Product Development Assistant

Roles and responsibilities

• Assist Product Development Managers in planning and executing pilot plant trials for new dairy products.
• Ensure that trials done on Pilot plant are scalable to the commercial plant.
• Ensure complete documentation of trials.
• Conduct thorough analysis of trial results.
• Provide technical support to resolve any processing issues that arise during pilot plant or commercial trials.
• Assist in troubleshooting exercises.
• Create the bill of process for the commercial run.
• Lead the factory trial Risk assessment and create the testing protocol across the conversion chain.
• Lead the data collection from the commercial run and create the final process recipe.
  

Required Qualification

• Education: Tertiary qualifications in Dairy or Food Science â Preferable Dairy
• Area of expertise: Dairy and/or NPD, Product improvement, process innovation
• Product categories: Milk, Fermented products, Ice Creams, etc.
  

Required Professional Skills.

• 3 years of experience in dairy product development or dairy processing
• Strong knowledge of dairy technology, processing techniques, and equipment
• Experience conducting pilot plant trials and scaling up to commercial production .
• Trend Identification: Staying up-to-date on industry trends, consumer demands, and new technologies to anticipate market shifts and inform product development.
• Competitive Analysis: Analyzing competitors' products to identify gaps, opportunities for differentiation, and areas of improvement for new or existing products.

Desired candidate profile

1. Research and Development (R&D) Skills

• Product Conceptualization: Identifying new product ideas based on market research, customer feedback, and trends in the industry.
• Innovation: Developing new products or improving existing ones to meet changing customer needs, environmental concerns, or technological advancements.
• Prototyping: Creating prototypes of new products, testing their functionality, and refining the design based on testing results.
• Formulation: Developing product formulations, whether it's a food recipe, cosmetic formula, or a chemical compound, ensuring the product meets quality standards and regulatory guidelines.

2. Technical and Analytical Skills

• Lab Testing: Conducting laboratory experiments to test ingredients, raw materials, or products, and analyzing the results for consistency, safety, and performance.
• Product Testing: Designing and implementing testing protocols to assess the functionality, durability, or safety of products.
• Data Analysis: Analyzing test data, market trends, and customer feedback to inform the product development process and make data-driven decisions.
• Process Optimization: Identifying opportunities to streamline production processes, improve efficiency, and reduce waste during product development.

3. Knowledge of Industry Standards and Regulations

• Compliance with Regulations: Knowledge of relevant industry regulations (e.g., food safety standards, environmental laws, cosmetics regulations) to ensure products meet legal requirements.
• Quality Assurance: Ensuring that products meet industry standards for quality, safety, and performance. This includes understanding certifications, audits, and testing requirements for the specific industry.

4. Project Management Skills

• Timeline Management: Managing product development timelines, ensuring that projects are completed on schedule and within budget.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Working closely with teams across departments (marketing, design, production, etc.) to ensure that the product meets all technical, commercial, and regulatory requirements.
• Resource Allocation: Managing resources effectively, ensuring that materials, equipment, and personnel are available to meet development goals.

5. Product and Market Knowledge

• Consumer Insights: Understanding consumer needs, behaviors, and preferences through market research, surveys, and focus groups.
• Trend Identification: Staying up-to-date on industry trends, consumer demands, and new technologies to anticipate market shifts and inform product development.
• Competitive Analysis: Analyzing competitors' products to identify gaps, opportunities for differentiation, and areas of improvement for new or existing products.

6. Testing and Quality Control

• Prototype Testing: Conducting rigorous testing on prototypes to ensure they meet the functional, aesthetic, and performance expectations before scaling up for full production.
• Stability and Shelf-Life Testing: For certain industries (e.g., food, pharmaceuticals), performing stability tests to determine how the product holds up over time, ensuring it remains safe and effective.
• Troubleshooting: Addressing and resolving any technical or quality-related issues that arise during the product development phase.

7. Communication and Collaboration Skills

• Clear Communication: Articulating product development processes, testing results, and recommendations to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Collaboration: Working with marketing, manufacturing, and design teams to ensure the product aligns with business goals, is manufacturable, and is market-ready.
• Customer Focus: Translating customer needs and feedback into actionable prod