Director of Product Development

Position Overview: The Director of Product Development is the primary resource for the Beverage Development Team for people management and development, training and technical needs, and continuous project improvement. The Director of Project Management sets the vision, KPI's, and expectations of the Development Team. The Director of Product Development is the primary liaison functioning as a "funnel in" and a "funnel out" for projects transferring from Sales into Development. This role integrates with both the Sales team and the Development team to function successfully and works very closely with Project Managers to ensure development phase projects are on track and meet the requirements of the customer. The Director of Product Development ensures that projects meet the requirements of the customer, the capabilities of the company, that the right Project Manager is assigned to the right project, and that those projects are completed on time. Principle Duties & Responsibilities: LMA (Lead, Manage, hold Accountable) for Project Managers through implementation and maintenance of "Best Practice" processes, enhanced teamwork, KPI's, standards of accountability, and utilization of EOS. Manage Department P&L. Drive department initiatives, remove obstacles, and be a sincere advocate for the Development Team. Provide continuous recommendations on process improvement, project assignments, and strategic department growth. Defines the overall project management strategy, aligns projects with FBSG goals and sets project vision and scope. Identifies and manages project risks, developing mitigation strategies and ensuring projects are completed on time and within budget. Support, guide, and mentor employees through complex problem solving. Be an industry expert and a "go-to resource" for the Development Team through management of a variety of beverage types. Identify training needs for current employees, make recommendations for continuous training, and support team development. Manage the department hiring process which includes reviewing resumes, conducting interviews, and making hiring decisions. Serve as a point of escalation for project issues and opportunities. Maintain consistently high customer satisfaction levels and create raving FBSG customers for life. Understands the full intent of the customer ensuring SOWs are accurate, and the psychology, temperament, and personality of the customer prior to assigning accounts to allow for faster ramp up and success. Allocating and assigning projects to Project Managers based on capacity, knowledge, and temperament. Provide new projects initial list of copackers to explore and alert of any anticipated stumbling blocks. Act as the front line for problem solving, escalation and troubleshooting. Effectively maintain and initiate development to supply chain account transitions through communication with Director of Production Services and internal teams. Research, identify, and make recommendations on co-packers for new customers and projects. Manage commercialization process for production set-up of new products. Qualifications & Skills: Bachelor's degree in project management, business administration, supply-chain management or related field. 10 years' minimum experience in Project Management, Supply Chain, Production Planning or similar role. 3+ years of professional people management experience, team of at least 4 people preferred Proven ability to lead, inspire and influence a team. Proven leader committed to the delivery of quality products and building long-term profitability. Effective organizational skills to accommodate multiple projects in a fast-faced environment. Ability to analyze existing processes and identify more efficient ways to accomplish goals and meet customer and client requirements; ability to continuously improve processes through regular assessment and adjustment. Ability to provide timely, specific information, guidance and recommendations to help groups, managers and others make informed committed decisions that lead to sustainable impact. Ability to communicate effectively to identify needs and evaluate alternative business solutions with internal customers/departments. Ability to clarify options and facilitate issue resolution within project teams and within functional areas Superior problem-solving skills and capabilities. Experience in roles involving capacity planning and/or raw materials planning. Experience in food and beverage industry or consumer packaged goods preferred. Experience using Project Management software required, NetSuite preferred. Familiarity with consumer products, packaging equipment and materials handling. Experience in new product launches preferred. Familiarity of beverage industry standards of quality, food safety and compliance regulations including CFIA, FDA, USDA, TTB, Organic, Kosher, Gluten Free, etc. preferred. Strong MRP/ERP software skills/understanding. Customer service driven with strong interpersonal and communication skills. Self-directed and hard-working. Energetic and Enthusiastic with a willingness to learn and grow within the company. Strong Excel, mathematical, and negotiation skills. Willingness and flexibility to travel up to 25% of the time (international travel may be required) and the ability to work nights and weekends when travelling.