What’s Our Dish

Announced in May 2018, Peapod Digital Labs (PDL) is an Ahold Delhaize USA company that powers the eCommerce and digital strategies for the Great Local Brands of Ahold Delhaize USA. Accelerating growth in digital and personalization capabilities, PDL is an innovation lab focused on meeting the changing needs of customers, regardless of when, where, and how consumers choose to shop.

Private Brands Product Excellence Lead / Director II 

Browse The Aisles  

The Private Brands Product Excellence Lead is responsible for the teams within Private Brand (PB) that ensure product integrity, including product validation, sustainability efforts, quality assurance, and renovation for all PB  products to ensure full alignment with brand standards and future brand strategy. This involves product safety, product monitoring, and supplier evaluation.  In addition to managing a team of 20+ professionals directly and indirectly, this role will be responsible for through leadership and strategy development of key focus areas. The role is also responsible to set strategy and oversee Private Brands efforts behind responsible products (e.g. social compliance/fair labor, food safety, critical commodities and emerging issues). This role will also have oversight and guide enforcement of nutritional guidelines for the Private Brands portfolio of brands. 

Recipe for Success - What's “in store” for the role  

• Establishes the strategic path to renovate or improve the nutritional contents of the Private Brands portfolio of products (i.e. sugar, salt reduction). 

• Leads the team that recommends and executes product formulation improvements that are better for you without sacrificing their taste. 

• Develops and executes Quality Assurance guidelines, strategies and codes of best practice standards for Private Brands.  

• Closely collaborates with corporate quality assurance and communication teams at banners and Supply Chain as appropriate. 

• Leads all efforts to assure responsible sourcing and steps are taken to ensure that our suppliers respect the rights of workers and provide safe working conditions, while at the same time preserving the environment in accordance with our established guidelines. 

• Leads the negotiation, development and directs all aspects of the third party QA resources (if applicable) and respective participation in the corporate brand program. 

• Responsible for all aspects of the Private Brands product validation process, including but not limited to sensory cuttings, consumer/associate research and product nutritional standards. 

• Establishes and oversees all the PB Quality Assurance guidelines, strategies and codes of best practice standards.   

• Oversees all efforts to ensure full compliance with GSFI food safety agreed upon goals/requirements. 

• Responsible for the product safety, quality and integrity of Private Brands brand products throughout the supply chain, warehouse, retail stores and customer level. 

• Establishes and oversees all the sustainability initiatives and commitments for the Private Brand portfolio of Brands. Leads team to ensure full compliance with ADUSA / Brand sustainability commitments and requirements.  

• Works closely and represents the AD USA Private Brands team with the Ahold Delhaize Group team to establish the sustainability goals for the Private Brands portfolio of Brands. 

• Strong team leader; works to inspire, lead, hire, and develop team members, ensuring the team and individuals are poised for growth. 

The Essentials In Your Cart - The required ingredients    

• Bachelors Degree Required and Masters Degree strongly preferred 

• At least 10 years of related experience in Consumer food product development; with minimum of 3 years in a cross-functional (formula, package and process) leadership role with a focus on strategic planning  

• Demonstrated Success in product innovation and new product development and commercialization 

• Expertise in sensory testing and guidance and consumer product testing 

• Significant experience with product improvements and product lifecycle management 

• Expertise in consumer food trends and the ability to identify and define key product quality and sensory attributes  

• Solid understanding of consumer food products brand management 

• Strong communicator; professional, organized ? 

• Change management expert; knows best practices and ensures that right steps are taken to execute positive change across the organization  

• Project Management Expert; leadership ability to ensure successful governance and execution of critical priorities within the business   

• Excellent influencing and partnership behaviors; expertise in pushing projects to completion & building strong teams 

• Experience managing a large team; keeping multiple priorities and objectives moving forward while ensuring strong team engagement and results 

• Strong financial acumen: the ability to dig into the details, but also present a holistic, big picture view to senior leadership and brand partners.  

Join Us at Our Table

Peapod Digital Labs is a forward-thinking company with a strong legacy of innovation. We recognize who powers our progress – our people! We offer a great variety of benefits and perks to our employees, including: great health care options, including PPO and HSA plans (with company contributions), dental, vision, flexible spending accounts, a 401k with strong company match and immediate vesting, and generous and flexible paid time off.

We are an equal opportunity employer. We comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws. Qualified applicants are considered without regard to sex, race, color, ancestry, national origin, citizenship status, religion, age, marital status (including civil unions), military service, veteran status, pregnancy (including childbirth and related medical conditions), genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, legally recognized disability, domestic violence victim status or any other characteristic protected by law.