Market Type (EM)

Summary

Vice President of Product Development

Guide Owned Brands (OB) development through an anthropological lens to deliver break through OB innovations across all brands and categories to solve unmet needs. Lead and influence a culture of innovation and deploy ideation strategies, processes and tactics that lead to product development. Consult internal and retail clients' cross functional teams in new item development to ensure we are on trend with flavor profiles, ingredients, and global, regional, and local trends.

Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities

• Drive Retailer clients’ OB growth by applying knowledge of culinary and food processing trends, competitive set, consumer trends and business needs
• Discover new pathways in the form of product ideas that build the OB portfolio with heightened cache, increased perceived value, deepened loyalty, and greater advocacy
• Utilize traditional and non-traditional data sources for competitive and consumer behavior intelligence
• Provide pre-commercialization assessments to support the further development of incubator ideas and identify critical high pay-off strategies
• Conduct retail store visits to evaluate store execution and overall category effectiveness
• Provide guidance on vendor selection, product segmentation, and sales planning
• Shape food knowledge across departments through food, cultural and ethnic, category and product trends; incorporate the information into retailer clients’ OB business plans
• Be active in the sensory phase of product development as well as approving reformulations, packaging, sourcing, and specification changes
• Monitor and optimize innovation experience against OB initiatives

Program Management

• Move projects into and through the ideation process to the development process
• Contribute to the approval of all innovation product specifications and lead rapid protocepting to bring concepts to life
• Build relationships with key stakeholders in a broad range of functions, levels, and organizations; assist in new product communication to optimize product assortment and placement
• Follow established programs, policies, and practices to produce safe, quality foods that meet regulatory and company requirements
• Supervise and coach direct reports in the performance of their duties; complete performance reviews and provides feedback to direct reports
• Must be able to perform the essential functions of this position with or without reasonable accommodation

Minimum Qualifications The following are the minimum job-related qualifications which an individual needs in order to successfully perform the essential duties and responsibilities of the job

Education Level: (Required): Bachelor's Degreeor equivalent experience

(Preferred): Master's Degree Or equivalent experience

• Field of Study/Area of Experience: Product innovation, marketing or related field, or comparable work experience
• 10 Years of experience in Retail, Consumer Packaged Goods, and/or Innovation IndustryBrand, innovation, category management, manufacturing, operations and/or procurement experienceOrchestration of commercialization plans for new product development pipelinesDemonstrated success in project management

Skills, Knowledge and Abilities (Choose 5-7 items from the menu selection in the next Section below)

• Strong Written & Verbal Communication Skills
• Decision Making Skills
• Ability to Develop Strategic Plans to Grow Business
• Track Record of Building & Maintaining Customer/Client Relationships
• Decision Making Skills
• Ability to make Oral Presentations
• Ability to Visualize & Plan Objectives & Goals Strategically

Job Will Remain Open Until Filled

Responsibilities

The Company is one of North America’s leading sales and marketing agencies specializing in outsourced sales, merchandising, category management and marketing services to manufacturers, suppliers and producers of food products and consumer packaged goods. The Company services a variety of trade channels including grocery, mass merchandise, specialty, convenience, drug, dollar, club, hardware, consumer electronics and home centers. We bridge the gap between manufacturers and retailers, providing consumers access to the best products available in the marketplace today.

Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities

 Job Duty· Demonstrate an understanding of ADV strategy and vision with regard to Product Development & QA at a global level. Coordinate and collaborate with global QA associates to ensure aligned priorities, projects and processes.

· Take leadership role in collaborating and communicating with key constituents to ensure that projects (branded products) are aligned with objectives to meet the needs of selling to retail, selling via on channel, and selling via influencer brands strategy

· Prioritize and assign the project workload across a cross functional team to enable timely delivery of high-quality processes and strategies.

· Develop standardized QA processes and approaches to drive efficiencies, increase utilization of resources and drive our evolution from QA analytical support to global insights and industry trends that generate solutions and resources for global customers/suppliers

· Direct a team of QA/Food Techs that service the QA function at a field brokerage account.

· Provide consultative services to CPG manufacturers on building and developing their private label products and portfolio.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Direct Reports

- This position does not have supervisory responsibilities for direct reports

Indirect Reports

- Does not have direct reports, but may delegate work of others and provide guidance, direction and mentoring to indirect reports

Travel and/or Driving Requirements 

- Travel is an essential duty and function of this job. Driving is not an essential duty or function of this job. 

- Travel up to 50%

Minimum Qualifications The following are the minimum job-related qualifications which an individual needs in order to successfully perform the essential duties and responsibilities of the job

Education Level:

(Required): Bachelor's Degree Or equivalent experience

(Preferred): MBA Degree Or equivalent experience

Field of Study/Area of Experience: 

15 Years of experience

Skills, Knowledge and Abilities 

Excellent Written & Verbal Communication Skills

Supervising Skills, to include Delegating Responsibility, Training, & Evaluating Performance

Research & Analysing Skills

Well Organized, Detail Oriented, & able to Handle Fast Paced Work Environment

Knowledge of generally accepted practices, procedures, & standard policy & procedure development techniques

Proficient in Project Management tools (i.e. MS Projects or similar project tools)

Ability to Work Independently & Prioritize with minimal supervision, in order to Meet Deadlines

Environmental & Physical Requirements

Office / Sedentary Requirements

Incumbent must be able to perform the essential functions of the job. Work is performed primarily in an office environment. Typically, requires the abilty to sit for extended periods of time (66% each day), ability to hear telephone, ability to enter data on a computer and may require the ability to lift up to 10lbs.

Additional Information Regarding Advantage Solutions Job Duties and Job Descriptions

Job duties include additional responsibilities as assigned by one’s supervisor or other manager related to the position/department. This job description is meant to describe the general nature and level of work being performed; it is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required for the position. The Company reserves the right at any time with or without notice to alter or change job responsibilities, reassign or transfer job position or assign additional job responsibilities, subject to applicable law. The Company shall provide reasonable accommodations of known disabilities to enable a qualified applicant or employee to apply for employment, perform the essential functions of the job, or enjoy the benefits and privileges of employment as required by the law.

Important Information

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

The Company is committed to providing equal opportunity in all employment practices without regard to age, race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, religion, physical or mental disability, or any other category protected by law. As part of this commitment, the Company shall provide reasonable accommodations of known disabilities to enable an applicant or employee to apply for employment, perform the essential functions of the job, or enjoy the benefits and privileges of employment as required by the law.