Science & Innovation Customer Project Manager

Science & Innovation Customer Project Manager - County Kildare.

In this role you will be a key driver of the stage gate innovation process, delivering each project within agreed timelines. You will lead culinary and process-based ideation sessions, manage stakeholder engagement, and ensure effective communication and documentation throughout the project lifecycle. Building over time a track record of success is a key deliverable.

Role Responsibilities & Duties
• Be the leader for your assigned projects from the start of the brief to the final review within the stage gate process.
• Need project concept.
• Explore opportunity assessment / feasibility (business case, market insights, culinary reviews, risk assessments)
• Create pilot trials.
• Test scale-up within factory.
• Action production reviews / improvement stage.
• Review of the product and process.
• Completion of the required steps to ensure all departments are clear at each step of the process, attending where possible all stages of trials, and briefing your appointed technologist clearly on what is required at pilot stage.
• Attend all required daily and weekly meetings, ensuring that you maintain all required reports as agreed with your S&I Manager.
• Presentations to customers and visits to their facilities are a key part of this role, leading the technical discussions, offering consumer insights and related concepts are key drivers.
• Update your own project innovation pipeline on a weekly basis, communication of any significant changes or delays to the required team members, doing what is required to get the project back on time.
• Present to your team on a regular basis a review of your projects, offering positive continuous improvement suggestions that deliver to the business core strategic plans.
• Leverage culinary and technical access with key influencers within your targeted customers and suppliers. Promoting the benefits of the company as a "must-have" supplier and problem solver.
• Developing a network of technical experts that can be called upon to assist within the innovation process.
• Responsible for gate review meetings at each stage of the process
• To demonstrate a high level of competence in food / meat science, food processing, food legislation, specifications and recipe management.
• Completion and recording of all sensory or benchmark analysis, product evaluations and concept reviews in line with the expectations.

Knowledge & Experience requirements:
• Minimum of 3 years' experience working in the food industry, with third level qualification in Food Science or a similar field.
• Proven track record in a similar role in a high-risk food environment.
• Excellent Word & Excel skills
• Ability to motivate, self-manage and use one's own initiative.
• Excellent project management skills and project leadership ability.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to facilitate meetings, provide daily and weekly updates and adhere to all boards and recording systems.
• Innovative and problem-solving mindset with commitment to continuous improvement and delivering customer results.
• Excellent technical ability focusing on problem solving solutions.
• Good attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment.