Product Development Expert (12 Month FTC) in London

This role sits in the Innovation Ventures team – the part of the R&D team that develops new products to supercharge innocent into new categories and delivers 'R&D enabler' projects to pave the way to future innovation. Reporting to the Innovation Ventures Team Leader, this role combines hands‐on product development with driving enabler workstreams, aligned with innocent's strategy and values. The role also involves providing coaching and practical support to less experienced team members. Cross‐functional and collaborative working – with key internal and external stakeholders – is a key element to this role.

Key responsibilities

• Lead innovation projects from brief to delivery including:

• Early‐stage feasibility mapping
• Setting up and delivering benchmarking sessions to map key in‐market competitor set
• Planning and leading innovation safaris to stay abreast of relevant trends & share key findings across innocent function
• Working to deliver against product brief including costings, nutrition, sensory and product safety
• Kitchen recipe scoping and scalability testing
• Planning, running and reporting on pilot and factory trials including QAS (Quality Attribute Sheets) creation and shelf‐life testing
• Working closely with cross‐functional team including project managers, brand, insights, procurement and technical/regulatory colleagues to deliver product development projects through the Stage Gate process

• Creation and management of project aims and objectives, timelines and budgets
• Close collaborative partnering with strategic suppliers, universities/research institutions and relevant teams within The Coca Cola Company to deliver against key project aims
• Delivering product tastings to support customer meetings and internal meetings e.g. product sign‐offs and updates with senior managers, product updates to marketing colleagues etc.
• Preparation and delivery of Innovation Ventures update presentations to a wide range of stakeholders and audiences.
• Coaching and guiding more junior team members

This role requires

• A formal qualification in a relevant subject area, e.g. food science, food technology
• Experience in product development in the food and drink industry
• A good understanding and demonstrable practical experience of food safety, food quality and Good Manufacturing Practice
• Great taste buds and a creative flair for developing delicious, nutritious fruit and veg based drinks
• Great presentation skills and the ability to convey complex topics in simple terms to a wide range of stakeholders
• Prior experience that demonstrates problem solving skills and ability to manage multiple complex projects efficiently and effectively.
• Ability to work proactively and independently whilst consulting with and informing colleagues, your manager and Senior Managers.
• Proven ability to work with multiple cross‐functional teams internally as well as building and maintaining relationships with strategic partners.