About us:

As a Fortune 50 company with more than 400,000 team members worldwide, Target is an iconic brand and one of America's leading retailers. At Target, we have a timeless purpose and a proven strategy and that hasn’t happened by accident. Some of the best minds from diverse backgrounds come together at Target to redefine retail in an inclusive learning environment that values people and delivers world-class outcomes. That winning formula is especially apparent in Bengaluru, where Target in India operates as a fully integrated part of Target’s global team and has more than 4,000 team members supporting the company’s global strategy and operations.

Joining Target means promoting a culture of mutual care and respect and striving to make the most meaningful and positive impact. Becoming a Target team member means joining a community that values diverse backgrounds. We believe your unique perspective is important, and you'll build relationships by being authentic and respectful. At Target, inclusion is part of the core value. We aim to create equitable experiences for all, regardless of their dimensions of difference. As an equal opportunity employer, Target provides diverse opportunities for everyone to grow and win.

At the heart of one of the world’s best-loved and most recognizable brands is an impeccable Product Development & Design organization. We thrive on the magic of discovering that just-right thing, and we infuse everything we do with our passion for delighting our guests.  We concept, develop, make and deliver the great tasting new favorites that Target guests expect and deserve. We are uber-savvy trend and quality experts who stay ahead of the curve, proactively identifying our market’s needs and exceeding them, every time. Join one of our dynamic and inventive teams to influence the taste, quality and value that decisively position Target above the competition. Your work will have a direct and positive effect, whether on convenient meals, snacking favorites, giftables, or pantry staples. Here, you will be close to the action of dreaming up and bringing to life the Target-owned brands that surprise and gratify guests, wherever and whenever they love to shop.

A role with Food Product Development means being on a team of project managers, engineers and food scientists who create products that truly embody the intent of Target-owned brands. Can you help ensure that our product specifications are complete and capture the critical attributes needed to uphold our quality standards?  Do you love to manage and organize data to enable information sharing and drive efficiency?  Can you help facilitate packaging and specification development with vendors to ensure that product commercialization so that executional excellence is achieved? Then you will have success on our talented and innovative team.

As Analyst - Food Specification & Data Management, you will support Owned Brand Food & Beverage teams with the creation and management of product specifications.  You will manage data collection and workflow with vendors and team to ensure timely and thorough completion of product specifications.  You will assist with execution and launch of products through managing item-tracking grids, specifications, packaging file management, and finished product review processes.  You will participate in cross-functional team meetings to help manage and track progress across these important work streams.

Core responsibilities include:

Finished Product Specification Creation: Works with a cross-functional team to ensure specifications are complete, consistent and are released in a timely fashion. Anticipate and effectively prioritize projects against changing business demands.  Provides timely and relevant communication of progress and status to stakeholders.

• Maintains item level data and tracking processes to support implementation
• Onboards vendors into Target Specification System
• Assesses specifications for completeness, adherence to standards and critical to quality criteria.  Works with Product Development, and external partners to ensure content rigor and accuracy.
• Manages content creation and workflow with vendors and internal partners
• Conducts soft proofing and data validation to ensure accuracy of packaging files and specification content
• Maintains records within product specification systems and ensures accurate and current status of data

Finished Product Specifications Process Management: Advance capabilities in specification creation and management to enable excellence in quality management

• Assess business processes to gather, translate, and elaborate and prioritize requirements.
• Identifies process improvements by providing metrics and analysis to identify pain points and potential solutions (example:  percent first pass accuracy)
• Leads, plans, and executes projects according to timelines.  Timely and relevant communication of progress and status to stakeholders.
• Expert in both the process and technology used to support specifications program. Understand and troubleshoot process/system issues and/or client requests and drive resolution.

Content Management & Governance: Manage database and apply governance to ensure accuracy and relevance of records.  

• Act as data owner.  Support and oversee the maintenance and sustainment of FPS & FPR data in partnership with Product Owner to ensure reporting and data addresses stakeholder needs and remains compliant with evolving policies.   
• Develops & leads data maintenance & quality routines
• Reviews specifications for conformance to gold standards and approved references. Identifies specification inconsistencies and drives spec accuracy.
• Synthesize and analyze measured data points and transform into insights that can be shared with the OB PD&Q team and leadership to improve their programs and influence strategy.

Core responsibilities of this job are described within this job description.  Job duties may change at any time due to business needs.

About You:

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Nutrition, or a related field
• Non-traditional background will be considered with 3+ years direct food product development or quality management experience.
• Knowledge of quality management and specification development practices
• Experience working in collaboration with contract manufacturing and vendors to ensure quality and consistency of products as designed a plus
• Strong interpersonal skills: able to work effectively with teams and key business partners/technical resources/subject matter experts to obtain accurate information to support data validation and creation efforts.
• Ability to work independently with limited direction and in a collaborative team environment.
• Respects guidelines, requirements, and protocols for ensuring the security and confidentiality of all proprietary product information.
• Task and detail oriented with ability to manage multiple tasks; flexibility, independence and a high degree of initiative
• System/Technology Aptitude with proficiency in data management systems and Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Excel, SharePoint)
• Experience with ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle) and specification management softwares.