Project Development Executive (Ashford)

Brakes, part of the Sysco Group, are currently recruiting for a Project Development Executive to join the team on a full time, permanent basis. As the Project Development Executive, you will support the Product Development and Merchandising teams through strong administration, planning, coordination, and project governance. The role helps ensure New Product Development (NPD) projects progress smoothly from initial brief through to product launch.

This role assists the Centre of Plate team in managing project timelines, documentation, and communication to ensure projects are completed on time and within scope. Projects will involve collaboration across different functions and sites within the Sysco network. This role is offering a hybrid working contract, working 3 days per week in our Ashford, Kent office to support team collaboration. The role may also involve UK travel and occasional European or international travel where required.

You will work closely with Procurement, Technical, Category, Supply Chain, Development Chefs, and Suppliers, acting as a central coordination point for documentation, trackers, meetings, and communication across multiple projects and categories.

• Shadow development managers to gain full understanding of the product development process from brief initiation to product launch.
• Support Development Managers by maintaining accurate timelines, trackers, and action logs.
• Prepare and maintain project documentation, including project plans, status reports, and meeting notes.
• Coordinate and track project critical paths across multiple systems (e.g. NPD Trackers / SAP / Assure / QAS).
• Track project progress and report updates to senior managers.
• Monitor task assignments and ensure deadlines are met and identify potential risks or delays and escalate issues when necessary.
• Ensure project documentation is accurate, organised and accessible.
• Organise and schedule project meetings and reviews.
• Support kitchen panels including benchmarking, quality assurance coordination, and product range reviews.
• Provide relevant product data, paperwork, and specification for panels, as required.
• Organising of Customer & Development sample requests.
• Support on the preparation of food awards and submissions.
• Provide administrative and coordination support for a small product area or supply base to develop capabilities to manage a small product group within a category or supply base; supporting ongoing development and succession planning.

About you: You will have experience working in a manufacturing or food product development environment and be ready to take the next step in your career within a global organisation. You will bring a solid food product or food manufacturing background, with experience using online food specification systems and supporting projects through effective coordination or project management. You will demonstrate strong business awareness, communicate confidently with stakeholders at all levels, and be comfortable working both independently and collaboratively to achieve targets. Highly organised and detail‑focused, you will be able to manage multiple projects or product categories at the same time, adapt quickly in a fast‑paced environment, and maintain a high standard of accuracy throughout.

What we offer:

• A competitive salary
• Generous holiday allowance of 25 days, with option to purchase 10 additional holiday days
• Pension scheme
• Hybrid working contract
• Discounts on a wide range of food and award-winning products through our staff shop
• Discounts on Cinema tickets, shopping and earn cashback on purchases through Sodexo.
• Recognition awards and Incentives
• Career progression opportunities within the global Sysco group, the world’s leading foodservice business