Senior Product Development Specialist

Nestle Operational Services Worldwide SA•Solon, OH

4d•$93,337 - $127,152

About The Position

The Senior Product Development Specialist is the technical lead for highly complex projects involving innovation, renovation, and product, packaging, and process optimization. The role partners with Marketing to translate consumer insights into project pipelines and represents the Technical Application Group as a subject matter expert, transferring knowledge to factories. It also trains and coaches colleagues and collaborates with internal and external partners to strengthen technical skills and professional development. The position implements Innovation and Renovation strategies for supported product categories. It uses industry and global Nestlé network insights to develop and execute product, packaging, and process development activities, including mockups, bench-top and pilot-plant work, distribution testing, and factory testing. The specialist supports the introduction of new products, packaging, and processes at factories and external manufacturers, collaborating with cross-functional teams to develop, industrialize, and launch complex projects. The role leads projects to improve current products, packaging, and processes in response to local business needs, supply conditions, and initiatives. Project work may include technical assistance, sourcing, quality improvements, compliance, and productivity cost savings, with responsibility for timelines, critical paths, roadblocks, and resource constraints. The specialist ensures compliance with Nestlé requirements, external standards, and local regulations, and helps develop market-level standards. Additional responsibilities include developing product, packaging, and process expertise within the Technical Application Group; creating competencies and training materials; providing guidance on Operations standard operating procedures; supporting factories as a first line of assistance; and transferring knowledge to address root causes. The role requires approximately 25–50% travel. The position is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree required.
Preferably at least 5 years of product, packaging, or process development experience in consumer packaged goods or a related field in a factory environment, or equivalent supply industry experience.
Ability to work in a fast-paced, high-performing environment.
Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple projects and assignments.
Strong interpersonal, presentation, oral, and written communication skills.
Highly motivated, critical-thinking, goal-oriented, and adaptable to change.
Computer skills, including Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and Project.
Able to travel approximately 25–50%.

Nice To Haves

Degree in Food Science, Food Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Packaging Science, Packaging Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.
Experience with SAP and the CAPE Palletization Program.

Responsibilities

Lead highly complex technical projects to deliver innovation, renovation, and optimization or improvement initiatives.
Partner with Marketing to translate consumer insights into project pipelines.
Represent the Technical Application Group as a product, packaging, and process subject matter expert and transfer knowledge to factories.
Implement Innovation and Renovation strategies for supported product categories.
Use industry and global Nestlé network insights to develop and execute product, packaging, and process development activities, including mockups, bench-top and pilot-plant work, distribution testing, and factory testing.
Collaborate with internal and external project teams to develop, industrialize, and launch innovation and renovation projects.
Lead improvements to current products, packaging, and processes according to local business needs, supply situations, and initiatives.
Manage technical projects involving technical assistance, sourcing, quality improvements, compliance, and productivity cost savings, including timelines, critical paths, roadblocks, and resource constraints.
Ensure adherence to product, packaging, and process standards, Nestlé requirements, external standards, and local regulations.
Identify, influence, and lead the development of market-level product, packaging, and process standards within Nestlé systems.
Develop technical skills and professional expertise, and provide coaching and mentorship to colleagues.
Develop product, packaging, and process mastership within the Technical Application Group, including defining competencies and training materials.
Provide guidance and input to Operations for standard operating procedures.
Provide first-line support to factories.
Transfer knowledge related to product, packaging, and process mastership to eliminate the root causes of assistance requests.
Act as a coaching and training resource for product, packaging, and process mastership.