Product Developer – Fresh & Frozen 

About the Role

We are seeking a Product Developer to join the Fresh & Frozen product development team.

Asda's Own Brand new product development is key to our business strategy, driving quality, innovation and newness for our Asda customer to enjoy. If successful you'll be joining a team who lead from the front, driving category development and implementing the Trading and Brand strategy across Grocery.

As a Product Developer you'll ensure that the category delivers against their quality benchmark; that Innovation and newness is landed across your category and that quality is maintained from initial product concept right through the entire product life cycle to launch. You will also make sure that your suppliers comply with the Asda policies throughout the product development process.

Partnering with stakeholders across the business you will be accountable for setting the range and product strategy based on customer needs and ensuring products are commercially viable and in line with our continuous improvement programme.

You will be passionate about driving quality and continuous improvement and will ensure our products are both great quality and great value for our customers. In line with our Asda Brand benchmarking strategy you will be accountable for managing ongoing improvements of our products to meet customer needs.

About You

A passion for quality and consistence and all things food related will place you on the path to success. You will have gained experience within a food manufacturing, food retailing or food technology environment and been instrumental in delivering innovative food products which exceed quality standards. Ideally with a food/nutrition based degree or equivalent qualification, you will demonstrate strong food product development/technical skills combined with a commercial understanding and passion for the customer. You will be a pro-active team member with strong interpersonal, organisation and management skills you will be able to work independently, prioritise effectively and deliver to deadlines within specific timescales

Role Profile:

• Responsible for working with the category product managers to ensure innovation & product development is driven in specific product areas to deliver newness & incremental sales.
• Co-ordinates reviews of the market, trade shows calendar creation, market innovation and circulates relevant information to colleagues 
• Is know by the buyer and customer Planner proactively supporting the Own Brand strategy delivery for their teams product area
• Responsible for booking and co-ordinating product panel's under the guidance of their PM including NPD, EPD, Pre-production & launch. Accurately cascading the minutes and actions from each.
• Responsible for assisting in brand panel set up and product flow 
• Responsible for shopping and co-ordinating market newness where appropriate 
• Responsible for co-ordination of product bible's for area ensuring all information is consistent and available within the critical path
• Is aware of category plans, assists on category strategy process and is known by the team for support where required
• Responsible for EPD spec review and submission, attending critical path production meetings prepared to communicate with prior notice of any delays to the process
• Ensures the necessary legal requirements in terms of labelling are met and that suppliers comply with Asda's technical. nutritional, legislative and packaging policies. 
• Actively attends workshops and training to ensure product knowledge development 
• Product development responsibility for NPD project assigned by PM
• Responsible for assisting on brief creation process following the direction of the PM
• Is an Own Brand Ambassador supporting internal/external PR events, including Exec Walk rounds, Product Showcases, PR days and nominations for awards
• Accountable for ensuring their objective's are set out, achievable and has training agreed with line manager to ensure completion 
• Responsible for a tier 2 product area for 12 months 
• Demonstrates acquired skills to complete 12 month development 
• Establishes themselves as an customer expert for the area
• Works collaboratively with the supplier 
• Drives first to market innovation in given area
• Upholds and/or drives quality benchmark in given area 
• Creates best in class brief's 
• 95% landed right first time NPD & EPD in 12 month period 
• Food Science / technology background. Non food development/quality background
• Strong food focus with area product knowledge 
• Experience working within retail or the supply base 
• Ability to prioritise and flex to the changing needs of the business
• Shows understanding of the customer and represents their needs first 
• Good organisation/project management skills 
• Good decision making skills
• Good communication and networking skills
• Has commercial awareness, and understanding of the factors that affect costs
• Ability to create right plans for delivery