Matthew Walker is a market leading, multi-award-winning pudding manufacturer with a fantastic heritage and now part of the Valeo Foods Group, which are home to other household brand names such as Rowse honey, Kettle crisps, Barratts sweets.

We like to think every day is Christmas and this is reflected in our culture and our ways of working. We celebrate a lot, especially when our innovative ideas and processes help us win accolades from the top grocers and the media.

Would you like to join our amazing team, make a difference with your incredible talent and be part of our award winning future? We offer extraordinary benefits and opportunities to learn new experiences and take your career to the next level.

This role is responsible for leading and managing effective delivery of all product transfers (NPD and EPD) from concept approval to launch ensuring an effective handshake between Process and operations along with support the operations team in driving process improvement and partner across the business to ensure we deliver on private label and brand customer projects.

We aim to build, develop and maintain positive customer relationships enhancing customer confidence.

Key Accountabilities

• Lead cross functionally to ensure effective on time project management and implementation of all private label and brand NPD and EPD activity across the site.
• Lead the business on innovation and recent technology/innovative process solutions.
• Lead on opportunities to drive improvement and reduce cost in the operation.
• Develop and coach and provide leadership and direction to the team, setting clear objectives and agree training and development needs.
• Outline clear processes and procedures to ensure successful product launches.
• Coordinate, implement and maintain an effective trial process ensuring that all new products are appropriately trialed prior to launch. Co-ordinate the implementation of new recipes and materials into the factory.
• Design and maintain an effective handover process agreed with the operational team.
• Follow up and support operations on new launches and plan review meetings.
• Lead the CI meeting ensuring there are structured project plans in place.
• Coordinates all project activity from concept approval to launch through the wider operations team with cross-functional consultation, regular project meetings and stakeholder engagement.
• Take the lead on all customer pre-production and product launches coordinating and collaborating across the business to ensure a successful outcome.

Key Tasks

• Completing shelf life, micro, reheats, taste panel sheets, photo standards, writing trial reports, nutritional’s, batching, recipe handover, BOM’s, cook times, ERH’s, Promtek.
• Effective coordination, communication and running of factory trials.
• Ensure provision of samples for customers and key stakeholders.
• Liaise with key suppliers and procurement to organize trial ingredients.
• To provide accurate and appropriate information for the writing of internal specifications to the specifications team.
• Ensure all products have an internal Specification in place.
• Work across functions to ensure all paperwork and documentation is in place.
• Ensure that any recipes ready to be handed over to the factory contain appropriate batching details, and factory information for a smooth and accurate transition.
• Handover meeting to Production / QA required, where appropriate
• Ensure that trial, hold, taste panel and document control procedures are followed as per documented procedures, correct versions in use.
• Identify and drive opportunities to improve processes and products.
• Support in trouble shooting day to day process and product related factory issues

Qualifications and knowledge

• Min 5 years’ experience in FMCG or similar environment, and with at least 3 years of managing teams.
• HACCP Level 3 qualification- desirable
• Project management skills
• Degree or equivalent in Food Science or related discipline – Preferred not essential.

Qualities and Experience

• Planning and Organizing –Ability to manage multiple projects, multi-task and prioritize effectively.
• Excellent communication (written and verbal) presentation skills.
• A strong leader of people
• Great at building relationships internally and externally
• Diligent and attention to detail focused.
• Problem solving skills.
• A drive to succeed.
• Organized and able to both multi-task and prioritize effectively.

What we offer you in return

• £38,000 - £40,000 
• Excellent Career Opportunities
• Matched pension scheme up to 10%
• Death in service
• Cycle to work scheme
• Retailer discount platform
• Staff discount 
• And plenty more!