ORGANISATION
Partner in Pet Food (PPF) is an innovative, leading European pet food producer, supplying over 600 customers, including major grocery retailers, supermarkets, specialized pet shops, and veterinarians in the 40 markets in which it operates. PPF is one of the largest producers of Retailer Brand wet and dry pet food in Europe, offering a full range of high-quality cat and dog food products including dry, cans, pouches, semi moist and snacks. The share of PPF’s branded products, which include Bozita, Shelma and Reno, is also continuously increasing, with that trend expected to continue.
Innovation is key for the company. Their newest additions are influenced by trends in human food like, grain free products, more fresh and natural ingredients and focus on sustainability. The company culture is characterized by flexibility, cost efficiency, quick problem solving and high performance. The company’s core values are: Ownership, Entrepreneurial Spirit, Continuous improvement, Teamwork and Result driven. At the Dutch office there are about 40 employees working to meet the high growing standards. At this moment we are looking for a:
PRODUCT MANAGER BENELUX
POSITION
In this position you will be responsible to lead projects in both branded and private label products (new products) and redesigns (both initiated from customers or internal PPF). Support in offer process, responsible for customer portals and recipe and packaging advise. This position reports directly to Feiko Hilhorst (Head of Category Management).
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Lead new product and redesign project throughout the organization by:
- Creating and maintaining project timeline, follow up on actions needed, schedule project meetings, involving all stakeholders;
- Responsible for keeping track of planning and communication within the project team;
- Is aware of full range of possibilities within PPF on packaging, recipes, production and logistics;
- Fill customer portals with details on recipe, packaging, logistics, all information needed for product development;
- Check artwork designs on legal requirements and technical standards in order to produce successfully (and attend 1st prints if needed abroad), in contact with suppliers;
- Coordination in case of marketability and palatability testing, arranging samples, aligning on follow up actions;
- Coordinating tenders/advise customer about best fitting product range together with sales/production locations;
- GS1 contact;
- Check and align with the customer on all included masterdata, tray stickers, pallet labels etc.;
- Make sure all steps from the NPD (inc. redesign) processes are taken as described in the quality manual;
- Act as first point of entry (knowledge base) into the PM team for specific customers and products as determined in the PM team;
- Initiation and managing of process improvements projects both for PM specific as for PPF wide projects;
- (Pro-)actively propose amendments, in collaboration with TM and Sales, to the current and future product portfolio of both customers and PPF to optimize PPF performance.
YOUR PROFILE
PROFILE CANDIDATE
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
- Academic degree either Bachelor or Master’s;
- Relevant working experience preferably within FMCG;
- Experience in working with GS1 is a plus;
- Good knowledge of Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, Powerpoint);
- Fluent in Dutch and English.
RELEVANT COMPETENCES
- Good communication skills;
- Team player and solution oriented;
- Bring structure, helicopter view and you thrive in a stressful situation.
