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Product Developer

The Collective Dairy
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We are The Collective, the dairy shaker-uppers and just-go-with-your-gut-ers! We are taste revolutionaries, on a mission to create ridiculously tasty, game-changing yoghurts, because let’s face it, life’s too short for big-house factory-bland. 

 

A brand started 13 years ago by two chefs in New Zealand who wanted to change the landscape of yoghurt forever; we are now one of the fastest growing Yoghurt brands in the UK, and are well on our way to changing how our world tastes, one ‘tub’ at a time *grin*.

 

Constantly fighting the good food fight is at the heart of everything we do, whether it be striving to be better for people – through our epic flavours and improving gut health, or towards being better for the planet – through our innovative packaging and growing portfolio of carbon neutral yogs. It’s safe to say that finding better ways is in our DNA. 

 

So, if you’re passionate about food, striving for better and being part of a fast-paced and exciting challenger brand where you can make a genuine difference… then The Collective could be the place for you!

 

the role

 

We are looking for a creative Product Developer to be part of our brilliant Product team. 

This diverse role involves supporting our Senior Product Managers in New Product Development (NPD) and Renovation projects for a designated product portfolio. This includes hands on recipe and packaging development from concept through to launch, working collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders to ensure project milestones within the critical path are achieved and ensuring our high quality product standards are upheld for our product ranges.

You may work on multiple projects at the same time, both independently and with other Product Managers outside your designated portfolio and will be responsible for guiding each project to success whilst navigating any challenges along the way with support from the team and your manager when needed.

 

responsibilities

 

  • Product Development: You will develop new products in line with The Collective NPD & Innovation Plans and Brand Standards. This will involve spending time in the kitchen testing new ingredients and creating and perfecting recipes to bring concepts and briefs to life. This will also involve attending factory trials and conducting shelf life trials to ensure the product meets your expectations on a production scale.

     
  • Sample & prototype making: You will be required to make samples and concept prototypes when requested both for internal and external meetings. This can be across you own or other team members projects. 

     
  • Packaging development: You will support the Senior Product Managers and Marketing team with packaging development and ensure it meets the functional brief, storage and transport requirements.

     
  • Food, Technology and Packaging Trends: As part of the Product team, you should be seen as an all-round Foodie and an authority on product quality, flavours and trends. You will attend trade/food shows/webinars and keep an eye on the latest food, technology and packaging trends, circulating information and sharing your knowledge with the team. You will also assist in organising and attending food trawls.

     
  • Brief generation: Write detailed and easy to understand project briefs to provide suppliers with the information needed to decide whether to accept the brief, and to be able to create the product that you are looking for.

     
  • Benchmarking: Market awareness is key in order to stay on trend and ahead of the curve. You will be responsible for creating new project crib sheets at the start of the innovation process across all categories. You will also be responsible for maintaining the current data base throughout the year, this will include; organising and managing benchmark sessions, store visits and regularly circulating any crib sheet changes to the wider team. 

     
  • Product Quality: The whole business should be aware of product quality, however the Product Team are the guardians of the product and should always ensure the product is at its best. Regular attendance at routine Quality Control (QC) panels and supporting your technical colleagues with random testing and shelf-life monitoring of NPD & current products when required.

     
  • Critical Path Management: Attend & present weekly launch meetings and project scrums and uphold clear critical paths for all projects. With assistance from your manager, you will learn how to build accurate critical paths, which you will then own throughout the gate process.

     
  • Costings: You will have a sense of commerciality when developing products and be able to generate and present accurate product costings for sign off by the Senior Product Managers at the kitchen development stage. 

     
  • Supply Base: The Collective have a close relationship with a range of suppliers and even our suppliers’ suppliers. Keeping a good working relationship with your relevant suppliers is essential and will involve frequent communications and regular visits (some may be outside of the UK).

     
  • Pack Copies & Artwork: You will support the Senior Product Managers, Technical & Marketing by collating and supplying accurate information for pack copies and checking off any artwork prior to being released for printing for your relevant projects.
     

what we’re looking for from you
 

  • You are a passionate foodie, with an exceptional palate and understanding of flavour profiles, who loves getting hands on and creative in the kitchen!
  • You are comfortable with developing and testing recipes and able to accurately document formulations and processes.
  • You have some foundation knowledge of food technology, nutrition, and manufacturing – be it through education studies, industry experience or just having a genuine passion for food and the industry!
  • You are a firm team player and an effective collaborator and communicator – you can get the best from our internal & external stakeholders by exercising clear communication and having a collaborative, professional, courteous, and fair approach.
  • You are good with numbers and have commercial acumen.
  • You are a self-starter; seeing opportunities and making them happen – with pace!
  • You are curious and love to learn.
  • You can be flexible and understand the ever-changing needs of the business.
  • You are thorough with a strong attention for detail.
  • You are highly organized and have the confidence to manage your own time and prioritise your workload.

 

what does it mean to be part of the herd?

 

We are more than a team. We are The Collective. 

Amazing people are at the heart of our business and we genuinely believe we have some of the most talented people around. It is not just the individuals though; it is the energy the team creates together plus our strong values that drive us all to achieve. Just like our products bring a smile to consumers, we work hard to delight and excite our people.

Here at The Collective we want to celebrate you, whoever you are, wherever you are from, whomever you love. We believe that diversity drives innovation and being actively inclusive helps us all to be our best and win together. We don’t want you to fit in with our culture, we want you to add to our culture, that way we create a truly ‘knock your socks off’ team! 

 

the collective package 

 

  • Competitive Salary
  • Performance related bonus scheme
  • 25 days holiday and your birthday off
  • Awesome summer and Christmas parties 
  • 2 volunteering days a year 
  • Private healthcare
  • Life insurance
  • Flexible working
  • And of course… as much yoghurt as you can eat!

 

how to apply 

 

Please apply here outlining why you think this role should absolutely be yours! Please send along with a copy of your CV and salary expectations. Please compile your covering letter and CV into one document to upload.

 

Applications will close 19th April 2021.

 

We are always bowled over by the number of people who are interested in joining us and although we’d love to get back to everyone with individual feedback, being a very small team we hope you understand that’s not always possible.  We’ll be in touch with people successful to interview stage within 2 weeks of the advert closing.  Good Luck!