Food Product Development

Food Product Development & Sourcing Specialist Position: Food Product Development & Sourcing Specialist Office address: Via Roma, 60/3, ***** Spinea (VE), Italy Start date: Q****** Trading Solutions is a company with more than 25 years' experience in the food sector.We support international clients in defining, developing and sourcing branded and private-label products.We are strengthening our team and looking for a Food Product Development & Sourcing Specialist — a professional capable of interpreting client briefs, understanding food products in depth, and identifying suppliers able to turn ideas into real, market-ready solutions.Responsibilities · Translate client briefs into sourcing plans.Receive briefs from customers and convert them into technical, quality and commercial specifications for supplier research.· Conduct market and supplier research.Analyse market trends and perform detailed research to identify potential suppliers and emerging food product categories.Evaluate suppliers based on quality, cost and reliability.· Negotiate and manage supplier relationships.Lead negotiations on price, delivery terms and service levels with suppliers, focusing on total cost rather than just price.Develop and maintain strong supplier relationships.· Plan supply to meet demand.Forecast demand and plan supply to maintain optimal stock levels and ensure reliability over the short, medium and long term.· Coordinate cross-functional communication.Work closely with internal teams (quality assurance, logistics, commercial and project management) to ensure alignment and smooth execution of sourcing projects.· Maintain documentation and reporting.Consolidate and organise all project documentation, maintain accurate records of sourcing activities and prepare regular reports for senior management.· Participate in industry events.Attend trade fairs and sector events in Italy and abroad to expand the network of suppliers and stay abreast of innovations and trends.Requirements · Proven experience in product development, sourcing or procurement within a production or commercial company (minimum 3–5 years).· Passion for food and curiosity towards diverse cuisines and products.· Fluent English (level C1/C2); knowledge of additional languages is an advantage.· Strong negotiation and analytical skills with a track record of managing complex supplier relationships and cost analysis.· Excellent knowledge of Microsoft Excel , PowerPoint and digital presentation tools (e.g. Canva).· Good understanding of international food regulations, quality standards and supply-chain dynamics.· Ability to work independently, yet collaboratively with cross-functional teams.· Willingness to travel domestically and internationally to visit suppliers and attend fairs.Personal characteristics · Commercially minded with strong entrepreneurial spirit.· Attention to detail and ability to link different experiences and projects together.· Strong communication skills , capable of managing relationships with suppliers, clients and internal stakeholders.· Ability to work under pressure , managing multiple tasks and meeting deadlines.· Proactive and solution-oriented , with the capacity to anticipate challenges and propose improvements.Application process If you are excited about the opportunity to work with a dynamic team in the food industry and have the passion and skills to drive sourcing excellence, please send your CV and a brief cover letter to indicating "Food Sourcing Specialist" in the subject line.