Product & Process Development Portfolio Manager H/F - GROUPE BEL - FROMAGERIE BEL

The Bel Group is a major player in the food industry through portions of dairy, fruit and plant-based products, and one of the world leaders in branded cheeses. Its portfolio of differentiated and internationally recognized brands includes The Laughing Cow®, Kiri®, Babybel®, Boursin® Nurishh®, Pom'Potes® and GoGo squeeZ®, as well as some 30 local brands. Together, these brands helped the Group generate sales of €3.74 billion in 2024.

Do you want to join a company with strong brands that puts consumers and responsibility at the heart of the decision-making process? Then Bel is made for you!

Are you bold, pragmatic, and determined? Do you want to contribute to the transformation of an international agri-food company? Them come join us and measure the impact of your talent and energy in realizing an ambitious and sustainable company project!

#IWorkForAllForGood

LOCATION AND DATE

Permanent contract to be filled from September 2026

Position based at Groupe Bel's Research, Innovation and Development (RID) center.

Position based in Vendôme, in Loir-et-Cher (41), on the TGV line connecting Paris (40 minutes) and Tours (20 minutes).

MAIN MISSIONS / RESPONSIBILITIES

In the context of increasing activity within the RID KIRI team, we are looking for a Development Portfolio Manager Process/Product.

Reporting to the KIRI Brand Development Director, the Development Portfolio Manager will be responsible, for the factories under their scope, for:

- Managing and developing the full portfolio of innovation, renovation and cost-reduction projects for KIRI-branded or local-brand products
- Potentially leading these same projects directly, depending on the stakes, in order to deliver the projects within the defined quality, cost and timeline objectives.

- Project portfolio management

- Managing project portfolio priorities at the level of the factories under their scope: prioritizing projects according to business or strategic stakes, and allocating resources
- Managing trial budgets: defining budgets for year N+1, monitoring and recommending adjustments during the year, and reporting
- Contributing to feeding the innovation pipeline for the KIRI brand, with a strong user-centric approach: taking user needs into account, particularly in terms of functionality, naturalness, regulations and CSR challenges

- Project management

- Independently and collaboratively manage innovation, renovation or productivity projects according to the BEL group methodology, in order to deliver development projects at the right level of quality, cost and timing.
- Ensure the appropriate onboarding of project team members and associated technical resources on projects, including engineering and factory teams.
- Ensure project deliverables from the exploration phase to product launch phase, with a strong field presence when required.
- Be able to develop products and apply technical expertise and analytical skills to guide, prioritize and decide on the most relevant technical solutions for the project, based on the project brief and local contexts such as processes and raw materials, with the appropriate level of challenge.
- Mobilize the expertise needed to achieve objectives, including packaging, engineering, quality, regulatory, CSR and purchasing, as well as resources such as new equipment, RID pilot trials and characterization in RID laboratories.
- Co-build with internal and external partners, challenge the technical solutions adopted, and propose relevant choices and directions.
- Organize and lead field trials, whether in Bel factories or at subcontractors' sites.

- Hierarchical management, functional management, communication and activity steering

- Manage hierarchically an RID Product Engineer and support their skills development and autonomy in managing their projects.
- Functionally manage the technologists at the factories under their scope for RID project deliverables.
- Act as the key point of contact between factories and marketing and business teams, notably by coordinating the management of technical feasibility requests.
- Organize and co-lead Factory Development Committees with key participants.
- Represent their portfolio and/or projects during zone or brand Development Committees.

- Key performance indicators and impact on results, qualitative and quantitative

- Product launches at the expected levels of quality, cost and timing
- Continuous improvement of Time to Market
- Compliance with Group standards in terms of project management, including methodology and data reliability in the project management tool
- Development of the impact of the RID engineer under their responsibility

PROFILE

You are an engineer specialized in the food industry or equivalent, with a Master's degree or equivalent and at least 10 years' experience. You have expertise and know-how in recipe and/or process development, from the technical exploration phase through to production start-up.

Skills required for the position:

- Knowledge of cheese manufacturing processes, ideally in fresh and processed fresh cheeses.
- Technical know-how from exploration through to first production, covering product, process and packaging.
- Experience in end-to-end project management, from ideation to first production, including methodologies such as planning, risk analysis and agility, as well as the ability to work within multidisciplinary teams.
- Ability to create a positive mindset and lead technical teams as part of industrial implementation projects.
- Ability to drive transformation, challenge the status quo and foster collaboration.
- Business-oriented, with strong ability to challenge
- Strong appetite for intercultural contexts and exchanges
- Genuine passion for field work

If you think that this job is for you, please click now on the button "Apply". The recruitment team of your site will contact you very soon.