Senior Product and Research Development Manager

Job content

MSC Cruises S.A. is the largest privately owned Cruise lines currently operating 21 cruise vessels, totalling 247 mixed food outlets and 340 varied bars, including private islands and shoreside F&B venues. We are looking for a team player who is ambitious, passionate, possess detailed accuracy, proficiently multi-task high-volume projects and has exceptional problem-solving skills. Main responsibilities would include but not limited to product research and developing upstream product identification together with F&B product design team, creating processes, operational procedures, identifying key F&B solutions driven by global availability. Developing global and local master list within Crunchtime platform on a single coding format and liaise with our sourcing department providing guidance on product selection defined by F&B, and provide scientific yield, quality results to procurement department. The primary focus and objective are to lead and coordinate product research selection between F&B product development and Procurement department to optimize lean and effective processes, identify cost reduction opportunities, while establishing a global consistency product. This is a senior level position and candidate must have prior food and beverage cruise, sourcing, buying and logistics experience.

• Fluent in English, oral and written. Any other language is an advantage;
• Bachelor’s Degree;
• +10 year’s experience within food and beverage operations, procurement and logistics;
• Must have thorough knowledge of food products, high volume quantities impact, establishing procedures, food and beverage cost analysis;
• Advance knowledge of food production, processing, procurement, sourcing and food safety requirements;
• Requires independent, analytical and creative work efforts regarding proper procedures, planning and follow-up;
• Requires adaptability to handle multiple projects simultaneously while remaining an awareness of completion dates and understanding of management principles, especially of time management;
• Keeping current with trends and consumer insights and innovative product R&D;
• Excellent Computer skills in MS Office / MMS / Crunch-time;
• Broad based expertise in technologies use in F&B and Procurement platforms;
• Ability to work effectively individually and in a team environment;
• Ability to collaborate with cross-functional groups, Market Research, Procurement, Sourcing and Logistics.
• Develop strategic and creative new products for multiple restaurant concepts;
• Collaborate with F&B design team on product global product research program in developing and designing culinary and beverage programs;
• Work along-side multiple departments with all aspects of product research, testing, identifying quality features and variances on final selection;
• Develop and refine specifications for new and/or existing products;
• Provide technical expertise for products in development, new or improved of existing. Planning, executions, and evaluation of projects while maintaining food safety and regulatory requirements specific to food and beverage program development;
• Responsible for resolution initiatives on product technical issues that arise during the development phase and recommendation on alternative products;
• Work closely with Operations, Purchasing and F&B Product Development in communication of technical information, specifications related to new product test programs;
• Nutritional analysis and calculations using ESHA Genesis nutrition software and integration process within Crunchtime platform;
• Collaborate with Culinary specialist in providing and managing Food and Beverage master items codes in the development of all new recipes & product selection within Crunchtime;
• Collect and provide product specification information, research and development engineering data to process/design engineering to design SOP and training manuals;
• Drive research for F&B sustainable project initiatives and collaborate with operations in developing cost analysis and marketing on communications;
• Attend F&B hosted product show for research and development needs required by F&B operations;
• Together with head of culinary and beverage coordinate and plan business needs in menu engineering, product evaluations, food engineering process and product standardization;
• Investigate and follow-up on root cause analysis for product quality and utilization issues;
• Collaborate with food safety department in establishing new protocols for receiving allergens and dietary information to be establish in Crunchtime;
• Lead and coordinate the redesign of all F&B global master list together with operations in creating MSC signature and canvas respective menus;
• Standardize and lead all communications on product list changes, new product implementations and discontinuity of F&B products;
• Monitor product quality evaluation reports, follow through with recovery process on quality control protocols and advise procurement department accordingly;
• Collaborate with shipboard operations and shoreside operations on slow & non-moving stock and solutions to deplete;
• Lead communication & provide direction on all new products requirements, specification, for cross functional teams in supply, food safety and operations;
• Support operations on product forecasting for all new resourced products;
• Initiate and execute annual bidding contracts for all commodities, price negotiations and manage vendor relations;
• Work closely with corporate culinary and beverage teams on urgent orders to ensure delivery;
• Support the finance department with invoice discrepancies and payment disputes for all food and beverage suppliers.

VISA REQUIREMENTS (if any)

Right to work in Switzerland. Part of the MSC Group, MSC Cruises is the market leader in the Mediterranean, South Africa and South America, and sails year-round in the Mediterranean and the Caribbean. Its seasonal itineraries cover northern Europe, the Atlantic Ocean, South America, southern Africa, and the Persian/Arabian Gulf. MSC Cruises was born in the Mediterranean, and draws inspiration from this heritage to create a unique experience for holidaymakers worldwide. As a result of a euro 6.5 billions investment programme launched in 2003, MSC Cruises’ fleet comprises 13 state-of-the-art cruise ships belonging to four different classes: Lirica, Musica, Fantasia and Meraviglia. The fleet’s average age is 7 years, the youngest in the industry. In 2014, MSC Cruises launched a euro 9 billion, 10 year investment plan to support the second phase of its growth through the order of up to 11 next generation mega cruise ships. As a result, MSC Cruises’ fleet will double by 2026, while the passenger capacity will triple to reach five million passengers per year. MSC Cruises is the first cruise company to develop an investment plan of this length and magnitude. MSC Cruises feels a deep responsibility for the environments in which it operates, and was the first company ever to earn the Bureau Veritas "7 Golden Pearls" for superior management and environmental stewardship. In 2009, MSC Cruises began an enduring partnership with UNICEF to support various programmes assisting children worldwide.