Vice President, Product Development

Our client was founded in 1994 with the mission to create nutritious and convenient frozen food. Their mission is pioneering to increase veggie consumption by making it easy to choose crave-able, veggie-forward food.

Scope of Role:

As the Vice President of Product Development, you will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of product development, from ideation to commercialization. You will lead a team of talented food technologists to create new and innovative products as well as continuously improve our core portfolio to meet consumer preferences and market trends. This role requires a strategic thinker with a passion for food innovation and a proven track record of success in product development within the food industry.

Role and Responsibilities

Innovation:

• Partner with VP Marketing & Innovation to build the long-term innovation pipeline, breaking into new occasions and categories.

• Successfully commercialize new items utilizing our in-house manufacturing as well as qualifying external partners for bringing differentiated capabilities.

• Develop & execute closer in test-and-learn innovation with customers and external partners.

• Stay abreast of market trends, consumer insights, and competitive landscape to identify new opportunities for product innovation.

  Renovation:

• Support Value Creation Program (VCP) through recipe optimization while maintaining product quality and taste.

• Seek to renovate our core portfolio, driving improvements to product functionality and ingredients that consumers will value.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including marketing, sales, operations, and quality assurance, to develop unique flavors and formats for key growth customers.

  Operational Leadership:

• Key member of Executive Leadership team, Innovation Leadership Team

• Key leader to bring Ready to Eat capabilities to our portfolio.

• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and industry standards throughout the product development process.

• Provide leadership and mentorship to team members, fostering their professional growth and development.

  Qualifications for Skills & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in food science, culinary arts, or related field; advanced degree preferred.

• Minimum of 10 years of experience in product development within the food industry, with at least 5 years in a leadership role.

• Proven track record of successfully launching innovative food products from concept to commercialization.

• Strong understanding of food science, ingredient functionality, and culinary trends.

• Excellent project management skills, with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects simultaneously.

• Strategic thinker with the ability to anticipate market trends and translate insights into actionable product strategies.

• Exceptional leadership and interpersonal skills, with the ability to inspire and motivate cross-functional teams.

• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written, with the ability to effectively communicate complex ideas to diverse stakeholders.

• Results-driven mindset with a focus on delivering high-quality products that exceed customer expectations.

• Knowledge of regulatory requirements and quality standards related to food manufacturing.

  Position is based in Northern New Jersey. This is not a remote role.

  For more information, please contact Moira McGrath at OPUS International, Inc. 954 428-3888 or e-mail moira@foodscience.com