Director of Product Development

Soar with us at Wawa.

We believe we can make life a little better every day – one smile, hoagie, or experience at a time. And there’s one secret ingredient that truly sets Wawa apart: Our Associates. At Wawa, you’ll be part of a caring team that’s dedicated to helping all of us fly high – together. We’re team players, day-brighteners, and go-getters: and we know that Wawa is a place where we can build skills to thrive and open doors to new career opportunities. We’re proud to be a part of a winning team of Associate owners who shape our success. We’re committed to helping our communities and one another at every turn, because we know that when we fly together, there’s no limit to how far we can go. Ready to be part of a team that helps you reach new heights? Join our flock and get ready to soar.

Job Description

Job Summary:

The Director of Product Development is responsible for formulating, overseeing and implementing new foodservice and Wawa branded product development objectives and initiatives while driving innovation, improved quality and cost savings that meet customers’ needs. The individual in this role owns the product development process to ensure that projects will be delivered efficiently, on trend and on time with the overall objective of achieving short and long term growth for the Company.

Principal Duties

• Grow Wawa brands through new product development that continues to set the Company apart from its competition and set objectives for innovation.
• Provide strategic oversight for the development and implementation of all new foodservice initiatives to ensure alignment with strategic goals.
• Provide strategic oversight of the product development process from end to end. Make enhancements as needed to ensure projects are in accordance with the Strategic Plan and maximize company resources as effectively as possible.
• Create opportunity and infrastructure, which enable the Product Development team to have trend and industry data and reduce complexity and non-value added tasks.
• Collaborate cross-functionally to ensure total project list will drive budgeted new product growth by category. Use research, sales data and trend information to guide decisions.
• Use benchmarking data on direct and indirect competitors to inform and assess the Wawa offer. Organize benchmarking visits based on both domestic and international key markets.
• Collaborate with the other members of the Marketing department’s leadership team to create the Strategic Plan, coordinate and prioritize all marketing activities and develop the marketing organization.
• Provide overall direction and support for team. Monitor and assess individual work in accordance with high standards of excellence. Provide feedback, coaching, support, opportunities for development, complete performance appraisals, take corrective action when appropriate, and participate in hiring decisions.
  
  

Essential Functions

• Communicate effectively to all levels of the organization both orally and in writing
• Align and collaborate across organizational boundaries
• Articulate strategy and initiatives into action plans
• Analyze information and effectively propose solutions
• Negotiate effectively
• Handle multiple priorities simultaneously
• Work independently as well as in a team environment
• Establish and maintain a working environment conducive to positive morale, individual style, quality, creativity, and teamwork
  
  

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Management, or a related field preferred; Master’s degree a plus
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in brand or foodservice management
• Prior experience in a project manager role with proven ability to effectively lead a large scale project or initiative
• Prior experience in leading work groups and facilitating productive brainstorming sessions
• Proven ability to think conceptually, inspire creativity, and provide direction on how to operationalize ideas
• Highly skilled in Microsoft Office suite applications
  
  

Wawa will provide reasonable accommodation to complete an application upon request, consistent with applicable law. If you require an accommodation, please contact our Associate Service Center at asc@wawa.com.

Wawa, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. Wawa maintains a work environment in which Associates are treated fairly and with respect and in which discrimination of any kind will not be tolerated. In accordance with federal, state and local laws, we recruit, hire, promote and evaluate all applicants and Associates without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, ancestry, familial status, marital status, sexual orientation or preference, gender identity or expression, citizenship status, disability, veteran or military status, genetic information, domestic or sexual violence victim status or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Unlawful discrimination will not be a factor in any employment decision.