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Ferrero

R&D Product Design Lead - Confectionery, North America

Ferrero, Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60290

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Overview

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R&D Product Design Lead - Confectionery, North America

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Ferrero Job Location: Chicago About the Role

As the

Food Safety & Quality Product Design NAM Manager

your mission is to ensure that FSQ principles are embedded into every stage of the product development process — from concept to launch — by designing and updating product FSQ specifications that are clear, actionable, and aligned across the global value chain. You will act as a key point of contact between FSQ and other core functions, facilitating product innovation while safeguarding compliance and quality standards. The scope of the role is the North America perimeter, covering branded products as well as integration support for other industrial portfolios. Main Responsibilities

You will be responsible for writing and maintaining FSQ product specifications for NAM products, setting out the rules that production plants and partners must follow to meet our standards. These rules apply to the entire value chain, including raw materials, process parameters, shelf life, sensory aspects, and final product characteristics. You will lead the continuous improvement of these specifications by integrating data from field operations, plant audits, and consumer feedback, and by actively engaging with Group FSQ Industrial & Supply. You will support all stages of the product innovation pipeline, working closely with NAM R&D and other stakeholders to ensure FSQ criteria are integrated from the beginning of the development process. Your involvement in industrial trials will ensure that safety and quality expectations are respected in real-world production settings. Your role will also include participating in key governance meetings to ensure that FSQ perspectives are fully embedded in strategic decisions. On the data side, you will lead the development and management of KPIs and FSQ Innovation dashboards, providing insights at both the category and product levels. Who we are looking for

Bachelor’s degree in nutrition, food science, food technology, chemistry, biology or related field with 8 plus years of significant expertise in quality, food safety, R&D, food science, product development and industrial production. You have a deep understanding of confectionary, chocolate and biscuit products, their processes, and their risks, and you know how to translate that knowledge into precise, actionable Product FSQ specifications. With an extensive experience in the food industry, you are ready to manage complexity and lead with confidence. You are comfortable interacting with diverse stakeholders, and you know how to balance innovation with compliance. You have a proactive mindset, strong organizational skills, and a collaborative approach that helps you align global teams around shared standards. Your managerial experience allows you to lead and develop others, and your ability to navigate change makes you a valuable asset in transformation and integration projects. You have strong presentation skills coupled with strong project management, planning and coordination skills and functional knowledge of SAP You have broad Food Safety & Quality function experience, along the full value chain from suppliers to industrial to customers. You have FDA/FSMA/CFIA knowledge and can adapt group procedures to the NAM region (preferred) Compensation and Benefits

The base salary range for this position is

$150,541 - $200,722

annually. Actual compensation will be determined based on experience, qualifications, and other job-related factors permitted by law. This range represents the anticipated salary for this position at this time. In addition to base salary, Ferrero offers a comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance, retirement plans, paid time off, and other benefits. Learn more about our benefits at https://www.ferrerocareers.com/us/en/our-benefits Equal Opportunity

Ferrero N.A. provides

equal employment opportunities

(EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. Ferrero is committed to building a diverse and inclusive culture in which all employees feel welcomed and appreciated and have the same opportunities.

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