NPD Project Manager

Andros is an industrial, family-owned company based in south west France with a turnover of over 2.5 billion Euros. It is a leading European fruit transformation and chilled dairy producer manufacturing the internationally famous brand Bonne Maman, as well as many private label products.

Andros Group:

·        Production facilities across Europe and beyond (USA, China, New Zealand…)

·        4 poles of development: Fruit, Chilled Dairy, Confectionery, Frozen Desserts

·        A real industrial know-how and a significant will to introduce innovations

·        Both a branded (Bonne Maman, Andros) and private label supplier

The company has experienced rapid growth becoming a top 150 UK food & drink business in 2020. This growth has been driven across both the preserves and desserts categories through the success of the Bonne Maman brand as well as an extensive private label activity. The products are either imported or produced in the dedicated chilled dessert facility in the South West of England. There is an ambitious investment plan for the coming years.

To support this growth we are now seeking a NPD project manager, reporting to the Innovation Manager, this role supports the development and optimisation of the Company’s product range in line with the strategy defined by the business.

Main Tasks and Responsibilities:

Working with the major retailers in the UK you will be the main point of contact for development from brief to launch.

• Be a key player in the Sales, Category and Development triangle to identify market gaps and influence customer decision.
• Be your customers main point of contact for development, optimisation and improvement projects from brief to launch and other queries about products, process and packaging.
• Face to face presentation to customer either at their head office, or on site.
• Manage end to end artwork development with the right process and legal checks through to sign off either for development projects and design or legal updates.
• Coordinate development from concept through to final launch, including product development.
• Be a pivotal contact between all departments to ensure a smooth launch of the new products or changes in the factory.
• Communicate with Production, Technical, Supply providing training and familiarisation with new products ahead of launch.
• Manage the organization of the industrial trials, communicate the results, actions/improvements to be carried out and follow up on them. Ensure the products will be produced in the normal conditions on the current equipment, raise and communicate any concerns about possible difficulties.
• Understand and know how to use the pilot plant and development lab, suggest improvements and notify breakdowns/malfunctions.
• Provide production team with product expertise and support when necessary.

Candidate Profile

The successful candidate will have experience of working in a similar role and therefore will be aware of the expectation to be professionally mature and be able to demonstrate the ability to influence, convince and motivate others.

• Dairy and NPD experience within the food industry ideally.
• A detailed project manager.
• Flexibility through working additional hours or change of working day at short notice.
• Hands on attitude.
• Excellent communication skills both written and oral. Good at selling ideas.
• Prioritisation and handling complexity: capacity and capability to lead and deliver multiple projects in parallel.
• Ability to work unsupervised and achieve results within tight deadlines.
• Excellent educational background (degree in food technology or food science)

In Andros we believe the ideal candidate should display 4 essentials qualities

1.      Passionate about food

2.      Fast learning. Ability to assimilate new information and knowledge efficiently

3.      Driven and determinate to achieve results

4.      Able to work in a fast-paced environment

Location

The role is based full time in Oldford, Frome, Somerset BA11 2NQ

Company Package

• Market Leader in their products and sector
• Company pension 6%* employer contribution (*subject to contract)
• 25 days holiday + Bank holidays
• Company sick pay
• 4 x Death in Service
• Wellbeing initiatives – Free eye tests, £90 contribution to prescription lenses
• Full training will be given