Product Development Specialist

Description
Hanover Foods is seeking a Product Development Specialist to develop new canned foods and expands on and improves existing products. This role will work with Sales in developing new products, which permits the company to grow rapidly into new regions. The responsibilities of this role include:

1. Plans and develops prototypes of new products, improves existing products.
2. Works with Sales and Marketing in:
   • defining strengths of existing products
   • determining consumer interest in new products
   • determining new products for new accounts
   • developing new products to meet Marketing and Sales needs
3. 3. Develops product specifications, ingredient specifications, preparation procedures and formula cards for use by Manufacturing and Quality Assurance
4. Develops cooking, handling, and serving suggestions.
5. Schedules product cuttings and prepares pertinent reports on each product for future planning and development.
6. Operates pilot plant for thermal process testing of canned items (FMC rotary steritort and retort).
7. Formula cost savings to include review of ingredients (new and existing) to permit replacement and/or substitutions.
8. Reviews product formulas on a regular basis and makes recommendations to Quality Assurance for review and updating.
9. Submits information to thermal process authority. Involved with USDA label submission.
10. Assists Operations and Quality Assurance in the selection of equipment and design of product flow.
11. Responsible for administration of food safety, legality and quality policies and procedures within the scope of the job responsibilities such as, but not limited to: GMP's, food safety, product quality, food security, government guidelines and requirements, prerequisite programs, quality systems, etc.
12. Performs other duties as requested by the Vice President Quality Assurance and Research & Development.

Requirements
Qualified applicants must have:

• 4 years' experience working in R&D with food products
• Hands on food preparation experience
• Strong communication skills (both oral and written)
• Bachelor's degree in Food Science