Junior Product Development Manager - Boursin

$95,000 - $100,000/Yr

Bel Group - Chicago, IL

Full-time - Entry Level

Chicago, IL

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About the position

The Junior Product Development Manager at Bel Brands is responsible for driving innovation and renovation projects for the Boursin brand in the US. This role involves developing cheese recipes and processes, ensuring alignment with brand guidelines and innovation strategies, and collaborating with various internal and external partners. The position is part of the global Research Innovation and Development (RID) team and requires strong knowledge in food science, project management, and quality assurance.

Responsibilities

• Develop products from initial concept to production, ensuring alignment with Bel's guidelines and the brand's innovation strategy.
• Define and set up trial plans; process data and carry out trial reports; share conclusions and recommendations with project teams.
• Create mock-ups of products related to ideas or concepts.
• Lead identification and technical qualification of new ingredients and/or suppliers.
• Manage end-to-end project management from ideation to production while respecting the stage gate process.
• Collaborate extensively with cross-functional teams including marketing, purchasing, quality, engineering, finance, co-manufacturers, vendors, and customers.
• Manage several projects simultaneously, leading risk assessments, planning/scheduling, and task prioritization.

Requirements

• Dairy Science, Food Science, Food-Process Engineering degree or a related field.
• Minimum of 3 years' experience in the food industry, with dairy experience preferred.
• Strong analytical and detail-oriented skills with the ability to multi-task and make decisions to solve problems.
• Effective communication skills, both oral and written.
• Passion for cheese and innovation, with an appetite for project management.
• Proactive, solution-oriented, and adaptable to various functions and styles.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience in a hybrid work environment.
• Familiarity with sensory analysis and shelf-life testing.

Benefits

• Base Salary: $95,000 - 100,000
• Bonus Potential: 12%
• 401k, Medical, Dental, Vision from Day One
• PTO days and more