Job Description:

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: Participate in stage gate approval review process of new opportunities, determine feasibility of running new products or ingredients in production and run line trials to successfully commercialize new products that meet customer expectations Manage technical customer support and R&D relationship development through on-site troubleshooting, technical training and presenting creative solutions Maintain effective communication internally and externally on the status of new products, ongoing activities, upcoming projects, trial runs, sample generation, research results and other pertinent information. Inform Sales and internal staff regarding any problems being incurred by customers and resulting action plan Establish and monitor performance expectations for R&D staff by defining key performance goals, evaluating performance and providing feedback. When applicable, manage interviewing, hiring and training for departmental staff Manage site product development activities. Aligns team resources and priorities associated with key initiatives and reports on product development monthly metrics. Manage planning, implementation, and execution of process changes and project activity at site associated with targeted key accounts to support sales growth and key productivity initiatives. Collaborate with site internal stakeholders including, but not limited to, Quality and Operations for problem solving internal processing issues and technical challenges Develop and measure appropriate physical parameters of product based on customer needs and submit sample to customer. Develop and issue formula and nutritional to costing for pricing; evaluate current product formulations for optimal usage of raw ingredients; consider potential reformulations of ingredients andor ingredient substitutions Maintain database system of R&D products, projects, open work requests that can be accessed by R&D Senior Management to understand scope of work activities. Maintain site product portfolio book and work with cross functional teams to perform routine rationalization and gap analysis Participate in daily taste panels and conducting customer & visitor tours Maintain awareness of current trends, literature in the cocoachocolate market Note: The employer reserves the right to change or assign other duties to this position Physical Requirements: General office environment and occasional work in the application labhands-on work Must be able to climb ladder, bend, and stoop, stand for prolonged periods of time and occasional lifting of up to 50 pounds Requires extended periods of standing, walking, climbing and sitting Occasionally exposed to heat, cold, noise, dust Safety, Quality and Hygiene Requirements: •Maintain compliance with all company policies, procedures and code of conduct Performance Expectations: Become a subject matter expert in chocolate manufacturing to support internal and external stakeholders Foster professional development of direct and indirect reports Set example for how people should be treated; address discipline, performance andor rule violations Ensure staff works in an efficient and safe manner complying with all Company Policies and Practices. Skills and Work Experience Requirements: Five plus years' experience in R&D food manufacturing operations Three to five plus years' experience managing a team General experience with kitchen and confection equipment Must be able to taste and consume chocolate and related products Excellent communication skills, written and verbal • Proficient in Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams), CMR program Education: Bachelor's degree in Food Science or comparable field Career Progression: Employees are encouraged to express interest in internal career opportunities throughout Blommer Expectations for promotion or job role change are driven by proficiency and performance in current role Career progression would align to other management roles