Associate Product Development

Nestle Operational Services Worldwide SA•Arlington, VA

1d•$72,722 - $97,598

About The Position

The Associate, Product Development participates in project teams to deliver technical solutions for innovation, renovation, and product optimization or improvement projects. The role collaborates with internal and external partners, builds relationships, develops technical skills, and supports personal development. The associate may serve as technical lead on low-complexity projects. The position develops and executes product and process development work across benchtop, pilot plant, and factory settings; formulates products within technical and manufacturing capabilities; supports consumer-tested product execution; reduces complaints and mitigates risks; and helps ensure controls consistently deliver the intended product standard. With support, the associate may lead low-complexity product development from concept through commercialization, coordinate factory trials and qualification, improve existing products and processes, and contribute to technical projects involving sourcing, quality, compliance, and productivity. The role also supports compliance with company, external, and local regulatory standards. Under supervision, it may serve as Quality Lead for assigned projects and apply food-safety and HACCP fundamentals, material onboarding, allergen and claims validation, and process-capability principles. It provides supervised first-line technical support to factories in ingredients, recipes, and processing, and participates in capability-building and structured problem-solving activities.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Engineering, or a related field; or an associate degree, vocational/technical education, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant work experience.
Basic knowledge of technical and/or manufacturing processes.
Ability to work effectively in a cross-functional team environment and meet established deadlines.
Organizational skills and ability to manage multiple projects or assignments.
Effective interpersonal, presentation, verbal, and written communication skills.
Critical-thinking and problem-solving skills.
Working knowledge of Microsoft 365 applications, including Excel, PowerPoint, Word, SharePoint, and Teams.
0–3 years of relevant product development, technical, manufacturing, or related experience.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of the product development process from concept through commercialization.
Working knowledge of SAP and/or recipe-management systems.
Experience identifying or implementing process, product, or technical improvements.
Consumer packaged goods (CPG) and/or food product development experience.
Experience participating in consumer research, such as focus groups, central location tests, or similar activities.
Operations or manufacturing/factory experience.
Experience serving as a technical lead on projects of limited scope or complexity.

Responsibilities

Develop, implement, and execute product and process development activities at benchtop, pilot plant, and internal or external factory settings to meet project goals and deadlines.
Formulate products within available technical and manufacturing capabilities.
Match products demonstrated in consumer testing and confirm a viable path to execution before testing is fielded.
Conduct complaint-reduction exercises and mitigate key risks.
Ensure controls are in place to consistently deliver the intended gold standard.
Participate in Innovation and Renovation project teams and contribute to product-design and process-capability decisions.
Collaborate with cross-functional internal and external teams, including R&D, Product Development, Project Management, Quality, Regulatory, Engineering, Packaging, Factories, Marketing, Co-Manufacturing, Purchasing, and Supply Chain.
With support, lead product development from concept through commercialization for low-complexity Innovation and Renovation projects, aligned with the Marketing Brief and company requirements.
Ensure product performance at factories through trials and the qualification process.
Continuously improve and optimize current factory products and processes based on local business needs, supply conditions, and initiatives.
Lead or support technical projects involving sourcing, quality improvements, compliance, and productivity cost savings.
Comply with Nestlé requirements, applicable external standards, and the local regulatory framework.
Under supervision, act as Quality Lead for assigned projects and apply HACCP and food-safety fundamentals, new-material onboarding, allergen and claims validation, and process-capability principles.
Under supervision, provide TAG expertise in ingredients, recipes, and processing to support consistent production of high-quality products.
Continuously develop technical skills and pursue personal development.
Represent TAG in general discussions as a subject-matter resource on manufactured finished products.
Participate in cross-functional teams addressing renovation, consumer complaints, and productivity opportunities, and take part in structured problem-solving activities.