R & D Product and Packaging Development Portfolio Manager -The Laughing Cow - Bel Brands USA

Bel, makers of iconic brands including The Laughing Cow, Babybel, Boursin, Kaukauna, Merkts, Price's and GoGo SqueeZ is a growing global company that values your contributions, strives to create a sense of belonging for everyone and offers career growth and development opportunities, as well as competitive total compensation and meaningful well-being benefits from day one. For All, For Good, our company signature, reflects Bel’s commitment to sustainability and healthier and responsible food for all. Bel Brands USA has been named Chicago's "101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For" for 10 years in a row. The company has headquarters in Chicago for our Bel Cheese business and in New York City for GoGo Squeez. Bel operates five manufacturing plants in Little Chute, WI, Leitchfield, KY, and Brookings, SD, Nampa, ID, and Traverse City, MI.

Job Description Summary

The R & D Product and Packaging Development Portfolio Manager will be the single point of contact of R&D (RID) at the factory level and corporate/global office and is responsible at the factory level for product development, inno/reno/cost saving portfolio for delivering product development projects on time in full (OTIF). The R & D Product and Packaging Portfolio Development Manager will be in charge the innovation pipeline for the Processed Cheese Brands (The Laughing Cow) within a 3-year time frame and align priorities between Platform at Factory level for the NORAM scope (USA & Canada) and will be supported by a product & pack developer (direct report).

Chicago Based-Hybrid work environment (2-3days/week in office)

Essential duties and responsibilities

• In charge of Bel Brands and Private Label projects for the Laughing Cow platform produced in NORAM (USA & Canada). Coordinate all Feasibility Requests.
• Ensure the development platform follow the CSR and nutri+ program guidelines.
• Ensure project methodology.
• Deliver development projects at the right quality level, OTIF and best Time-to-Market (TTM).
• Lead (dotted line) the Plant Technologist, team members, and technical resources for the project
• Formula & process consistency & ensure product process transformation & key member of industrial master plan.
• Packaging development in coordination with Suppliers and internal teams.

Management / Coordination activities

• Security, safety and quality management of their team
• Ensure technical coaching within Project team to develop talent.
• Main stakeholders: Marketing, Development platform manager, plant technologist, plant director, coordinators.

Key performance indicators and impact on results (qualitative and quantitative)

• Launch product, process and package OTIF and at the right quality level.
• Project management excellence: passed the different stage gate Exploration, Development, Implementation, Market Launch and Improve, using our internal (O2T) database for each project
• Risk management.
• Time-to-Market improvement

Qualifications and Competencies:

Minimum degree and experience required:

• Bachelor’s degree and/or equivalent experience required
• Minimum 10 years of experience in product, process, or packaging development
• Management experience
• Food Industry background
• Development project tracking record
• Autonomous leadership skills driving for results
• International background / experience working for a Global company is a plus
• English required, French highly desirable

Specific competencies required:

• Technical product process: cheese process background
• Technical packaging (material & equipment) knowledge cardboard box, aluminum, plastics
• Technical knowhow from exploration to production (product, process, and pack)
• Ability to drive transformation, reduction of TTM, breakthrough innovation and collaboration in links with new business model and partners
• Connected to external ecosystem and partnership environment
• Third party management
• Strong Project Management Skills
• Entrepreneurial and synthetic/holistic “thinking” mindset

Performance Expectations:

Confidentiality, quality, accuracy, timeliness, reliability, and thoroughness of work performed; ability to gain the trust and respect of management, coworkers; maintain the integrity of confidential business and product information; ability to communicate effectively and develop good working relationships with other employees is essential to accomplish goals and objectives of the Platform.

Working Conditions:

Work is performed largely in a hybrid office and plant environment. Hours of work will generally be during regular business hours with at least 40 hours a week. At times there will be some variation in work hours due to, special projects, deadlines and other concerns and the Development Portfolio Manager must be willing to put in the extra time & efforts to manage expectations. Some business travel (10-15%) may be required with this position. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Total Rewards:

Base Salary Range: $130,000 - $135,000 (depending on experience)

Annual Bonus Target Potential: 23%

PTO days, 410k match, Medical, Dental and Vision coverage available from Day 1, and more

Hybrid work schedule (Chicago-based)

Bel Brands is an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran status, disability status or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. Bel Brands also prohibits harassment of applicants or employees based on any of these protected categories. It is also Bel Brand’s policy to comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws respecting consideration of unemployment status in making hiring decisions.

Bel Brands is committed to recruiting, hiring and promoting people with disabilities and veterans. If you need an accommodation or assistance in using the website, please call 312-462-1500.

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