Alison Monks

Current Role: Product Development Process Manager

• Lead out and manage the company Stage Gate meetings throughout the development process to ensure internal team and customer engagement throughout.
• Scoping customer and market led briefs.
• Liaise directly with and co-ordinate Customer Product Presentations.
• Development of Critical Path for all projects liaising with relevant teams and customers to ensure that products are launched on time and to agreed spec.
• Market gap analysis and maintenance of an up-to-date database of information on latest food trends alongside sales.
• Identify opportunities for continuous product improvement and implement profit improving initiatives.
• Investigation and validation of new production processes, packaging alongside the NPD team.
• Manage a team of NPD floor technologists, chefs.
• Control of NPD budget.
• Contribute as a key member of management.
• Implemented a continuous improvement culture, encouraging innovation and adaptability among team members.

Previous Positions within NPD

• NPD Process Technologist: stepped away from Management position during covid and was part time during this time
• NPD Manager: As the business grew - and customer base - so too did the NPD Dept. With this growth the team grew and I stepped into a Managment role to lead out this team.
• NPD Technlogist: This was the first / start up role for an NPD dept within Country Crest [now Ballymaguire Foods]. At the time I worked alongsise a development chef as the prepared veg / ready meal end of the business took off.

• Assisted in monitoring and reporting quality standards to department team.
• Supported monitoring of production process in line with factory HACCP.
• Aided in implementing monitoring and reviewing of corrective actions.
• Collaborated with cross-functional teams to meet project targets.
• Conducted pre-production audits of factory equipment and cleanliness.
• Performed product and room temperature checks.
• Executed monthly glass audits and weekly hygiene audits of individual departments.

• Scope of this role as above