Innovations/Operations Lead - Associate Manager Operations Business Development (OBD)

This position is responsible for leading coordination of cross functional team activities related to new product development, existing product development and co‑packing initiatives across the UK and EU. This position will serve as project manager and operations lead for products sourced from co-manufacturers, distributors, and co-packers in the UK and EU. This includes participating in the Stage Gate process, supporting artwork changes, packaging and reformulation updates, and any supply chain driven initiatives. Monthly travel to the main office, co-manufacturers, and co-packers is expected. The ability to work with all levels of leadership to create the operational solution for products is critical.

Key responsibilities:

• Lead EPD for UK and EU — manage packaging or recipe amendments, geographic expansions, and new pack sizes for existing products from brief or Gate 1 approval.
• Manage NPD for UK and EU — own NPDs produced at existing co‑manufacturers from brief; manage NPDs at new co‑manufacturers from Gate 2 approval, partner closely with the Manufacturing Alliances manager on NPD work at new co‑manufacturer.
• Coordinate EU co‑packing projects — take briefs through specification, commercial, and operational handover for EU co‑packing solutions.
• Drive continuous improvement for UK co‑packing — deliver operational and cost improvements for contracted co‑packing activities, working with distributor and supply partners.
• Stakeholder management — collaborate with procurement, quality, technical, operations, commercial and packaging teams to align scope, timelines and budgets for the successful development and execution of operational solutions related to innovations for the region.
• Project governance and reporting — maintain project plans, risk registers, gate documentation and status reporting to meet launch milestones and compliance requirements.

Required skills and experience:

• Experience with product development and co‑packing in food or FMCG across UK and EU markets.
• Project management skills with proven ability to run multiple projects through gate processes and launches.
• Commercial acumen to manage co‑manufacturer contracts, costings and capacity discussions.
• Technical knowledge of packaging formats, recipe changes, regulatory and quality requirements.
• Stakeholder influence and clear communication with cross‑functional teams and external partners.

Summary of major duties:

• Develop operational solutions for innovation (new and changing products) and pack types to achieve desired timing and financial targets for commercialization (including seasons).
• Lead cross-functional teams to outline operational feasibility to include product sourcing options, implementation timing and capital requirements.
• Run Innovation project meetings or Filter meetings with multifunctional Teams.
• Lead the development of all product costs to include cost of goods sold and total delivered product costs.
• Manage interdependencies between business opportunity and operational plan to achieve required deliverables.
• Assess operational readiness and ensure operational risks are clearly identified.
• Lead resolution of issues and development of contingency plan.
• Oversee supply chain activities through production start-up.
• Lead development of resolution for major customer supportability issues to include alternative product sourcing, operational improvement plans and any other appropriate actions that can be solved through SC tools.
• Provide support to justify capital expenditures, when applicable.
• Develop External Sourcing solutions (new locations, co‑mans, co‑packing, etc.) in region and drive implementation.
• Partner with the business team to identify business needs for external Supply.
• Create database for potential co‑man partners and capabilities.
• Drive co‑man/co‑pack search for the targeted formats.
• Lead technical evaluation and work with multifunctional teams for Quality and legal due diligence.
• Lead Business and Commercial discussions on Investment requirements and agree/align operating model with co‑man.
• Lead Contracting in discussion with legal team and co‑man partners.
• Project management of co‑man set up and implementation to deliver product as per agreed timeline.
• On‑going relationship management.

Knowledge of Manufacturing networks:

• Support key initiatives driven by the EMEA team, such as Continuous Improvement, and Coordination of Supply supportability of new SKUs from Co‑manufacturers/ co‑packers.
• Develop understanding /contacts and work closely with the cross functional team.
• Support initiatives and to drive innovations from UK/EU sources.
• Communicate with markets - Commercial and supply chain and track actions to manage transition (i.e. sanitary registrations, distributor alignment).

Minimum knowledge, skills and abilities required to successfully perform major duties/responsibilities:

• Knowledge of Manufacturing/Technology/Supply chain based on previous assignments in plant, R&D, Process Engineering/Engineering/Supply planning.
• Some exposure to Contract Manufacturing Change Management and New Product Introduction/Development experience with SAP and other on‑line systems (such as Accolade, PDM, etc.).
• Commercial acumen – ability to relate commercial needs to supply chain solutions; Basic finance understanding - Ability to develop and interpret product costing.
• Working knowledge of Hershey operations including R&D, Plant, Regulatory, Quality, and total supply chain through customer delivery.
• Understanding of product cycles and Stage gates.
• Ability to operate in ambiguous environment and independently without supervision.
• Ability to work with multicultural and multifunctional teams.
• Planning and project management skills. Able to conceptualize key milestones and Development of end‑to‑end project timelines in collaboration with commercial and multifunctional team.
• Flexible Mindset – Calls in different Time zones; take initiative and contribute where there are gray areas of responsibility.
• Ability to communicate in English (oral and written); Ability to create and present power point presentations to key Stakeholders.
• Ability to build strong Relationships with senior stakeholders, multifunctional teams & External partners.
• Effective time management/prioritization skills. Must be able to handle numerous projects at one time and meet fast turnaround deadline.
• Has a good balance of empirical data and common sense and “gut feel”.
• Able to synthesize data from different sources into a well‑structured story with clear implications.
• Flexibility to travel (per Need Basis) to markets and Contract supply locations in Europe/UK.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements:

• Education: BS/BA in Engineering, Science, Industrial Engineering, Supply Chain or equivalent experience.