Overview

RD&A Manager – Wet Sweet Systems

Job Purpose:

As the RD&A Manager you will lead a product development team within a product group or product groups that is responsible for the development of new products or the adjustment of existing products.  On a daily basis you will be responsible for overall product group R, D&A budget and spend. You will have responsibility for project initiation, small scale trials, production trials, presentations to customers and dealing with technical details post launch. In this highly rewarding role your focus will be based on mentoring and coordination as well providing technical leadership.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Leads a product development team that is responsible for coordinating daily development work, reacting to customer requests, managing portfolio of development opportunities, working with sensory and analytical teams on opportunities as required and with Manufacturing as required. Allocates resources and monitors progress in relation to timelines. Provides technical leadership to the team.

  • Responsible for approving opportunities. Approves new product application opportunities. Applies development processes (e.g. stage gate, experimental design) to deliver new products.

  • Interacts with Sales team and the customer. Maintains awareness of commercial implications

  • Oversees and encourages interaction with relevant EUM applications teams (where an advantage in doing so exists)

  • Partners with category technologists to ensure raw material building blocks are implemented

  • Manages the costs of the product development team. Monitors any variances and takes corrective action as necessary. Responsible for resource allocation.

  • Is responsible for meeting predefined Key Performance Indicator (KPI) targets. Monitors and measures performance against targets. Takes action where necessary to ensure target achievement.

  • Is responsible for overall R, D & A team leadership and development within the product group covering:  objective setting, KPIs, performance management, training and development including functional skills development within the product group. Mentoring new hires to ensure usage of correct ways of working.

  • Keeps up to date on best practice and competitor benchmarking on product development within the product group to ensure Kerry’s leadership position. Identifies and shares best practices throughout the function to increase innovation and ensure compliance. Investigates new technologies / new developments and develops new concepts.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

  • Bachelor’s Degree in Science. MSc preferred. (May have PhD in a relevant discipline)

  • Minimum of 8 years’ experience to include a minimum of 5 in the Food and Beverage industry

  • Preferably have technology experience in wet sweet technologies – e.g. Fruit preparations, water based sweet sauces, Jams,  Sweeteners, Stabilisers, Beverages

  • Mix of administrative, laboratories and production | processing experience

  • Business Performance Management 

Required:

  • Communication & Knowledge Sharing

  • Commercial & Market Focus

  • Business Performance Management

  • Technical / Functional Excellence

  • Drive & Determination

  • Relationship Building

  • Innovation & Creativity

  • Customer Engagement

Please contact Elaine on 021 4665407 or e-mail [email protected] with your updated CV.