Bakery NPD Technologist: Drive Bread Innovation

Reed Specialist Recruitment; Northwich; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 44,000; Full time

Job summary

Reed Specialist Recruitment is partnering with a UK food manufacturer to recruit a New Product Development Technologist for bakery products. Location is Cheshire, with a salary up to £40,000 and a focus on developing bread NPD and reformulation to meet market needs.

The role requires a Food Science or Bakery degree and at least 2 years in NPD or product development within bakery manufacturing. You will manage projects through full development lifecycles and collaborate across teams to deliver

Qualifications

• Degree in Food Science or Bakery and Patisserie.
• Minimum 2 years' experience in a Product Development or NPD Technologist role.
• Proven bakery manufacturing experience.
• Strong understanding of bakery ingredients, food processing, and manufacturing operations.
• Experience managing products through the full development lifecycle.
• Knowledge of retailer NPD systems and processes, ideally with major UK retail accounts.
• Understanding of food labelling legislation, nutritional information, product specifications, raw material specs and packaging requirements.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet critical deadlines.
• Awareness of current developments in food science, sensory science, legislation and technology.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support a range of bread NPD and EPD projects from concept through to launch.
• Maintain accurate product development documentation for branded and own-label products.
• Stay ahead of consumer trends, market insights, competitor activity, and emerging opportunities.
• Develop innovative concepts and support the long-term innovation pipeline.
• Build and maintain strong customer relationships, understanding consumer needs and market drivers.
• Support customer visits and presentations as required.
• Work closely with commercial and costing teams to ensure products achieve both customer and business targets.
• Collaborate with strategic suppliers to drive innovation and leverage technical expertise.
• Ensure all development activities comply with internal quality systems, BRC standards, and customer requirements.
• Partner closely with Technical teams on allergen management, HACCP, and product compliance.
• Provide troubleshooting and technical support to Operations, including harvest transitions and cost-engineering projects.

Education

Degree in Food Science or Bakery and Patisserie

Job description

Reed Specialist Recruitment is partnering with a UK food manufacturer to recruit a New Product Development Technologist for bakery products. Location is Cheshire, with a salary up to £40,000 and a focus on developing bread NPD and reformulation to meet market needs.

The role requires a Food Science or Bakery degree and at least 2 years in NPD or product development within bakery manufacturing. You will manage projects through full development lifecycles and collaborate across teams to deliver