Job category: FMCG, Retail, Wholesale and Supply Chain Location: Western Cape Contract: Permanent EE position: No Introduction To interpret our target customer needs and lifestyle trends to deliver a product development plan that delivers leading innovation, maximises core growth, ensures consistent high quality, value for money and exceeds our customer's expectations, whilst contributing to the respective category's overall profitability Give input to and implement category and supplier strategies Identify, analyse and interpret lifestyle, retail and food trends to ensure that the category continues to deliver strategic leading edge innovation and profitable sales growth A highly skilled culinary professional to contribute expertise in flavor profiling, ingredient selection, and recipe creation to enhance product development Manage and implement the product development process within this selected category to ensure that product ranges are delivered in line with agreed product direction whilst adhering to brand values, within a set CTP Using lessons learnt to analyse catalogue and identify product eliminations, upgrades and new opportunities to maximize the category Integrate with cross functional team in commercial, technology and planning wrt the launching of competitive, profitable ranges Integrate with marketing and sales management teams to ensure maximum product exposure and implementation of initiatives Implement a product development program to support customer needs and to deliver to the foods directional framework Drive the strategic direction for ranging and positioning products for the customer Set the product benchmarks, BIIC and STS for the category or identified ranges Be the proud custodian of product Develop and maintain sustainable, mutually beneficial long-term relationships with suppliers In conjunction with technical team, set and continuously improve the quality standards of the product ranges, through local and international benchmarking. Initiate and manage design brief and packaging development for the range, ensuring briefs communicate customer facing messages and tier of product Adopt a customer- facing way of working and gain an intimate understanding of the various customer segments through research and customer focus groups A culinary qualification is crucial or a relevant BSc Consumer Science or relevant qualification with relevant culinary experience 5 to 8 years Food's product development experience – relevant experience in prepared and ready meals would be advantageous Ability to interpret and drive innovation strategy across category Team leadership ability A superior palate and sensory evaluation skills Ability to engage with supplier and collaboratively ensure that technical and product expertise are leveraged to enable delivery of profitable products that meets our customers needs Understanding of foods, lifestyle trends and target market with a focus on prepared meals Passion for food/ high level of culinary skills with ability to transfer passion into commercially viable product Customer orientation Innovative / continuous improvement mind-set Team player with appreciation of diversity Strong communication skills (both written and verbal) Proven commercial aptitude – ability to understand and use financial indicators Ability to incorporate product strategy into supplier base Proven ability to work with design team to ensure appropriate visual imagery is developed within the corporate brand identity Strong integrator – proven ability to work within in a matrix and lead / drive cross group projects Strong presentation, communication and negotiation skills Ability to set and improve quality standards in a complex supplier base #J-18808-Ljbffr