Lead NPD Process Technologist – Food Launch Expert

Pilgrim's Europe; Bodmin; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Pilgrim’s Europe is recruiting for a Senior Process Technologist on a permanent contract at our Bodmin site. You will lead NPD/NPI initiatives, ensure smooth handover to production, and drive successful launches with operational excellence.

You will manage a small team, work closely with production and customers, oversee factory trials, analyze data, and push for process improvements to optimise quality, speed, and cost in a fast-moving food environment.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in NPD/NPI within a food manufacturing environment.
• People management experience.
• Strong process knowledge and experience running factory trials.
• Experience managing critical paths and retailer launch timelines.
• Confident analysing data and making evidence-based recommendations.
• Experience working with production teams in live factory environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead product launches from handover to full production.
• Ensure factory capability and operational constraints are considered during development.
• Plan, organise, and run pre‑submission, exploratory and factory trials.
• Manage projects through critical paths to meet retailer and internal deadlines.
• Conduct pre‑production runs (Pre‑pro’s).
• Collect, analyse, and interpret trial data to drive informed decision‑making.
• Troubleshoot and resolve technical and process challenges.
• Set up and improve systems to support efficient launches.
• Work closely with Production to ensure seamless scale‑up and launch execution.
• Maintain direct contact with customers where required.
• Contribute to idea generation and innovation pipelines.
• Identify and implement process improvements to enhance efficiency, quality, and consistency.
• Depending on experience, take greater ownership of retailer‑facing NPD projects, including customer interaction and project management leadership.

Skills

NPD/NPI experience

People management

Data analysis

Project management

Factory trials

Cross-functional collaboration

Job description

Pilgrim’s Europe is recruiting for a Senior Process Technologist on a permanent contract at our Bodmin site. You will lead NPD/NPI initiatives, ensure smooth handover to production, and drive successful launches with operational excellence.

You will manage a small team, work closely with production and customers, oversee factory trials, analyze data, and push for process improvements to optimise quality, speed, and cost in a fast-moving food environment.