Product Development Executive

**About Us**

DFI Retail Group (“Group”) is a leading pan-Asian retailer. At 30th June 2021, the Group and its associates and joint ventures operated over 10,000 outlets and employed some 230,000 team members. The Group had total annual sales in 2020 exceeding US$28 billion. The Group provides quality and value to Asian consumers by offering leading brands, a compelling retail experience and great service; all delivered through a strong store network supported by efficient supply chains. The Group (including associates and joint ventures) operates under a number of well-known brands across food, health and beauty, home furnishings, restaurants and other retailing.

DFI Retail Group is a member of the Jardine Matheson Group.

**Main Duties and Responsibilities**
- Identify regional food items/trends with potential through our business system.
- Lead development, testing, and implementation through local suppliers.
- Verify results and drive national implementation of regionally developed items.
- Create the success routine for regional item development.
- Drive product sales growth by working closely with Product Development Managers on the support of development of new products across various categories to meet strategy and trade plan.
- Understand customers’ needs and formulate the corresponding range, space, buying and pricing strategies for the assigned ready-to-eat fresh food categories to maximize customers’ satisfaction and thus category performance.
- The role works closely with vendors, quality and supply chain partners to identify opportunities and bring product concepts to life.
- Design & conduct experiments to capitalize on novel ingredients for cost savings and improved performance, troubleshoot existing formulas to optimize production performance.
- Execute all stages of consumer centric product development from benchtop prototypes, consumer testing, pilot plant trials and formula commissioning at full scale manufacturing.
- Create, review and document recipe build up, process flows and final product information to ensure that products are kept in record and be consistently delivered to our customers.
- Develop and manage efficiently multiple project timelines, budgets and product development activities and regular communication with all stakeholders
- Identify capabilities needed including equipment, ingredients or skills within the partner facilities.
- Work with internal stakeholders on finished product design, including but not limited to formulation, packaging, copy, photography, etc.
- Continuously present products that can be kept in library as part of drawer plans
- Conduct food safety and shelf life risk management during product development stage
- Arrange for sensory evaluation sessions for quality monitoring purposes and approval of new products
- Work with indicative volumes and costing and manage margin
**Job Requirements**
- Diploma in Food or Culinary Science related discipline
- Minimum 5yrs experience in retail, food catering, food manufacturing with hands on experience in product development
- Understand food industry and strong consumer profile understanding
- Creative, detail minded, with excellent communication skills and can work independently and as a team
- Strong project management and influencing skills
- Knowledge in food safety and quality hygiene systems e.g. HACCP, GMP, Food safety management systems e.g. ISO 22000, AIB, FSMS 22000, etc.
- Self motivated, be able to work under pressure and meet strict deadlines
- Proficient in Microsoft Powerpoint and Excel
**Benefits**
- Team Member Discount
- Subsidized Medical and Dental Benefits
- Training Opportunities
- Career Advancement
Working Location: Tampines

**Job Types**: Full-time, Contract
Contract length: 12 months

**Salary**: $3,500.00 - $4,500.00 per month

**Benefits**:

- Dental insurance
- Employee discount
- Health insurance
- Work from home
Schedule:

- Monday to Friday
Supplemental Pay:

- 13th month salary
- Performance bonus

**Education**:

- Local Polytechnic Diploma (preferred)