Manager, Product Development - Bakery

JOB SUMMARY:

The Manager, Product Development - Bakery, is responsible for overseeing the commercialization of bakery products, ensuring the successful transition from product development to market. This role requires a strategic thinker with strong business acumen to manage the entire lifecycle of new product launches, from concept to commercialization, ensuring alignment with R&D, merchandising, and manufacturing teams. The ideal candidate has a deep understanding of the bakery industry and bakery development, strong project management skills, and the ability to collaborate across multiple departments to deliver products that meet market demands and consumer needs. This role is a unique opportunity to play a critical part in shaping the future of 7-Eleven bakery products and processes while driving growth in the market!

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITES:

• Lead the commercialization process for new and existing bakery products, ensuring timelines, quality standards, and costs are met.
• Develop and execute commercialization strategies and timelines for product development projects; drive projects to ensure key milestones are met; identify contingency plans and assess risks. 
• Coordinate with R&D, Merchandising, and Bakery partners to bring new products to market efficiently.
• Identify opportunities for innovation and expansion in the bakery product portfolio.
• Identify key capabilities needed including equipment, ingredients or skills within the partner facilities. 
• Serve as the primary point of contact for bakery facilities regarding commercialization processes.
• Gather internal and external feedback post-launch to inform product improvements or adjustments.
• Liaise with quality assurance to maintain high product standards during the commercialization phase.
• Conduct market research to identify trends, customer preferences, and competitive products.
• Partner with supply chain and production teams to ensure production capabilities match forecasted demand.
• Document the details of the developed products through detailed specifications outlining weights, measurements, organoleptic and physical/chemical attributes.
• Develop and foster relationships with supplier/partners to manage and positively influence product development; use technical skills to outline development approach and guidelines.
• Utilize food science knowledge to troubleshoot product quality opportunities and /or identify improvements.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

EDUCATION: Bachelors/4 Yr Degree in Food Science, Bakery Science, Culinary Arts or a related field.

YEARS OF RELEVANT WORK EXPERIENCE: 5+ years in Food Product Development and food manufacturing; experience working bakery products or Food Service a plus          

YEARS OF MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE: NA

SPECIFIC KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

• Bakery Ingredient development experience (dough, bread, cake, icings, frostings); knowledge of ingredient functionality and ability to work with suppliers to improve formula functionalities. 
• Proven track record of successfully leading product development initiatives from concept to launch.
• Ability to assess and recommend processing equipment for line optimization; Utilize 6 Sigma Techniques/Data Analysis to drive improvements in efficiencies in rates and labor as well as quality.
• Embody the 7-Eleven leadership principles of Customer Obsession, Challenging the Status Quo, Courageous with Your Point of View, Acting like an Entrepreneur and having an ‘It Can be Done’ Attitude.
• Ability to influence partners, franchisees, merchandising and operations.
• Intellectual curiosity and creativity; passionate about food.

If an hourly or salary range is included in this ad it represents the range 7-Eleven in good faith believes is the range of compensation for this role at the time of this posting. The Company may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range. This range is only applicable for jobs to be performed in this state. This range may be modified in the future. No amount is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable under the terms and conditions of the applicable policies and plans. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, long-term incentive compensation, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company’s sole discretion, consistent with the law.