product lines and provides significant communication with various regional, corporate and international customers as well as vendor personnel.

 

 

Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities

 

Product Development:

• Work with suppliers to develop new product offerings based off of market research and analysis of the market place and trade shows trends for emerging products
• Responsible for negotiating costs with suppliers
• Create packaging and palletization schematics
• Manage the in-house art designs for packaging
• Work with compliance to ensure nutritional labeling/ingredients are accurate and compliant with applicable regulations
• Factor in currency movement/conditions into the product development process and be prepared to react accordingly
• Source packaging materials (boxes, displays, ribbons, etc.) and coordinate co-packing needs as required
• Must work closely with Logistics to guarantee customer timelines are met
• Manage P&Ls, ensuring that all costs in respective P&Ls are aligned and finalized
• Create sales presentations with pertinent information including the item specifications, pictures and key selling features
• Educate sales team on the details and nuances of the programs and fully equip the salesperson with all data needed to close the sale

Customer Liaison:

• Create Item Sheets, Vendor