Associate Product Development Manager

Job Description
Overview:
This is a hands-on research &
development role working in an array of environments including but not limited to the DPZ WRC office, Test Kitchen and Sensory Lab, third party research facilities, DPZ stores, and external photography and videography studios. Responsible for leading and executing product related logistics for off-site CLTs, photo shoots, and Test Kitchen working needs. This role requires a mastery of customer products and processes. Support all aspects of product development as detailed below (with a potential to lead). Job duties outlined here are not intended to be all inclusive and could include other responsibilities to fulfill job requirements.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES
(40%) Support the Product Development team and execute product testing for consumer appeal for new and/or existing menu items.
Act as a DPZ menu item, product, and operational expert. Prep and make samples as needed for product evaluations/project meetings to help drive projects forward. Work on multiple projects concurrently. Certain individual tasks may be delegated to lead while others are support.
Independently lead and execute product making for in house sensory panels, external focus groups, and CLT testing.
Serve as the site-specific lead for consumer testing. Make product to standard, according to set schedule, identify, correct and/or communicate issues that may impact the integrity of the test. Coach cross functional team members on CLT protocol and requirements. Verify accuracy.
Order, pack, and ship supplies according to timelines and project needs.
Coordinate with SCC, research facility and/or pizza store to make sure food order, equipment and resources needed for testing arrive on time and are in working condition. Proactively prepare for alternative solutions. Follow necessary protocol to hire and pay store team members to support product testing as needed.
Document actual product performance during the consumer test;
sensory attributes, physical product requirements, oven settings, and food safety temperatures.
Maintain and update actionable SOPs for each city.
Participate in all aspects of product development and cross functional product work (innovation &
renovation) from ideation through commercialization, including development, operational testing, supplier matching, hold and release, training, etc.
Participate in ideation sessions, food tours, trend tours with a productive and creative mindset. Manage external supplier working sessions (food &
equipment needs, help with DPZ ops, shipping supplies, etc.). Anticipate needs, set up, make products and clean up as needed.
Responsible for unpacking &
labeling prototype samples, updating tracking log and communicating to project lead. Make samples &
prototype builds for the project teams during development.
Independently plan and execute product shelf life and operational evaluations, equipment testing, etc. per required timelines.Use consumer, product, operational, and business knowledge to
Collect and analyze data necessary for product formulation &
specification decisions(weights, food safety temperatures, texture analysis, viscosity, etc.). Write reports, communicate findings, and make recommendations to project leads and other key stakeholders as applicable.
Help develop specifications, procedures and standards for products. Write specifications in Intelex as assigned.
Be a product expert and make “Great” products for team and project evaluations, executive and investor showings, franchise advisory councils, etc. Make products and clean up as needed.
Obtain competitive products, evaluate portions and write reports.
Renovation projects potential lead - Recommend and manage improvements to current menu offerings &
processes to improve product quality, consumer acceptance, and adaptation of new menu items.
Develop product build recipes, procedures, and food cost calculations for developed products.
Partner with cross functional teams (S&
I, Procurement, QA, Training, Operations, external research suppliers, etc.) regarding product and packaging needs.
Clearly communicate with suppliers through development for sample requests and follow-up with actionable feedback
(30%) Oversight, coordination, and execution of product and test kitchen demands
Serve as point person to coordinate photo shoots, live action shoots and any other product needs for advertising. Communicate product standards to the advertising team, help with dough production/proofing schedules and placing SCC orders for photo shoots in the test kitchen, travel to offsite locations to make product for shoots, participate in production calls, work with food stylists on set, etc.
Support Advertising and Social teams during production and photography shoots by coordinating product needs and working with food stylists to make menu items ahead of new product launches.
Partner with cross functional teams to establish food styling and product imagery guidelines.
Maintain a log of tips and tricks, coach and onboard new team members
Lead all product needs for the quarterly BOD lunches. Plan the menu, ensure approval, order the supplies, proofread the printed menu, assemble and lead the pizza making team as needed, set and communicate the bake schedule, etc.
Manage all aspects of the cross functional working Test Kitchen. Work within an approved budget of up to $200,000.
Maintain all test kitchen food, smallwares, aprons/chef coats, job aids and misc. supplies necessary to make product prototypes and to support all product showings. Place orders as needed per timeline requirements.
Ensure all test kitchen equipment is calibrated, maintained, labeled and ready to use at all times.
Place SCC orders, verify receipt, track invoices, communicate invoice billing requirements, store products accordingly, rotate code dates (FIFO), manage shelf life. 100% of general use food must be within code date and fully stocked at all times.
Responsible for daily set up and clean-up of test kitchen. Set up makeline, gather dirty dishes for housekeeping, scrape unused dough, keep the storage areas organized, load and unload the dishwasher, etc.
Schedule test kitchen time for all other departments needing to use the test kitchen space. Communicate to all parties involved and find solutions to share the space accordingly. Make special orders for other users as needed. Maintain TK calendar and communicate all kitchen events to cross functional teams.
Communicate needs to facilities and housekeeping. Ensure that housekeeping is adhering to contract requirements.
Stock Coke cooler, place order as needed, manage shelf life, etc.
Lead kitchen cleaning &
storage requirements, food donations, etc. Assemble and lead teams of team members to accomplish activities in the test kitchen as needed.
Unpack samples, coordinate supplier events (prep and clean up),
Additional
Act as the point person for scheduling the R&
D conference room and approving test kitchen access.
Train and educate cross functional team members on product making, TK protocols, etc.
(10%) Operations Support
Provide consumer and product attribute expertise for cross functional projects impacting food quality and/or food safety (new ovens, food preparation equipment, smallwares) and ensure product quality metrics can be attained.
Coach team members on critical product requirements
Update and align with A&
I on consumer validationrequirements
(10%) Competitive Product Lead
Serve as the subject matter expert of the competitive product landscape for the Product Development team
Create and maintain a useable database with product portions, pictures, operational knowledge.
Derive insights from data and observations over time
Partner with Field Marketing, Advertising, Activation, Project leads, A&
I etc. to expand intel within the database
Write reports and present to various levels
(10%) Development in support of individual and organizational goals and strategies
Special projects as assigned (such as finished product specifications, work with CCC on updating PQ codes, product Fun Facts)
Linked In Learning, engagement and other professional development initiatives
Coaching PPS annually, or involvement in other operational events as part of development
Conduct research on various topics as assigned (such as operational equipment and consumer trends)