NPD TECHNOLOGIST

Kent Pet Group; City of Greater Dandenong; On-site; AUD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

KENT WORLDWIDE is seeking an early-career technologist to support product development for pet treats, supplements, birdseed and litter. You will collaborate with R&D, Operations and Quality to move concepts from brief to launch.

Join a dynamic team across multiple sites in Australia and the APAC region where innovation, practicality and data-driven decisions shape new products from concept through testing and scale-up.

Qualifications

• Experience in pet food or animal nutrition preferred.
• 3+ years in product development, manufacturing, lab work or quality is beneficial.
• Basic packaging understanding desirable.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail.
• Excellent communication and collaboration across teams.

Responsibilities

• Review briefs and support new product formulations and ingredient research.
• Prepare for production trials and capture data and settings.
• Coordinate trial requests with R&D, Operations, Quality and Planning.
• Manage samples, specifications and testing (chemical, microbiological, sensory).
• Support labeling, claims validation and artwork reviews for compliance.
• Work with customers and suppliers on artwork, packaging and print files.
• Prepare product documentation including batch sheets and trial reports.
• Partner with Quality on safety, shelf-life, testing and compliance.

Skills

Product development

Manufacturing

Laboratory work

Quality assurance

Analytical skills

Communication

Cross-functional teamwork

Job description

Founded in 1927, KENT WORLDWIDE is a family-owned US company built around specialty ingredients and consumer brands. Over the years,the businesshas become known around the world for our strength in manufacturing and marketing. At Kent Consumer Brands APAC, our ambition is to create joyful memories every day, foreverybody,around the world.

Fornearly acentury, our core values of Honesty, Quality, Safety, Timeliness, Win-Win Partnerships and Curiosity have shaped our culture and long-term success. We are a fast-growing,values-drivenorganisationwith a strong portfolio of trusted brands including Frosty Boy,Sqwincher, Breeder’s Choice and World’s Best Cat Litter.

With multiple manufacturing sites across Australia and the USand products sold in more than 70 countries, we are proud to employ hundreds of people who are passionate about quality,sustainabilityand innovation. Joining us means being part of a supportive, growth-oriented business that invests in its people, itsbrandsand its future.

Bringnew ideasto life in a hands-on product development role spanning pet treats, pet supplements, birdseedand cat litter. Working within our Research & Development team, you will collaborate across the business and with external partners to support products frominitialbriefand formulation through trials, testing,packagingand launch.

This isa great opportunityfor anearly-career technologist who enjoys variety, practical problem-solvingand seeing products progress from concept to market.

Whatyou’llbe doing

• Review customer and internal briefs and support new product formulations, ingredientresearchand competitor reviews.
• Prepare for andparticipatein production trials, capturingaccuratedata, equipment settings,outcomesand next steps.
• Coordinate trial requests and pre- and post-trial activities with R&D, Operations, Quality and Planning.
• Manage product samples,specificationsand chemical,microbiologicaland sensory testing.
• Support product labelling,claims validation and artwork reviews to meet customer, regulatory and business requirements.
• Work with customers and suppliers on artwork, packagingrequirementsand print-ready files.
• Prepareaccurateproduct documentation, including batch sheets, trial reports, productcodesand internal and customer specifications.
• Partner with Quality to support product safety,shelf-life,testingand compliance requirements.

About you

• Some experience in Pet Food or Animal Nutrition is preferable
• A minimum experience of 3 years with exposure to product development, manufacturing, laboratory work and/or quality would be beneficial
• A basic understanding of packaging is desirable.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with excellent attention to detail.
• Confidence making sound decisions and knowing when to seek advice or elevate an issue.
• Strong communicationand collaboration skills, with the ability to work across multiple teams and priorities.
• A proactive,accountableand resilient approach to learning and delivering results.
• Build broad, end-to-end experience across a diverse portfolio of consumer products.
• Work closely with experienced R&D and cross-functional teams in a practical manufacturing environment.
• Contribute directly to products from concept through to commercial launch.
• Join a collaborative team where innovation,accountabilityand continuous learning are encouraged.