As the NPI Lead in Portadown for Kerry Dairy Ireland, you will be responsible for overseeing the introduction of new products and ensuring that these products meet the highest standards of quality, efficiency, and innovation. This is a 12-month maternity cover position.
Your role will involve close collaboration with various departments, including marketing, operations, and commercial teams, as well as external suppliers and agencies. You will play a critical role in maintaining the company's reputation for excellence and driving forward its strategic goals.
The successful candidate will carry out factory trials on cheese and cheese snacking products in the factory, establishing the process control parameters and validating product standards to ensure that the operations team can manufacture products with consistent product design.
Key responsibilities
1. Management of the NPI Process, working cross functionally as part of the R&D team, ensuring a standardised approach to New Product Introduction
2. Communicate the product quality standards as part of the NPI process and provide training to facilitate understanding and effective implementation
3. Organise and co-ordinate new packaging trials and ensure that outcome if effectively communicated to relevant stakeholders.
4. Own activities related with introduction of new products into the factory using various systems
5. Work cross functionally with internal teams, supplier, customers, brand and marketing
6. Collaborate with outside agencies and suppliers as appropriate, co-ordinate and ensure the completion of relevant activities required as part of the artwork approval process
7. Support the delivery of process and profit improvement projects at site level, ensuring changes are introduced in accordance with defined capabilities, ensuring product quality attributes are preserved and Food safety and legal requirements are met
8. Build relationships with marketing, operations and commercials and ensure customer care and adherence to our Purpose, Dairy Strategy, vison and Value
9. Maintain knowledge of market trends, restrictions, regulations, customer requirements and processes
10. Presentation of samples and concepts to internal and external stakeholders
Qualifications and skills
11. BSc in food Science or equivalent
12. Experience in food Industry
13. Experience in artwork approval, packaging development desirable
14. Project management and organisational skills: demonstrate flexibility and adaptability
15. Driven to overcome challenges and develop timely solutions
16. Numerical ability to record and analyse key process data
17. Highly organised multi-tasker, able to interpret data from multiple sources
18. Attention to detail with a structured approach
19. Displays tenacity. Goes that extra mile to achieve results and deliver excellent service
20. Able to play a key role as a high performing team
21. Excellent communication skills