Development Technologist

Cranswick Convenience Foods; England; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading food manufacturer in the UK is seeking a Senior Development Technologist to lead the development of innovative food products from concept to launch. The ideal candidate will have experience managing retailer accounts and a strong understanding of food industry standards. Responsibilities include overseeing project documentation, customer engagement, and contributing to product improvement initiatives. This role offers a dynamic environment to work on market-leading products.

Qualifications

• Minimum of three years' experience in NPD or a similar role.
• Working knowledge of FMCG food manufacturing processes.
• Understanding of HACCP principles (Level 3 desirable).
• Full driving licence (or intention to obtain).

Responsibilities

• Champion creation of market-leading food products.
• Lead projects from initial concept through to commercial launch.
• Manage customer engagement and project documentation.
• Contribute to continuous improvement and portfolio updates.

Skills

Leading concept-to-launch development

Managing UK retailer accounts

Food safety standards awareness

Strong computer literacy

Decision making

Ability to work independently

Education

Degree in a food-related discipline

Job description

Innovation and best-in-class delivery sit at the heart of Cranswick's values. As a Senior Development Technologist, you will champion the creation of market-leading food products, driving them from initial concept through to full commercial launch. You will lead projects through Gate 0-2 and oversee Gate 3-5 with cross-functional support, ensuring every product meets customer, consumer, commercial, operational and technical expectations. This role also positions you as a key ambassador for your site and for Cranswick customers. You will host and manage customer lunches, VIP visits, and support our central chef team with group functions where needed. You will take full ownership of development projects from brief to launch, setting and managing critical timings and ensuring accurate documentation throughout. Strong collaboration with NPD, Technical, Operations and Commercial teams is essential to maintaining clear communication and delivering successful outcomes. You will maintain high-quality project files, launch packs and customer documentation, ensuring all information is fully up to date, reproducible, and compliant with Cranswick's product development best practice. Product development will be central to your role. You will work closely with chefs to create technically robust, commercially viable and operationally feasible samples. You will also source new ingredients, brief suppliers and gather all relevant technical and commercial data. Customer engagement is a key part of this position. You will prepare accurate NPD documentation, confidently present work, manage feedback and keep customers informed of project progress. You will liaise with Technical teams to submit products for shelf life, nutritional and micro testing, tracking results accurately and ensuring outcomes are captured and shared. You will also support Operations by preparing for and attending factory trials, delivering clear trial plans and ensuring successful test runs. The role involves contributing to EPD and continuous improvement activity, assisting with product rationalisation, portfolio updates, and ensuring accuracy in KPIs, recipes, costings and commercial data. Professional conduct is essential. You will consistently demonstrate Cranswick values, maintaining a positive, solution-driven approach. You will take full responsibility for the development kitchen, including organising and cooking lunches for customer visits, ensuring the environment is maintained to high standards of hygiene, safety and presentation, and managing stock and equipment effectively. You will support the creation of innovative new concepts and maintain a strong understanding of market trends, consumer insight and competitor activity. You will uphold adherence to Cranswick's launch process and Stage & Gate principles, ensuring accuracy in raw material costs and recipe publication for costing and approval.

• Proven experience leading concept-to-launch development within the food industry
• Strong track record of managing UK retailer accounts and development projects
• Degree or equivalent in a food-related discipline (desirable)
• Minimum of three years' experience in NPD or a similar role
• Working knowledge of FMCG food manufacturing processes
• Understanding of HACCP principles (Level 3 desirable)
• Awareness of food safety standards, allergens, hygiene and CCPs
• Strong computer literacy and numerical ability
• Full driving licence (or intention to obtain)
• Confident decision-maker with the ability to work to a critical path
• Comfortable working independently within a factory environment