Senior Product Development Technologist

Miller Leith; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 130,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Miller Leith in Melbourne is seeking a senior Product Development specialist to lead the development, optimisation and commercialisation of new and existing chocolate and confectionery products. You will drive NPD projects from concept through trials to launch, collaborating with Quality, Operations, Supply Chain and Sales to deliver innovative, customer-focused products.

The role requires a Degree in Food Science or related field and extensive FMCG product development experience, with hands-on

Qualifications

• Degree in Food Science or related discipline.
• Extensive experience in FMCG product development, especially chocolate/confectionery.
• Proven ability to lead complex NPD projects from concept to commercialisation.
• Strong knowledge of formulation, factory trials, scale-up and food safety standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end NPD projects from concept through to factory trials, scale-up and launch.
• Drive product innovation, reformulation and continuous improvement across ranges.
• Provide technical expertise across ingredients, formulations and manufacturing processes.
• Manage product specifications, labelling and regulatory documentation.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to meet timelines, quality and cost targets.

Skills

Food science knowledge

FMCG product development

NPD project leadership

Formulation expertise

Scale-up expertise

Food safety standards (HACCP,BRC,FSANZ

Stakeholder management

Project management

Education

Degree in Food Science/Technology

Job description

The Company
Our client is a well-established FMCG manufacturer experiencing strong growth across both private label and branded portfolios. With a significant presence across major retail channels, the business continues to invest in innovation, technical capability and product development to support its expanding product offering.

Benefits

• Join a growth-focused business with a strong pipeline of NPD projects
• Take ownership of product development across both private label and branded portfolios
• Work within a collaborative, cross-functional environment with strong leadership support

The Role

This is a senior position within the Product Development team, responsible for leading the development, optimisation and commercialisation of new and existing products across a diverse portfolio.
You will take ownership of NPD projects from initial concept through to commercial launch, providing technical expertise across formulation, product trials, process optimisation and scale-up. Working closely with Quality, Operations, Supply Chain and Sales, you will play a key role in delivering innovative, commercially viable products that meet customer expectations and business objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end NPD projects from concept and formulation through to factory trials, scale-up and commercial launch
• Drive product innovation, reformulation and continuous improvement across existing and new product ranges
• Provide technical expertise across ingredients, formulation, manufacturing processes and product optimisation
• Manage product specifications, labelling and technical documentation in line with food safety and regulatory requirements
• Collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders to deliver commercially viable products within agreed timelines, quality and cost parameters

Skills & Experience

• Degree in Food Science, Food Technology or a related discipline
• Extensive experience in FMCG product development, ideally within chocolate, confectionery or a related food manufacturing category
• Proven ability to independently lead complex NPD projects from concept through to commercialisation
• Strong technical knowledge of formulation, factory trials, manufacturing scale-up and food safety standards, including HACCP, BRC and FSANZ
• Excellent stakeholder engagement, project management and problem-solving skills, with a proactive and hands-on approach