Senior Product Development Project Manager
Van Drunen Farms

The Van Drunen Family of Companies is growing!

JOB OVERVIEW:
As Product Development Project Manager, you will lead projects whose vital work helps the Company grow and achieve its strategic goals through the development of new applications, platforms, and products. You as Product Development Project Manager will serve the company by facilitating the development of new applications, platforms and products as well as providing expertise for technical problem-solving. This role requires collaborative and independent activities, including both short-term, single-deliverable projects as well as longer-term, multi-faceted initiatives. engaging, customer-centric trouble-shooting to successfully address our customers' challenges and opportunities. This includes our corporate customers, our manufacturing plants, our innovation pipeline (Marketing), our Quality department, and the R&D Team.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Demonstrate expertise in our ingredients and product formulations, including flavor and sensory science and the impact of food chemistry on organoleptic characteristics and manufacturing performance (in theory and at lab/production scale)
• Apply expertise to all elements of the concept-to-launch development cycle; including, but not limited to, Sales/customer consultation and recommendation, project scoping, assembling relevant documentation, formula and application development, trials of various scale and technology transfer.
• Exhibit significant proficiency of functional knowledge of Van Drunen Farms' processing technologies across scale and platforms
• Serve as an internal and external consultative ingredient and food science expert, applying food science know-how:
• Formula optimization for nutrition, sensory, and processing attributes (including allergen and/or safety issues)
• Troubleshoot product design or ingredient related plant production issues driving to root cause
• Build and maintain strong relationships and trust with co-manufacturers, suppliers, and internal stakeholders
• Independently manage technical projects and work with cross-functional teams against defined timelines, budgets, and deliverables to generate new platforms and products, refine/optimize processes, reduce cost of goods, improve product performance or resolve quality challenges
• Develop written reports and presentations for Customers, Sales, Technical/Science, Operations, and Management ensuring clear communication
• Flexibility for occasional travel
• Perform other duties as needed

JOB EXPERIENCE:
• 5-10 years experience in food manufacturing and processing industry with emphasis in Food Science preferred

KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS:
• Proficiency in Microsoft Suite.
• Developed listening, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Must be flexible and adaptable to changing priorities.
• Must be a problem-solver who demonstrates good judgement.
• Ability to work with a team and independently.

EDUCATION:
• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Culinary Science, Chemistry, Biology or substantially related discipline. Advanced degree preferred.

WORKING CONDITIONS:
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. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to:
• Stand and sit for periods of time
• Walk
• Use hands to finger, handle, or feel
• Reach with hands and arms
• Talk and hear
• Climb or balance
• Stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl
• Taste and smell
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, color vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Disclaimer
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and technical skills required of personnel so classified.

In the Van Drunen Family of Companies, commitment to excellence is in everything we do! As a global ingredient and nutritional supplement supplier to the world's best companies, we thrive on nourishing others with our products and our care for people. If you are looking to make an impact and grow with a family-friendly, values-driven company, you'll fit right in with the Van Drunen Family of Companies!

We are committed to fostering, cultivating and preserving a culture of diversity and inclusion. Our employees are the most valuable asset we have. The collective sum of the individual differences, life experiences, knowledge, creativity, innovation, unique capabilities and talent that our employees invest in their work represents a significant part of not only our culture, but our Company's achievement as well.

The Van Drunen Family of Companies is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

If you are an individual with a disability in need of assistance or an accommodation during the application process, please contact us at recruiting@vandrunen.com.

Van Drunen Family of Companies does not accept unsolicited resumes. Any resumes, CV's, and other unsolicited assistance from search firms that do not have a submitted request and written search agreement for a position-specific requisition will be deemed the sole property of Van Drunen Family of Companies and no fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by our Company.