Product Development & Regulatory Specialist (or Manager) - Greyston Bakery : Job Details

About Us

Greyston Bakery was founded over 40 years ago with a mission to provide meaningful work and to help people overcome barriers to employment. As we say, “We don't hire people to bake brownies; we bake brownies to hire people.” Our indulgent, scrumptious brownies and blondies are handcrafted with love and care using the finest ingredients with no preservatives. Our world-class commercial bakery produces brownies and blondies for sale through our website, select retailers, and foodservice/restaurants. We also create baked inclusions for some of the best-loved ice cream brands, including Ben & Jerry's.

About the Position

Our amazing team is nimble enough that we are able to post this position to attract candidates at different stages of their careers with the intention of offering the appropriate title and compensation to the best fitting candidate, whether more junior (Specialist) or more senior (Manager). We're a fun loving and enthusiastic team of food lovers – we genuinely believe our sum is greater than our parts, and we absolutely love what we do. We're looking for someone who ls as creative and dedicated as we are to enrich our team.

The Product Development & Regulatory Specialist (or Manager) is responsible for driving innovation and cost savings initiatives from concept through commercialization while ensuring compliance with quality and regulatory standards. Responsibilities will encompass product formulation, project management, customer/technical support, data and document management, ownership of sensory testing program, and collaborating cross-functionally to facilitate smooth product launches , including plant trials and commercialization runs.

(The Product Development & Regulatory Manager will have additional/higher-level expectations and responsibilities, including managing the R&D Technical Specialist and the Assoc. Food Scientist.)

Qualifications

· Bachelor's degree in Food Science or related field required

· Minimum 3 years of experience in Product Development in the food manufacturing industry

· Strong formulation and analytical skills with keen attention to detail

· Excellent communication and collaboration skills

· Minimum 1 year of baking experience preferred

· Prior project management experience preferred

· Experience with product/process improvement projects preferred

· Prior people management preferred for Specialist (required for Manager)

Product Development Key Responsibilities:

· Identify market needs and new opportunities for our portfolio both within current capabilities and areas of opportunity for expansion.

· Coordinate development of new products and improvements of current products to meet objectives of the annual business plans.

· Apply sound scientific principles and techniques to formulate products with consumer/customer valued attributes.

· Manage multiple projects simultaneously using detailed investigations, well thought out experimental design, sound scientific techniques, data-based decision making and in accordance with customers' requirements and timelines.

· Investigate product and process challenges; provide creative solutions to solve challenges in development and commercialization.

· Ensure accurate product information is documented through creation of Product Specification documents, both Greyston and customer specific versions.

· Coordinate technically sound sensory panels and evaluate results for product development, shelf-life studies, improving/maintaining present products and competitive testing.

· Develop an understanding of product cost models and raw material impact to cost of goods. Design products to achieve defined margins and sales prices.

· Collaborate with/(Manage) the Assoc. Food Scientist and Test Kitchen to execute technical projects in a timely and effective manner.

· Partner with Marketing/Sales when meeting with customers, (acting as the product Subject Matter Expert and) providing relevant product specifications, documentation, and/or technical support, regulatory/labeling guidance, etc.

Regulatory Specific Functions:

· Own formulas, including support within software systems.

· Assure regulatory compliance of all product labels, cases and promotional material to all applicable rules and regulations of FDA, and other global requirements.

· Approve all label components such as nutrition panels and ingredient statements– confirming all ingredients, required content, allergen statements, SOI's, etc. to ensure regulatory compliance.

· Management of packaging/film/label and promotional material content review and approval process.

· Own product specifications and other customer specific required documentation for all products

· Coordinate with R&D Technical Specialist for receipt and organization of all required documentation from suppliers.

Other Key Responsibilities:

· Coach and help develop/(Manage) junior team members.

· Must follow all GMP, HACCP and Food Safety rules and standards.

Competencies:

• Acute sense of smell and taste; including the ability to taste all current and in process products.
• Proven excellent work record with demonstrated high levels of initiative and self-direction
• Knowledge of the baking process and function of food ingredients
• Proven success in formulation and application development
• Experience working with a broad range of ingredients (and suppliers), formulations, applications, technologies, and processes
• Experience commercializing formulas (e.g., scaling up bench formulas)
• Demonstrated strong problem-solving and critical-thinking skills.
• (Capability and confidence to make on the spot decisions)
• Excellent presentation and communication skills, both verbal and written
• (Comfortable leading discussions in front of/with customers)
• (Able to communicate technical information to non-technical people, from top to bottom of organization)
• Ability to quickly adapt to and communicate with a variety of personalities/abilities
• Excellent project management skills (with ability to prioritize multiple activities simultaneously)

If this position sounds interesting, please apply now!

Even if your resume may not be up-to-date, please apply with what you have. Greyston Bakery is dedicated to building an inclusive and diverse workplace. Even if you might not meet all the requirements stated in the description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You might be the right candidate for this role or for other roles.

Greyston Bakery is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.