Role Summary
The Product Development Specialist owns assigned product development projects from concept through commercialization, working under the direction of the Director, Product Development. The role combines technical product work-scoping, formulation, sample development, sensory evaluation, and documentation-with cross-functional collaboration across Sales, QA, Procurement, Marketing, and Operations, as well as external coordination with packers and suppliers.
Responsibilities
- Lead and execute all aspects of assigned product development projects including: Liaising with key stakeholders to understand business strategy, gathering critical inputs, coordinating project workflow, documentation, leading/attending plant trials, preparing samples for customers and internal presentation and cuttings, and distribution of samples.
- Provide technical support to Sales and Marketing to determine product attributes for development, to support product launch plans, and to liaise with customer PD and QA teams as required.
- Collaborate on packaging attributes, sources, labelling requirements and capabilities with production and suppliers, Procurement, Marketing and QA.
- Collaborate on regulatory and food safety requirements with QA and partner laboratories to develop nutrition statements, ingredient declarations and preparation and handling instructions.
- Develop product specifications in collaboration with Procurement and Suppliers: Scoping development briefs, product formulations, standard operating procedures and CCP's, NFT standards.
- Conduct cost engineering and shelf-life testing to support product commercialization and ongoing product performance.
- Evaluate and document competitive products.
- Develop, grow and lead relationships, as assigned, with suppliers and secondary ingredient suppliers in order to bring new ideas to the company.
- Other duties as assigned
Qualifications/Skills
- Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in product development, quality assurance or production.
- Experience with project management or product commercialization (concept to market).
- Familiarity with CFIA (Canadian Food Inspection Agency) regulations required.
- High computer literacy & proficiency (Outlook, Excel, Word, Teams and Power-point) (Genesis experience an asset.)
- Experience in Proteins and or Seafood would be an asset.
- Experience in Skinpack packaging product design would be an asset.
- Culinary or Production background helpful, organoleptic sensory evaluation experience an asset.
- Passion for food and open to taste a variety of food products
- Understand and follow market trends (Ingredients flavours and consumer trends)
- Excellent analytical skills, organized and able to prioritize projects and tasks
- This position operates in both a professional office and production plant environment, with responsibilities split between desk-based work using standard office equipment and regular presence on the production floor in support of operational activities.
Benefits
- Hybrid - 1 day work from home per week
- Summer hours
- Competitive vacation and Personal day policy
- Employee Discounts on consumables
- Employee Assistance Program
- Company Paid Benefits
- RRSP Match Program
The annual base salary for this role is expected to fall between $80,000 and $105,000.
This is an existing vacancy.
