NPI Lead

NPI Lead, 9 month FTC – maternity cover
Location: Shillelagh, Ireland
  
Who are Pilgrim’s Food Masters?
  
We are Pilgrim’s Food Masters, part of the Pilgrim’s family since September 2021, (previously part of Kerry Foods) and we have a proud history of developing brilliant food for our customers and consumers that is enjoyed in millions of UK and Irish homes every year.
  
The wider Pilgrim’s company employs around 60,000 people across the globe and we’re one of the world’s biggest food companies. We aim to become the best and most respected company in our industry creating the opportunity of a better future for all our team members.
  
Our Pilgrim’s Food Masters portfolio includes famous brands that are some of the UK and Irelands Favourites, such as Denny, Galtee, Richmond and Fridge Raiders. We are the UK’s biggest producer of prepared meals, making delicious chilled and frozen ready meals for every major supermarket in the UK. And our Accelerator business includes newer brands like Rollover Hot Dogs and Oakhouse Meals that target different consumer groups in unique ways.
  
We strive every day to make Pilgrim’s Food Master’s a safe, healthy, and happy place to work for all our 4,500 employees.  We will give full and equal consideration to all applicants regardless of age, gender, disability, race, religion, and sexual orientation. Continuing to build a diverse workforce is fundamental to our business and we value the critical role it plays in creating a truly inclusive workplace.
The Role
The NPI Lead will be responsible for leading a team of R&D Technologists and provide skilled technical support to NPD and Production Stream functions at site level, ensuring a standardised approach to new product introduction, process improvements and profit improvement projects (PIPs) whilst also ensuring food safety and quality standards are maintained. The candidate will be accountable for project launches, executed brilliantly, meeting customer expectations, and growing the business with the commercial teams. You will be responsible for end-to-end delivery of customer and branded pipelines opportunities.
Skills & Requirements
Drive a food culture and team spirit with passion and pride to ensure we are loved by our customers & consumers for being experts within our technologies/categories.
Support team and individual development and create an environment where people are inspired to perform.
Plan projects, balance workloads and provide clear direction for the NPI team.
Identify the team’s stakeholder map and ensure regular communication with Customer, Site Cross Functional Team, Commercial, Central Technical & Brand.
Work closely with the Brand, Innovation and Operation teams to determine customer orientated and commercially viable NPI activity to support the brand and retailer agendas and deliver long term strategic growth.
Build relationships with retailers and ensure customer care given by the team adheres to the Pilgrims Food Masters values.
Ensure the successful introduction of new products and product change using a standardised approach to the NPI process. This will involve working cross functionally to develop, review and maintain project master schedules ensuring tasks are correctly assigned adequately resourced and completed on time.
Execute with excellence and ensure structured handovers from NPD (where applicable) & to Operations.
Own the launch process for projects & product launches at site.
Support process related PPS initiatives within the Production Stream providing necessary technical input as required. Also, identify and evaluate process improvement opportunities where they arise.
Continuously improve standards set by facilitating and executing 8 Step Practical Problem Solving and other appropriate KPS methodologies within the NPI function and as required within the value stream Qualifications and skills 
3+ years’ NPD experience within the FMCG meat industry.
Passionate about food.
Track record of co-ordinating NPI projects from concept to launch.
3rd level Food Science qualification or equivalent.
Excellent communication skills.
Possess a good understanding of process and factory operations.
Knowledge of food packaging and labelling.
Energetic, self-motivated, team player.   
Competencies Required:
Excellent interpersonal and rapport-building skills, with the ability to communicate effectively to all levels of the business
• Organisation and prioritising abilities to manage a variety of projects
• Ability to work independently on the whole and also as part of a wider collaborative team
• Demonstrate a strong initiative and a hands-on approach
• Advanced PC skills and knowledge of MS Office (Word/Excel)   
Why Join Pilgrim’s Food Masters 
Our values are at the heart of our business and drive everything we do. Availability is key as we are receptive and open and prepared to take on new challenges. Humility is important to us as we listen and respect each other and value opinions of others. Discipline is vital to fulfil commitment internally and externally. We need to be truthful to each other and respectful of other opinions, so Sincerity drives us. At Pilgrim’s we focus on what’s practical and important so through Simplicity, Ownership and Determination brings success. All these core values culminate into our vision which is:  To be the best and most respected company in our industry, creating the opportunity of a better future for our team members

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