Product Developer: Culinary Innovation & Prototyping

Joining King’s Hawaiian makes you part of our `ohana (family). We are a family-owned business for over seventy years, respecting our roots while thinking about our future as we continue to grow and care for our customers and the communities we serve. Our `ohana members build an environment of inclusivity as they freely collaborate, pursue learning through curiosity, and explore innovation as critical thinkers.

Beyond that, we are also passionate about supporting the long-term health and well-being of our employees and their families. If you’re excited to rise with our team, come and join our `ohana!

At KING’S HAWAIIAN® we create unique and irresistible foods that people love beyond reason. We are not in the business of copying mainstream products or pursuing short-term trends. Our goal is to create new, long-term value to market with consumer-led innovation ideas. This role will report to the Manager, Product Development and be a part of a multi-disciplinary Innovation & Commercialization team with a start-up type culture.

With a team of Food Scientists and other Product Developers, this individual will partner with experienced chefs to create new products and recipes for commercialization, while also working with Process and Packaging Engineers, Marketing Insights, and Production to produce these new products.

Who Are You?

The Product Developer is an idealist, researcher, designer, and builder. Your imagination and problem solving combines new ingredients and flavors, alters methods and processes, and crafts new products that have never been tasted before. Your creations tell stories and create moments of irresistibility for people.

The following characteristics describe you perfectly:

• Curious – you break boundaries and do not settle for the status quo. You have an instinctive desire to always dig deeper. Your curiosity leads you to think differently and try new things.
• Persistent – you do not settle for mediocracy and have an unmatched determination to solve your complex problems. You always strive for perfection and cannot rest until you’ve carried out your mission.
• Courageous and Agile– you like to jump and take risks! You recognize that the future cannot be shaped without taking leaps forward. You trust your beliefs and see every failure as an opportunity.
• Self-starter and Proactive– the world of innovation and ambiguity does not scare you. You know how to self-manage. You are a leader and initiator. You do not wait around for someone else to step up.
• Foodie and a Scientist – you LOVE food. Food is one of your passions in life. You love to try new foods, experience cuisines from different cultures, and gather with others to break bread. You also love science and are an expert food scientist with passion for new technologies in the food industry.
• Collaborator
  - You are willing to find solutions by trusting others and get energized while working in a team environment. You are not afraid to take responsibility for the mistakes and don’t hesitate to give credit to other contributors. You are an active listener!

• Participate in the identification, design, development, creation, and testing of product prototypes.
• Collaborate with chefs and third parties to create recipes with the ability to scale up for both limited introductions as well as national product launches.
• Assist with developing rapid prototypes to explore with consumers in real purchase and consumption environments.
• Assist with developing specifications for all raw materials, process controls, and finished goods.
• Manage scale up trials of products and work closely with Production leaders to train on process.
• Work closely with King’s ingredient and packaging suppliers on the technical characteristics of King’s materials and troubleshoot ingredient performance.
• Participate in testing and ensuring food concepts are shelf stable and food safe. Work with 3rd party labs to test and analyze products.
• Develop and maintain FDA and USDA food product labeling that complies with regulatory requirements and/or customer requirements. Produce product specification sheets.
• Manage several projects simultaneously.
• Creatively…