To succeed at pladis you need to be **purpose-led**, **resilient** and **positive** to succeed here because we expect pace and **agility**, we insist on **collaboration** and demand accountability. If that is your thing, then pladis offers global ambition, a clear Vision and roadmap for success, challenge, and unrivalled opportunities to learn and make an impactOur 16,000 colleagues, in every corner of the world, bring their own experience of happiness to pladis. Each of us is unique but coming together as one family of bakers and chocolatiers working hard, with pride and with purpose. Because after all these years, we still believe biscuits and chocolates bring people together. We are pladis. We bake happiness. Happiness with every bite. Our founders didn't follow rules and recipes, they created them. We're looking for fresh thinkers to help us create the next chapter for pladis.Because growth is our oxygen and our fuel. And it's our deep and abiding belief that growth comes from working together, helping each other out, always passionate about our purpose to bring happiness with every bite.colleagues care deeply about being the best. About winning, staying the course and never giving up. Whichever part of the world we're in, whatever our role. Whether we're baking, working in HR, finance, marketing or many other areas - we win as oneAnd while we're all unique, we share something in common. It's the code by which we live and work. We call it our 'Winning Traits & Behaviours': **Purpose Led**, **Agile, Collaborative, Positive** and **Resilient**. Five aspects of pladis life that define who we are, how we interact and get things done.The Head of Product Development - Savoury Biscuits plays a central role in shaping and delivering pladis' savoury biscuits growth agenda, leading technical activities across innovation, productivity, and business continuity.You will lead a team of R&D professionals, working with cross-functional partners to define product development strategy and deliver the three-year growth plan. As a key member of the leadership team, you will also take ownership of the test bakery facility, site engagement activities, and site health & safety responsibilities.This role is critical to the growth of our savoury categories, combining strategic leadership with hands-on accountability for capability, delivery, and site support.You will act as the technical expert for product development, providing guidance on major innovation projects and serving as the key R&D contact for complex site and supply chain challenges. You will be building future pipeline and technical capability by identifying new ingredients, processes, and ways to strengthen the UK&I business. You will oversee escalations and maintain compliance with required procedures. You will define the forward-looking plan for the future capability of the savoury biscuits team and pilot plant while ensuring team KPIs, prioritisation, and development are effectively managed.**There will be a requirement to travel to our manufacturing sites across the UK as part of this role.**Utilizing consumer, customer and competitor knowledge develop a robust (sufficiency & readiness) innovation growth funnel for your portfolio, alongside marketing partners.Actively support the creation of a cost saving programme for your portfolio and be accountable for the delivery of the projects. Establish clear requirements for product characteristics distinguishing between those that are essential for consumer delight and those that are less defining. Review and agree project charters. Make recommendations for product changes that will yield improved profitability.Demonstrate effective leadership that will help the function to become a driver for innovation and collaboration. Build partnerships and work with others to meet shared objectives and help the organisation to manage ambiguity and uncertainty.Expansive experience in a food manufacturing environment in baked products and snacks - experience in chocolate and secondary processes (e.g. creams, flavourings etc...) would be advantageous.Proven interpersonal skills and team building/motivating experienceProven experience in baked and chocolate products.Previous experience in a similar leadership role in a food manufacturing business.Purpose-Led - Energised by our promise to deliver happiness to the world with every biteCollaborative - Willing to work with others for mutual success, transparent, a win-win seeker*We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform key job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation*Formed in 2016, pladis is the proud steward of over 300 years of family baking and confectionery experience. The expertise of our 16,000-strong global workforce spans 27 bakeries across 11 countries and is united by our purpose: to 'bring happiness with every bite'.
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