NPD Project Manager. Divine Chocolate. This is an exciting time at Divine Chocolate â we are growing our sales and pro
Product Development Manager Location: Role: Salary: Rewards: Reporting to: Reports:
Tower Bridge, London Full time, Monday to Friday 9/9.30 – 5/5.30 £38,000 - £40,000 depending on experience 25 days holiday, annual bonus, 8% company contribution to pension, life cover Group CEO NPD Project Manager
Divine Chocolate This is an exciting time at Divine Chocolate – we are growing our sales and profits and increasing our presence globally, along with launching new innovations in our seasonal and core ranges. This position offers the opportunity to join Divine Chocolate at a key stage in its growth, having merged with our US sister company which has further consolidated our international status. You would be joining a small energetic team running a successful groundbreaking and dynamic Social Enterprise which delivers real benefits to its farmer-owners and offers a real choice to chocolate lovers around the world.
The Role To develop, from initial concept to launch, a range of products that taste amazing, look stunning, and delight our retailers and their customers. You will oversee our core range as well as new product development, creating innovative and relevant new lines, and renovating existing products that set Divine apart from the competition. To own our relationship with our suppliers, ensuring product quality is consistently high and that we are at the forefront of innovation.
Roles and responsibilities The product development process
Identify opportunities for Divine to grow sales in both seasonal and all year round ranges, analysing sales and marketing data and utilising insights to inform the NPD process
Recommend changes to existing UK and US ranges and NPD, and develop detailed concepts to brief to suppliers, including a focus on Fairtrade ingredients Identify appropriate manufacturers who meet our standards, and work with them to turn concepts into samples. Manage the approvals process until final approval Negotiate with suppliers on price for new products, using appropriate techniques to ensure Divine’s prices are keen, our prices to customers are competitive, and our margins are strong. Work with Marketing and 3rd party designers and agencies to deliver impactful packaging that protects our quality and ensures impact on shelf. Act as a brand guardian to ensure that all products are consistent with our guidelines Manage the critical path from launch up to first production, attending it where appropriate, ensuring products are delivered on time and to specification Complete a post-production analysis for each NPD project, assessing key successes and findings, tracking fluctuations in price and reviewing initial sales data. Working alongside the Operations team, ensure our suppliers are working effectively and meeting all legal, ethical and environmental standards. Stay up to date with product and labelling legislation and regulations, ensuring our packaging complies with all requirements within the relevant territories. Source appropriate Fairtrade ingredients, always looking to maximise the use of cocoa and other Fairtrade ingredients in our products. Update the Divine team with developments in ingredients and certifications, particularly highlighting changes to Fairtrade ingredients/sourcing Complete Fairtrade certification applications, submit artwork for Fairtrade approval, and liaise with the Foundation on supplier certifications.
Working the Divine way
Provide regular feedback and coaching for the NPD Project Manager to ensure a high level of performance. Delegate appropriately to ensure key tasks are completed and opportunities for development are created Collaborate effectively with the other teams within Divine, ensuring stakeholders are consulted and kept informed of developments Keep the Senior Management Team updated on progress on key project milestones, managing expectations and requesting appropriate input
Create a culture of continuous improvement, looking for opportunities to work more effectively and efficiently Manage the NPD budget, ensuring spend is forecast and communicated appropriately, and projects are delivered to plan
Person specification Essential skills and knowledge:
High level of numeracy, with the ability to use spreadsheets and formulae to analyse and present data Able to produce presentations of a high standard to company leadership and Board using Word or Powerpoint as appropriate Considerable experience of developing food product ranges (ideally confectionery) for a brand or retailer own label, working directly with 3rd party manufacturers. Line management, with track record of developing high performing teams or individuals
Preferred:
Food technology qualification, with experience of auditing factories and making recommendations to improve processes or quality
Personal qualities:
You will fully embody and role model Divine values: Respect, Ownership, Teamwork, Creativity You relish working in a small company, able to deliver both strategy and hands-on execution Enthusiastic about food, Fairtrade and the role Divine can play in empowering small scale farmers, positively influence “conventional business” and give consumers real choices. Personable, with excellent partnership skills
Application process Please send us a covering letter, CV and 200 words about Fairtrade to
[email protected] by 9am on Monday 9th April. We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, or disability status.
