Senior Manager, Salty Product Development

The Hershey Company - Hershey, PA

Full-time - Senior

Hershey, PA

Food Manufacturing

About the position

The Senior Manager of Salty Product Development will play a pivotal role in managing the product development for Dot's, Hershey's pretzels, and the Private label business within the Salty R&D division. This position is based at the Hershey Technical Center in Hershey, PA, and reports directly to the Salty Division R&D Director. The Senior Manager will lead a team of 4-6 professionals and consultants across various locations, focusing on innovation development and commercialization of products. The role requires a strategic approach to formulation development, ensuring that the programs align with the company's business needs while meeting established timelines and providing progress reports to senior management. In addition to leading product development efforts, the Senior Manager will be responsible for continuous improvement initiatives and providing technical support across the product lines. This includes collaborating with business partners in Consumer Insights, Marketing, Manufacturing, Engineering, and Quality to ensure that all projects are executed effectively. The Senior Manager will also be tasked with setting priorities for programs, allocating resources, and resolving any project risks to maintain business alignment. The position demands a strong understanding of product and process development, particularly within the salty snacks category, and the ability to mentor and develop team members to foster high performance and retention. The successful candidate will demonstrate a blend of strategic and tactical thinking, with proven leadership and influencing skills. They will be expected to challenge conventional wisdom and drive change within the organization, leveraging their expertise in food product development and commercialization. The role also requires excellent communication skills, capable of presenting to executive levels, and a willingness to travel approximately 25% of the time, primarily within the US, with occasional international travel.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute Dot's Innovation Program (25%)
• Develop and execute Hershey's Pretzel Platform Innovation Program (25%)
• Develop and execute Pretzel Private Label Business Innovation Program (10%)
• Work with business partners to ensure that the company's business needs are met
• Allocate resources between programs and set priorities, goals, and timetables for projects
• Ensure diligence in development, scale-up, and commercialization of products and technologies
• Provide technical support and continuous improvement initiatives for Dot's, Hershey's Pretzel Platform, and Pretzel Private Label Business
• Lead talent and organizational development efforts, including attracting, managing, and mentoring employees
• Resolve resource allocation and timing issues to achieve business objectives
• Communicate and manage project risks to gain business alignment

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Chemical, Food, or Biochemical Engineering or equivalent Scientific Discipline plus 15+ years of applicable work experience, or master's degree plus 10+ years of applicable work experience
• Demonstrated management, leadership, and influencing skills
• Strong understanding of product and process development and optimization, particularly in salty snacks
• Experience in new product development and innovation programs
• Proven history in developing and commercializing confections and/or salty snacks
• Ability to partner with cross-functional teams to align on project deliverables and risks
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Advanced problem-solving and evaluation capabilities
• Experience driving change in a complex business environment

Nice-to-haves

• Experience with popcorn and extruded snacks
• Knowledge of common process unit operations and equipment used in the food industry
• Experience in sensory evaluation and consumer insights