Product Development Manager

Sysco are looking for a Product Development Manager to join the Merchandising team on a 12 month Fixed Term Contract, reporting into the Senior Product Development Manager.

The Product Development Manager (PDM) makes recommendations to reduce COG's through Product Optimisation, Lean Manufacturing and Re-sourcing. Their knowledge of the Product, Market and Process's enable's the achievement of the best possible price in conjunction with the Purchasing Managers (PM's).

This role is offering a hybrid working contract, with 2-3 days per week in the Ashford, Kent office, so you must be within a commutable distance.

Key Accountabilities & Responsibilities:

• Reporting to the Senior Product Development Manager and working alongside the Product Development Executive for the Centre of Plate category.
• Supplier facing product development briefs.
• Build strategic supplier relationships.
• The Sysco Brand and subsidiary brands are built on a tiering architecture, which must be maintained and will evolve overtime, as a PDM it's their role to be the custodians of these tiering attributes, and the evolutions on all own brand developments whether new or existing.
• Management of the food specification and artwork of any new launches, product or supplier changes
• Working alongside the Technical, Merchandising and Buying teams, drive category sales & margin performance by taking cost out of the products and processes without changing customers perception of quality or performance.
• Ensuring that we have the best possible price against each spec.
• Within each spec, what can be changed to deliver more value.
• Understanding the different Production Process's each supplier operates and recommend/push best practise through.
• Investigating all opportunities including making pro-active changes up front that includes pack changes, pack weights, supply chain, re-sourcing and spec changes.
• Challenge each Cost increase and come up with suitable alternatives to mitigate the full impact of the inflation and/or by challenging the Process and Market mitigate the inflation in total.
• Improve the quality of the product at the same price as the current product.
• Lead all initiatives by owning the critical path and ensuring that everyone involved, meets the deadlines.
• Attending factory trials and first production runs.
• Benchmarking products in the market place and put forward suggestions based on learning's with regards to quality and price.
• Supporting Range Reviews and identifying with the Merchandising Managers where products are over or under spec'd.
• Ensuring that all products are launched within the Sysco branding criteria.
• Support all Tenders, Auctions and Resourcing exercises.
• Support the team in Strengthening / Consolidating the supply base.

About you:

The successful candidate will have previous experience in a similar NPD manufacturing / food product role looking to join a global organisation for the next step in their career. To be successful in the role you will have an extensive food product background and knowledge of online food specification systems. You will have project management experience and possess the commercial business awareness needed to communicate with various levels of stakeholders. You will have the ability to work independently and as part of a team to achieve your targets.

What you'll receive:

• A competitive salary
• Company car allowance of £5,500
• Pension scheme
• Life Assurance
• Single private medical healthcare cover
• Generous holiday allowance of 25 days + bank holidays, with option to purchase additional holidays
• Huge discounts on all sorts of lovely food and award-wining products through our staff shop
• Discounts on Cinema tickets, shopping and earn cashback on purchases through Sysco benefits portal
• Recognition awards and Incentives
• Real career opportunities - being part of Sysco, the world's leading foodservice business, opens up a world of possibility