Manager, R&D Variety Brands

Job Location: Hershey, PA
 

Summary:  

Responsible for managing Hershey Research and Development initiatives for Variety Brands.  Leads efforts which will include focus on Variety Brand innovation development and commercialization. Additional responsibilities include continuous improvement, supply chain and technical support initiatives. 

Lead a team composed of 3-4 professional level staff.   Determine strategic direction for key formulation and process development strategies for innovation programs. Work closely with business partners in Consumer Insights, Marketing, Manufacturing, Engineering and Quality to ensure that the programs meet the Company’s business needs. Assure timelines are met and provide ongoing progress reports to Director and R&D Sr. Leadership. Manage, communicate, and resolve project risks to gain business alignment.

Set priorities for program and allocate resources for projects. Work with direct reports to determine goals and timetables for projects, and ensure diligence in development, scale-up and commercialization of products and technologies. Provide chocolate and confectionery technical expertise leveraging product and process development principles and validation methodologies   Resolve resource allocation and timing issues to ensure that business objectives are achieved or exceeded.

Summary of major duties:
Develop and Execute Variety Brand Innovation Program:  
Work with business partners in Consumer Insights, Marketing, Manufacturing, Engineering and Quality to develop strategic direction and ensure that Company’s business needs are met.  Allocate and track resources between programs and work with team leaders of the programs to set priorities, goals, and timetables for projects, and deliver on required results. Ensure diligence in development, scale up and commercialization of products and technologies.
Develop and Execute Variety Brand Technical Support and CI Initiatives:
As needed, work with business partners to allocate resources, set priorities, goals and timetables for Business Continuity and Cost Improvement related projects, and deliver on required results. Ensure diligence in development, scale up and commercialization of products, manufacturing strategies, and technologies.
Talent & Organizational Development:
Provide overall leadership as it relates to organization structure and people development.  Attract, lead, manage, and mentor employees in such a way to ensure retention, development, and high performance of talent.

Minimum knowledge, skills and abilities required to successfully perform major duties/responsibilities:  
• Demonstrated Management, Leadership, and Influencing Skills, Strategic as well as tactical thinker.
• Demonstrated knowledge, expertise, and experience in new product Innovation including ability to scale and validate product and process technologies for confection applications.
• Proven administrative ability, decision-making skills, financial understanding, business integration skills and technical expertise.
• Advanced problem solving and evaluation capabilities.
• Strength in Food Product Development and Commercialization with specific focus on Chocolate and Confections.
• Collaborative skills allowing effective interactions with Marketing teams, Consumer Insights, Sensory Evaluation, Operations and Manufacturing Teams, Quality and Regulatory Compliance Teams and Senior Management.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills capable of presentations to executive levels.
• Approximately 25% travel required, primarily within the US, but including occasional international travel.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements:  
Education: Bachelor’s degree in food science, chemical, food, or biochemical engineering or equivalent scientific discipline plus 8 years of applicable work experience. 
Experience:    
• Has successfully led New Product Development and innovation initiatives within a company known for best-in-class innovation and NPD processes.
• Strong knowledge of chocolate confection platforms, technologies, and formulation strategies.
• Proven history in developing and commercializing chocolate and confections.  Including pilot plant and full-scale manufacturing testing and implementation.
• Ability to partner with Sensory and Consumer Insight to develop and execute consumer learning strategies.
• New product pipeline development and project management through stage gate process while identifying resource needs, project risks and business alignment.
• Experience in translating unmet consumer needs with commercial objectives into science and technology strategies and plans. Understands and appreciates the role of science and technology in the wider business context.
• Ability to partner with cross functional team members to align on project deliverables, risks, and timing to deliver business goals.
• Experience driving change in a complex business environment.
• Proven people leader with ability to develop career growth and team engagement strategies.

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