New Product Specialist

Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream•Laurel, MD

2d•$25 - $30

About The Position

The New Product Specialist ensures projects are executed on time and meet approved capital budgets, operating budgets, and cost-savings targets. The role is responsible for the successful development, implementation, and commercialization of new products and improvement projects within the factory. As the site subject matter expert for technical processes and products, the specialist also builds employees’ knowledge and skills. The specialist coordinates product and process renovation projects, safeguards technical standards, facilitates plant trials and start-ups, manages project plans and stakeholder updates, and leads cross-functional teams. The position supports new product development and improvement initiatives from their outset, oversees factory testing, evaluates processing and formulation concepts, and manages project-related capacity and capital requirements. The project owner tracks results against timelines and success criteria, escalates risks as needed, and owns project results for the first year. The work takes place in a fast-paced manufacturing environment. The employee regularly works around other people, in wet or humid and noisy areas, and near mechanical, electrical, and pressurized equipment. Parts of the facility are kept at low temperatures, and the role involves frequent exposure to nuts and other potential allergens. Work may involve prolonged standing, repetitive hand and arm movements, bending, reaching, lifting, and walking in refrigerated areas. Protective equipment and adherence to food safety, hygiene, and safety requirements are required. The pay range is $25–$30 per hour, with opportunities for overtime, shift differential, cold premium pay, and annual bonuses that vary with company performance. The company offers a group benefits package including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, paid time off, paid holidays, paid parental leave, and a 401(k) plan with an employer match and annual contribution. Visa sponsorship and immigration support are not available. The employer provides equal employment opportunities to applicants regardless of protected characteristics.

Requirements

Must be legally authorized to work in the United States now and in the future; visa sponsorship and immigration support are unavailable.
Follow food safety, hygiene, allergen-control, safety, quality, GMP, regulatory, and environmental requirements.
Ability to work in a fast-paced manufacturing environment around mechanical, electrical, and pressurized equipment, in wet or humid and high-noise areas, and in cold production or storage areas.
Ability to use cold-protective PPE and required protective gear, including hygiene-related equipment.
Ability to stand for extended periods and perform repetitive hand and arm movements, bending, reaching, lifting, and walking in refrigerated areas.
Frequent exposure to nuts and other potential allergens.

Responsibilities

Coordinate and manage renovation projects for existing products and processes.
Safeguard technical product and process standards and provide site technical support.
Keep stakeholders informed about project status, risks, mitigation actions, decision points, successes, and lessons learned.
Facilitate plant trials and start-ups for assigned projects.
Provide project direction and management, including scheduling, assigning work, and reviewing projects against technical and process specifications.
Build employees’ technical capabilities through training, materials, coaching, and progressive skill-building experiences.
Provide technical expertise at the outset of improvement initiatives and across functional streams.
Recommend and evaluate processing and product formulation concepts to improve product quality and reduce production and formulation costs using approved systems, tools, and methodologies.
Participate as a technical expert at the beginning of new product development projects through the NPDI process.
Organize and supervise factory testing of renovated or new products and processes.
Work with Quality, Safety, Cost, TAG, R&D, and other functional groups to focus resources and own project results for the first year.
Work with the site team to determine capacity and capital requirements for new product initiatives, and develop and manage project capital.
Represent the plant in new product or process project execution and develop internal resources to strengthen the process.
Lead cross-functional teams, develop and track implementation plans, measure progress against timelines and plans, and escalate issues as necessary.
Support production targets and plans, report issues promptly, and use materials responsibly to reduce downtime and waste.
Maintain an organized workstation, follow standard operating procedures, and identify process-efficiency and waste-reduction opportunities.
Follow GMPs, quality checks, testing, documentation, food safety, hygiene, sanitation, and allergen-control requirements; stop and escalate quality issues.
Follow safety rules, report hazards and near misses, communicate and collaborate with team members, and participate in required training.
Comply with company, regulatory, environmental, and food safety requirements; operate equipment responsibly and support sustainability initiatives.
Demonstrate the company’s core values by taking ownership, acting transparently and ethically, seeking improvement, and working inclusively with others.