About this role
The Associate Director of Ingredient Development leads ingredient product development, product evaluation, commercialization, and supplier onboarding for our Meal Kit brands. Your team is a key growth driver for the company that also protects our customers by ensuring that all of our products and suppliers meet consistent standards. We are looking for a data-driven product commercialization expert with deep experience in product innovation, who is interested in leading the discovery and launch of new ingredients. You will be responsible for identifying and implementing best practices in sensory evaluation, specification development, and supplier master data management, while accelerating our speed to market and increasing strategic collaboration with our suppliers.
You’ll work closely with our recipe development and brand teams to drive growth and product innovation and will lead a team with strong culinary and food science expertise. You are a hands-on leader who is experienced with driving change across an organization, with a focus on impact and action.
You will...
• Work closely with culinary and brand teams to develop a new ingredient roadmap that drives menu innovation
• Work closely with the sourcing and product teams to develop a roadmap of new ingredients and suppliers to qualify in support of supplier diversification
• Oversee Product Investment budgets and ensure delivery against cost and timeline objectives (both for new and existing ingredients)
• Lead the end-to-end stage gate process for ingredient commercialization, partnering cross-functionally to manage project timelines, milestones, and risk assessments from concept through launch; incorporate sustainability and responsible sourcing criteria into ingredient evaluation.
• Ensure projects align with regulatory compliance, including labeling, allergen management, and ingredient standards.
• Develop new products jointly with suppliers to accelerate our ingredient roadmap
• Develop and manage supplier sensory scorecards, specifications, and supplier on-boarding requirements, collaborating closely with our culinary, data science, food safety, and quality teams
• Maintain the master data repository for supplier and ingredient data and specifications
• Cultivate a high performing team and be equally comfortable developing and leading culinary and data-focused teams
• Other strategic initiatives, as assigned.
You have...
• Total of 8+ years of experience in food or beverage research and development; product development, and/or continuous improvement experience; people leadership experience is preferred
• An degree in food science or a related field is an asset, but not required
• Knowledge of GMPs, HACCP and food safety compliance, familiarity with FDA/USDA ingredient regulations and labeling requirements
• A successful track record of product innovation and leadership in a cross-functional stage gate process