Sr. Product Developer
Freshstone Brands Inc.
- Kitchener, ON
- Permanent
- Full-time
- Contribute to business objectives and strategic product development by assisting with the evaluation and improvement of existing product lines to improve quality and maximize efficiencies
- Contribute to business objectives and strategic product development by assisting with and/or developing, formulating and testing new products to meet customer requirements. Ensure the products meet standards before market introduction/launch
- Report results/findings/conclusions and recommendations on all new ingredients, products, and suppliers to ensure a competitive advantage
- Build direct relationships with vendors, food service and private label customers
- Follow the New Product Development Process including all documentation procedures
- Responsible for assisting, trialling, evaluating and reporting on potential new products from different divisions as required
- Represent FBI in industry events, trade associations, seminars etc.
- Liaise with third party research to identify, prioritize and/or validate potential new opportunities
- Provide manufacturing, sales and marketing support
- Provide technical information and technical support to cross functions team members as required
- Participate in the evaluation and commissioning of new technology, production lines and/or related equipment
- Assist the VP of Product Development and Culinary innovation and act on their behalf as required
- Prepare samples for customer presentations, participate in product cuttings and provide support to the sales team
- Embrace and support the Freshstone Brands culture and values, acting as brand ambassador at all times
- Participates in packaging and artwork creation and review process to ensure product labelling, NFTs and packaging is in compliance with regulatory requirements
- Participate in other special projects as required. These projects can include but are not limited to: equipment research and testing, operational improvement efforts and select marketing efforts
- Learns, responds to and applies current consumer, industry and competitive trends while collaborating with the Sales & Marketing team to use consumer and retail trends to deliver on emerging needs
- Delivers routine daily/weekly/monthly reporting and responds to basic and intermediate ad hoc data requests.
- Respond to various inquiries from internal and external stakeholders, including as requested providing fact-based data to Executive, Key Accounts Manager, or Supervisors as required
- Bachelor's Degree in Food Science or Food Technology or higher
- Culinary diploma, culinary education or commercial kitchen experience will be an additional asset
- 3 – 5 years of product development experience required, preferably with consumer packaged or food service packaged products
- 3 - 5 years of work experience in food manufacturing required
- Deep understanding and familiarity with formula scaling, Plant trial, and first productions
- Theoretical and practical food microbiology knowledge
- Demonstrated cooking ability
- Working knowledge with Genesis nutritional database
- Excellent communication (written and verbal) skills
- Experience with S.O.P. generation
- High level of attention to detail
- Experience with maintaining formulations within an ERP system; Similar to a SAP environment.
- Self-motivated, proactive with perpetual curiosity
- Strong team-player
- Highly adaptable and “can do” attitude
- Office environment (desk/ computer work) combined with kitchen (standing), both areas air conditioned in summer
- Stairs in production areas
- Occasionally working in production areas (standing), monitoring production runs or plant trials
- Some lifting – generally moderate – up to 35 lbs (accessing ingredients from supplies in cooler or on shelves)
- Occasional local travel (presentations at customer offices, purchasing ingredients or delivering samples) and possible air travel to the Canada/US from time to time (presentations at customer offices, trade shows, etc.)