New Product Development (NPD) Manager - Spices / Sauces

Minimum Qualifications:

• A relevant qualification in food science or food technology is preferred for this role.
• Previous experience having worked in an NPD or innovation/applications role within a spice/sauce company is essential for the role.
• Must have formulation and sensory evaluation skills.
• Must be able to take customer briefs, develop creative solutions, and make necessary adjustments to meet customer expectations.
• Experience in developing products with a keen understanding of flavours and the ability to create and match flavours in spices are essential.

The successful candidate will be responsible for:

• Leading a team, working closely with customers to develop new spice blends, sauces, and savoury applications tailored for the meat industry.
• Managing large well-known key accounts and working closely with the R&D team regarding new product development and technical applications, driving new and existing projects within the savoury/meat processing industry.
• Managing the company's large key accounts to ensure that they receive the correct savoury ingredients to enhance their product range.
• Formulating and testing new recipes, ensuring they meet functional, sensory, and commercial requirements.
• Optimising existing products by improving formulations, reducing costs, and enhancing taste, texture, and stability.
• Conducting sensory evaluations and product trials to ensure quality and consistency.
• Overseeing the pilot production and scale-up of new products from laboratory trials to full-scale manufacturing.
• Working on various large projects focusing on developing and enhancing spice packs, spices, savoury sauce, brines, marinades, and working with breadings, crumbings, coatings, etc.
• Ensuring compliance with food safety standards, regulatory requirements, and company quality guidelines.
• Initiating technical solutions to product issues and troubleshooting at customer sites by conducting factory trials.
• Formulating ideas and strategies to improve on problem areas with regard to certain savoury ingredient products.
• Assisting customers with new requirements in order to enhance their business.

Salary package, including benefits, is highly negotiable depending on experience gained.