Product Development Specialist

About the Company

Export Packers Company Limited is a multi-faceted, growth-oriented international food company. Since 1937, this privately owned family company based in Ontario, Canada, has built itself into a global food expert, providing exceptional service and innovative solutions to its industry partners. The company’s success is driven by its dedicated employees' professionalism and entrepreneurial spirit. Our Head office is located in Brampton, Ontario.

Role Summary

The Product Development Specialist owns assigned product development projects from concept through commercialization, working under the direction of the Director, Product Development. The role combines technical product work—scoping, formulation, sample development, sensory evaluation, and documentation—with cross-functional collaboration across Sales, QA, Procurement, Marketing, and Operations, as well as external coordination with packers and suppliers.

Responsibilities

• Lead and execute all aspects of assigned product development projects including: Liaising with key stakeholders to understand business strategy, gathering critical inputs, coordinating project workflow, documentation, leading/attending plant trials, preparing samples for customers and internal presentation and cuttings, and distribution of samples.


• Provide technical support to Sales and Marketing to determine product attributes for development, to support product launch plans, and to liaise with customer PD and QA teams as required.


• Collaborate on packaging attributes, sources, labelling requirements and capabilities with production and suppliers, Procurement, Marketing and QA.


• Collaborate on regulatory and food safety requirements with QA and partner laboratories to develop nutrition statements, ingredient declarations and preparation and handling instructions.


• Develop product specifications in collaboration with Procurement and Suppliers: Scoping development briefs, product formulations, standard operating procedures and CCP’s, NFT standards.


• Conduct cost engineering and shelf-life testing to support product commercialization and ongoing product performance.


• Evaluate and document competitive products.


• Develop, grow and lead relationships, as assigned, with suppliers and secondary ingredient suppliers in order to bring new ideas to the company.


• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications/Skills

• Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in product development, quality assurance or production.


• Experience with project management or product commercialization (concept to market).


• Familiarity with CFIA (Canadian Food Inspection Agency) regulations required.


• High computer literacy & proficiency (Outlook, Excel, Word, Teams and Power-point) (Genesis experience an asset.)


• Experience in Proteins and or Seafood would be an asset.


• Experience in Skinpack packaging product design would be an asset.


• Culinary or Production background helpful, organoleptic sensory evaluation experience an asset.


• Passion for food and open to taste a variety of food products


• Understand and follow market trends (Ingredients flavours and consumer trends)


• Excellent analytical skills, organized and able to prioritize projects and tasks


• This position operates in both a professional office and production plant environment, with responsibilities split between desk-based work using standard office equipment and regular presence on the production floor in support of operational activities.

Benefits

• Hybrid – 1 day work from home per week


• Summer hours


• Competitive vacation and Personal day policy


• Employee Discounts on consumables


• Employee Assistance Program


• Company Paid Benefits


• RRSP Match Program

The annual base salary for this role is expected to fall between $80,000 and $105,000.

This is an existing vacancy.

Export Packers is an equal opportunity employer committed to promoting diversity of thought, ideas, perspective and people. We create an inclusive environment that attracts, retains and values people of all backgrounds by treating all people in a way that allows them to maintain their dignity and independence through inclusion, integration and equal opportunity. We are committed to meeting the needs of those who interact with Export Packers in accordance with Federal and provincial laws.

In accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, Export Packers has an Accommodation Policy as part of our hiring process. Should you require accommodation, please advise the People & Culture Department.

Please note: A criminal background check is required for all candidates and will be conducted in the final stages of the hiring process. This will be facilitated by our team, with full details provided during the selection process.