Product Innovation Specialist

Great Place to Work Certified

**Product Innovation Specialist - Baking**

Reports to: Senior Manager, Product Innovation & Optimization

Location: Vancouver, BC

Salary range: $65,000 - $70,000 depending on experience

COBS Bread is looking for a passionate and creative Product Innovation Specialist to work alongside marketing, supply chain, operations and other support teams to develop, research, prepare and evaluate the success of new and existing product ranges. This position will lead the charge in testing, trialing, and implementing recipes that will influence flavors across COBS bakeries nationwide.

Key responsibilities include:

- Managing the product lifecycle including conceptualization, design, trials, creation and evaluation of new concepts, recipes, and products for targeted markets or customers and final product specifications
- Building key relationships with strategic suppliers to source new ingredients and vendors
- As a member of the Innovation Team, deliver test baking of new and existing products and recipes to the group for feedback and product enhancement
- Stay abreast of trends and developments within the industry, channels, and techniques that will keep the brand in the forefront
- Prepare finished products to the highest standards for marketing activities including promotional materials, photoshoots and customer events
- Assist the Baking and Training Specialist with various tasks such as managing the National Baking Competition, developing Masterclass video content for training programs, and troubleshooting product quality issues with bakeries
- Working at our retail test bakery, the physical requirements are:

- Use of baking tools, equipment, and machinery
- Walking, standing, or sitting for extended periods of time
- Ability to lift up to 50 lbs

**Requirements**:
**What You Bring to the Table**:

- 5+ years’ proven experience in baking and product development, preferably within the retail, hospitality or manufacturing industries
- Advanced baking skills and understanding of baking techniques
- Extensive experience and passion for development of recipe, flavour, cost, and nutrition
- Knowledge of ingredients functionality, product evaluation, health and nutrition, food manufacturing processes, microbiology, quality assurance principles, and market research principles
- Strong project management skills in overseeing multiple projects and meeting tight deadlines with a sense of urgency
- Ability to work flexible schedule including nights, early mornings and weekends
- Strong communication skills
- Detail oriented and possess strong organizational skills
- Excellent verbal and written communications skills
- Adept in MS Office, including Outlook, Word and Excel
- Red Seal baker or equivalent is an asset
- Knowledge of Retail, Consumer Packaged Goods and/or Franchising is an asset
- Having a culinary blog and experience presenting via social media or TV is an asset

**Benefits**

**What’s in it for You**:

- Not only do we have fresh COBS Bread product delivered daily to our Vancouver Support Office, we offer some pretty sweet perks too
- A flexible work arrangement and a one-time work from home reimbursement to ensure you're set up for success
- Competitive salary, company bonus and vacation plan
- A great Extended Health & Dental Benefit, Group RRSP Matching, and Health Spending Account
- Paid sick, mental health and personal leave days
- Paid day for community service or volunteer opportunity
- Subsidized wellness program and an on-site gym facility
- An open, ‘continuous-learning’ environment where professional development and career progression is encouraged
- Work within a dynamic, driven, high-achieving, close-knit and fun-loving team
- High level of autonomy and responsibility
- Complimentary self-serve kitchen of fresh produce, deli meats and of course, COBS Bread and treats

We thank all applicants for their interest in COBS Bread but would like to advise that only applicants shortlisted for interview will be contacted.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company.

About COBS Bread
With over 160 locations, COBS Bread serves fresh and delightful baked goods to communities across Canada. Any unsold items are donated daily to various local charities and food banks. The company's success can be attributed to the quality of our product, the development of our people and our warm and friendly customer service.
COBS Bread is part of Bakers Delight - Established in 1980 operating as Bakers Delight in Australia and New Zealand, and since 2003 as COBS Bread in Canada and the USA. Together we have grown to more than 700 bakeries across Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the USA. The entire network employs over 15,000 people, serving more than 2.1 million customers each week.

**Accessibility**:
Accommodation is available upon request for applicants and employees with disabilities. If you are contacted for a job opportunity, please advise us of