This job description is a summary of the main requirements of the role but not exhaustive. It may be reviewed and/or updated regularly in discussion with the post holder or as company focus/needs change.

Main Duties

• Form part of PrepWorld's cross-functional customer account management teams. Ensure strong working relationships with relevant counterparts within the customer teams. Establish collaborative working relationships with the broader PrepWorld team (including Commerical Managers, Category, Technical, Packaging, Procurement, Projects and Production) in order to successfully execute opportunities linked to EPD and NPD or customer tenders.
• Support in coordinating best practice systems/platforms, processes, ways of working and guidelines for launching EPD and NPD alongside the broader PrepWorld functions.
• Support the execution of the end-to-end NPD process, focusing on the coordination of projects through each stage gate from initial brief/concept to launch. Help build and maintain critical paths to ensure milestones are met, stakeholders remain aligned with clear roles & responsibilities, and risks are identified early. Responsibilities include maintaining document controlled build documents, supporting with high quality customer samples submissions including relevant documentation and online systems, maintaining accurate stage gate documentation, coordinating artwork and cutter approvals, and working with the Commercial team on costings to deliver projects on time and within budget.
• Attend and support the running of the weekly NPD meeting ensuring all actions are captured and communicated to the relevant cross-functional audience and information is kept up to date on the Delist & Launches tracker.
• Ensure you have your finger on the pulse of the latest key trends and drivers of growth in both the prepared fruit category but also the broader macro food & drink market through a program of insight & inspiration activities ('Tool Kit Calendar').
• Maintain awareness of modern technology, current legislation, industry standards and customer codes of practice.
• Support regular activity to review and benchmark both our own and competitor products in order to understand how we can improve our existing offer and inform future innovation concepts. This should include 12 week post launch NPD reviews and bi-annual prepared fruit range resets (summer and winter).
• Support the delivery of regular 'Insight to Innovation Showcases' to an internal cross functional commercial and senior leadership audience. Work with the Category team and other relevant functions in order to present updates from the long-term innovation pipeline in order to gain feedback that can be used in the development process and ultimately business sign off.
• In conjunction with the NPD Assistant, coordinate regular store visits ensuring key findings are reported back to the business, manage samples requirements including Brandbank submissions and support ad hoc customer requests.
• Support the NPD Technologists in the facilitation of factory trials, scale-up initiatives and process optimisation. Support in arranging pre-production (pre-pro) trials and coordinate customer visits where required to enable product sign off