Strategic Development Manager

About the Company

Foodstuffs Own Brands sits within the wider Foodstuffs network and is jointly owned by the two Foodstuffs co-operatives. The team leads the national private-label portfolio of more than 2,500 products, including well-known grocery names such as Pams. Their work is centred on customers and on building a strategic private-brand offer that performs from idea development through to the final consumer experience.

About the Role

In this Strategic Development Manager position, you will help define and execute the direction of private brands so customers keep choosing them and the banners are better positioned to succeed every day. Reporting to the Head of Product & Development, you will guide a capable team of Product Developers and help steer the product development strategy, programme delivery and innovation pipeline through collaborative leadership.

Key Responsibilities

• Set and manage the product development strategy, programme and pipeline, prioritising the highest-value opportunities for customers and banners.
• Use global, consumer, flavour and emerging category insights to support innovation, product improvement, reformulation, simplification and range enhancement.
• Prepare commercial recommendations that strike the right balance between customer value, product quality and cost.
• Lead new product development range proposals and contribute to category planning.
• Build alignment and influence stakeholders across both co-operatives, external suppliers and internal functions.
• Oversee the sensory programme and manage the Product Development Kitchen.
• Coach, support and develop a high-performing team.

About You

You are a commercially minded product development professional with a solid record of delivering successful packaged goods in FMCG and/or retail settings. Your background includes strong food science capability, along with a practical understanding of New Zealand food regulations and food standards, allowing you to take products from concept to launch with confidence while maintaining quality, compliance and customer appeal.

You should be comfortable translating market intelligence into products that win, and have experience with tools such as AC Nielsen, Dunnhumby and Mintel to identify trends, understand shopper behaviour and spot growth opportunities. You will be equally strong in strategic and day-to-day execution, able to manage multiple workstreams, influence people at all levels and coach others to deliver strong outcomes.

Most importantly, you bring a genuine enthusiasm for food and for creating products customers enjoy. You understand what it takes to succeed at both the shelf edge and the dinner table, combining consumer insight, commercial judgement and creative thinking to bring valuable new products to market.

Benefits

• Free parking, including more than 1,000 car parks and EV charging plugs.
• Southern Cross health plans available for you and your family.
• Onsite café with subsidised meals, mini mart access and a 5% discount at retail stores.
• Flexible work options, your birthday off, and plenty of onsite activities.
• Internal learning and development programmes, courses, flu vaccinations and social network groups known as Tribes.

Additional Information

The organisation is committed to creating an inclusive environment and welcomes applicants from diverse backgrounds, including people with disabilities, additional health or mental health needs, and neurodiversity. If accessibility support is needed during the recruitment process, assistance may be provided for things such as interview location arrangements, sign language interpretation or assistive technology. The hiring process may use artificial intelligence tools to assist with review and screening, but final selection decisions are made by people.