R&D Adopt & Sustain Professional

The Specification Data & System Administration (SDSA) Assistant Scientists role will be primarily focused on the administration of data input into the Specification System (on SAP PLM), optimizing Business Process, delivering Training on SAP PLM and/or supporting Product Developers with SAP PLM troubleshooting.

Support Reporting Lead/ Sr.Managers/ Managers delivering against information needs articulated by Business Partners; addressing business questions and process requirements

• Provide customer consultations for R&Ds Foods Snacks formula specification and documentation applications.
• Troubleshoot system, product, and process issues by identifying issues and facilitating resolution.
• Collaborate with IT to assess and implement changes from key customers, including regulation updates from Regulatory Affairs and Food Safety.
• Coordinate special project requests in R&Ds Foods Legacy Applications aligned with different internal stakeholders.
• Provide classroom and 1:1 customer training on R&Ds Foods Applications and specification standards, including specification template documents used in R&Ds Innovation projects for new and existing users and regional administrators.
• Create and maintain User Acceptance Testing process including Scope, Entrance and Exit criteria.
• Lead User Acceptance Testing for R&Ds Foods SAP Applications--collaborating with IT to raise defects and facilitate retests.
• Perform system testing for new software releases for upgrades and enhancements.
• Handle system updates and communication with end users and stakeholders.
• Provide user management, security, and proprietary access to R&D software outside of R&D.
• Provide data maintenance and implementation for SAP systems including data cleanup and maintenance of reference information (tables, validated lists, and properties in the database).
• Serve as systems and specification Subject Matter Expert for R&Ds formula standards, history, business processes, and documentation.
• Provide formula-related product development and project support for R&Ds Foods Portfolio.
• Create and maintain workflows for Innovation product launches and projects.
• Create or revise control documents/forms/templates for specifications for R&D finished formula projects.
• Create, maintain, and publish monthly metric reports for SDSA applications.

Execute against team charter (Service Level Agreement) for Reporting & Analytics

• Query the Specification Database and create, maintain, and publish monthly reports for customer awareness on specification status (e.g. specifications which are not published as they are unsigned).
• By providing data, queries, analysis, background data, and recommendations, work with cross-functional groups, including Supply Chain, Marketing, Operations, and Co-Pack, on special projects including specification research
• Create, maintain, and publish monthly metric reports for SDSA applications
• Provide responses to ad-hoc follow-ups when double-click (additional questions) are required for R&D Specifications using relevant data

Support strategy delivery

• Support efforts to establish Specifications sub-team within service center as a delivery point of contact for Business Partners.
• Support simplification, standardization, and digitalization efforts (in coordination with global R&D stakeholders).

• Educational Experience: Bachelors degree with related experience.
• Demonstrable training, coaching, and/or facilitation skills/experience.
• Demonstrable significant experience with IT systems eg. Troubleshooting, administration, optimizing etc. Ideally with SAP PLM module.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and similar applications - Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Adobe Acrobat, etc.
• Ability to communicate in English

Differentiating Competencies Required

Essential:

• Exhibit business maturity in handling confidential information
• Excellent time management and organization skills--ability to handle multiple priorities.
• Ability to troubleshoot problems, analyze data, report metrics, and determine root causes of issues.
• Good communication and presentation skills (verbal and written).
• Ability to be an SME on cross-functional business teams.
• Ability to work comfortably-- both independently and in a team environment.
• Sensitive to, and appreciates, diverse cultures--good people skills to take others along and create an inclusive culture.

Desired:

• Food, beverage, or pharmaceutical industry experience/database management (i.e., Oracle, SAP, SharePoint, Documentum, ProductVision).
• Project management experience (certification or on-the-job training)
• System/software implementation including User Acceptance Testing experience
• Proficiency in Change Management
• Proficiency in Visual Basic, SQL, Script writing and/or requirements gathering
• Ability to collaborate with those where English is not a first language
• Working knowledge of Azure DevOps
• Working knowledge of Agile SAFe Methodology