Product Development Technologist (12-month contract)

McCormick Foods; Palmwoods; On-site; AUD 75,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Wellness programs

Parental leave

Community engagement

Employee recognition

Team social events

Job summary

McCormick Foods is seeking a Product Development Technologist to join our R&D team on a 12-month parental leave contract, based in Palmwoods on Queensland's Sunshine Coast.

You will collaborate with key stakeholders to deliver R&D activities for new product development and improvements, ensuring projects meet customer and business requirements, and are executed on time.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years' experience in Product Development, R&D, or Food Technology within FMCG or food manufacturing.
• Strong bench development and product trial experience.
• Excellent attention to detail and a methodical approach to product development.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines.
• Experience working with cross-functional teams including Regulatory, Supply Chain, Operations, Procurement, and Commercial teams.
• Proactive approach to continuous improvement and innovation.

Responsibilities

• Conduct bench development of new and existing products in accordance with internal and customer project briefs.
• Prepare interim and final product specifications for regulatory approval and customer requirements.
• Support internal maintenance and continuous improvement projects, including cost optimisation and raw material supply initiatives.
• Participate in cross-functional project meetings and contribute to successful on-time project delivery.
• Support product commercialisation activities, including factory trials and scale-up processes.
• Liaise with suppliers to identify emerging technologies, ingredients, and industry trends.
• Maintain accurate product development documentation throughout the project lifecycle.

Skills

Bench development

Product trial

Attention to detail

Stakeholder management

Project coordination

Continuous improvement

Cross-functional teamwork

Microsoft Office

Education

Tertiary qualification in Food Technology/Science

Job description

Product Development Technologist (12-month contract)

• Work with us to shape the future of Innovative Food Products


• Gain exposure across a global, growing organisation


• Work with emerging trends and technologies

The Opportunity

We are seeking an enthusiastic and driven Product Development Technologist to join our R&D team on a 12-month parental leave contract, based in Palmwoods on Queensland's beautiful Sunshine Coast.

Reporting to the Product Development Manager, you will collaborate with key stakeholders and cross-functional teams to deliver research and development activities relating to new product development and existing product improvements, ensuring projects are executed in line with customer and business requirements.

Why Join McCormick

• Work-Life Balance: Flexible working arrangements that support your personal and professional commitments.


• Health & Wellness Programs: Access wellbeing initiatives, fitness challenges, and wellness workshops.


• Community Engagement: Participate in local charity and community events.


• Family-Friendly Policies: Generous paid parental leave, partner leave, and return-to-work support programs.


• Employee Recognition: Be recognised and rewarded for your contributions through our employee recognition programs.


• Team Engagement Activities: Enjoy regular social events including food trucks, coffee vans, and BBQs.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct bench development of new and existing products in accordance with internal and customer project briefs.


• Prepare interim and final product specifications for regulatory approval and customer requirements.


• Support internal maintenance and continuous improvement projects, including cost optimisation and raw material supply initiatives.


• Participate in cross-functional project meetings and contribute to successful on-time project delivery.


• Support product commercialisation activities, including factory trials and scale-up processes.


• Liaise with suppliers to identify emerging technologies, ingredients, and industry trends.


• Maintain accurate product development documentation throughout the project lifecycle.

About You

You are a passionate and detail-oriented R&D professional who enjoys working collaboratively to bring innovative food products to market.

To be successful in this role, you will bring:

• 3–5 years' experience in Product Development, R&D, or Food Technology within the FMCG or food manufacturing industry.


• Strong bench development and product trial experience.


• Excellent attention to detail and a methodical approach to product development.


• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.


• Proven ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines.


• Experience working with cross-functional teams including Regulatory, Supply Chain, Operations, Procurement, and Commercial teams.


• A proactive approach to continuous improvement and innovation.


• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.


• A tertiary qualification in Food Technology, Food Science, or a related discipline will be highly regarded.

Please note that due to the volume of applications received, only candidates selected for interview will be contacted. Recruitment may commence before the closing date, and the position may be filled prior to this date.