Product Development Specialist

Product Development Specialist The Product Development Specialist is responsible for using cooking skills in developing new snack formulation and flavors using creative methods with new or existing supplies. They will understand the best ways to process, package, preserve, store and distribute food.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Checks raw ingredients for maturity or stability for processing and finished products for safety, quality, and nutritional value. Studies methods to improve aspects of foods, such as chemical composition, flavor, color, texture, nutritional value, and convenience.

Tests new products for flavor, texture, color, nutritional content, and adherence to government and industry standards. Develops new and improved ways of preserving, processing, packaging, storing, and delivering foods, using knowledge of chemistry, microbiology, and other sciences. Confers with manufacturing, packaging and marketing specialists to resolve problems in product development.

Studies the structure and composition of food and the changes foods undergo in storage and processing. Develops new food items for production, based on consumer feedback. Searches for substitutes for harmful or undesirable additives, such as nitrates.

QUALIFYING SKILLS REQUIREMENT: A high school diploma or equivalency. 3-5 years of experience, knowledge and skills food formulation or the manufacturing of food products. Must have food safety knowledge and experience such as FDA, GMP, SQF, and HACCP.

Must have knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods. Must have excellent communication skills both oral and written to convey information or ideas effectively and the ability to demonstrate active listening skills. Must demonstrate critical thinking skills using logic and reasoning skills to identify the challenges and opportunities of alternative options.

Analyzing information and evaluating options and implementing the best solution. Must have excellent skills in judgement and decision making to successfully consider relative costs and benefits of actions and take positive financial decisions. Must have excellent skills in coordinating resources as well as conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance and troubleshoot and determine causes of operating errors and finding solutions.

Must have excellent interpersonal relationships to be able to develop constructive and cooperative working relationships across the business. Dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations. Must have excellent time management skills. Must have excellent knowledge and skills in computers Excel, Outlook, Internet browsing and practical application of mathematics to solve problems.