NPD Assistant

Origin Coffee; Penmarth; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading coffee company is seeking an enthusiastic individual for an entry-level role in New Product Development. This hands-on position will support the growth of Ready to Drink and other coffee innovations. Responsibilities include managing production processes, assisting in trials, and direct customer engagement. Ideal candidates are passionate about coffee, enjoy practical production work, and can effectively represent the company to visitors. Offering a people-first culture with flexible benefits, this is a unique opportunity to grow in a creative environment.

Benefits

26 days' holiday

Unlimited coffee

Discounts on merchandise

SCA training opportunities

Enhanced family leave and sick pay

5% employer pension contribution

Qualifications

• Strong brewing capability and confidence working with recipes.
• Interest in extraction science, flavour development, and sensory evaluation.
• Methodical approach to trials, recording results and learnings.

Responsibilities

• Support Ready to Drink and coffee NPD projects from concept to production readiness.
• Assist with brewing trials, recipe development, and sensory evaluation.
• Support production runs: prep, brewing support, and packing.

Skills

Brewing capability

Interest in extraction science

Methodical approach to trials

Collaborative working style

Job description

Origin is creating a new entry-level role in New Product Development to support the growth of Ready to Drink and future coffee product innovation. This is a hands‑on role at the intersection of brewing craft, technical curiosity, and practical production. Based in our new Brewery in Cornwall and working closely with the Ready to Drink Manager, you will support products end‑to‑end, from early recipe trials through to production support and packing. You will learn quickly, contribute to structured iteration, and help uphold quality and consistency as ideas move from bench to bottle. You will also be customer‑facing at times, hosting visitors, partners, and collaborators in NPD and production settings and representing Origin with warmth, clarity, and professionalism.

Product development and trials

• Support Ready to Drink and coffee NPD projects from concept to production readiness
• Assist with brewing trials, recipe development, and sensory evaluation
• Test variables, track outcomes, and contribute to structured iteration
• Maintain clear brew logs and trial documentation
• Prepare samples for internal and customer feedback

Production support

• Support production runs: prep, brewing support, line work, packing, and clean down
• Follow recipes and brew standards consistently during scale‑up
• Support basic quality checks and flag risks early
• Work safely, following hygiene and safety standards

Customer and partner engagement

• Host and represent Origin when visitors are present in NPD/production
• Support tastings, walkthroughs, and product discussions as needed

Category awareness

• Stay curious about speciality coffee and Ready to Drink trends
• Contribute ideas grounded in customer needs and drinking moments
• Support cross‑functional alignment with roasting, QC, retail, wholesale, and brand

You are a coffee professional seeking to transition into product development through hands‑on work.

You have a strong brewing foundation and a genuine interest in extraction, flavour, and how products land with customers.

You are likely someone who:

• Enjoys testing, tweaking, and improving through repetition and detail
• Is happy doing practical production work as well as running trials
• Communicates clearly and represents the Origin brand well when customer‑facing
• Learns quickly, takes feedback well, and raises standards through consistency

Skills and experience

• Strong brewing capability and confidence working with recipes
• Interest in extraction science, flavour development, and sensory evaluation
• Methodical approach to trials, recording results and learnings
• Reliable, organised, and quality‑focused in production environments
• Collaborative working style and clear communication

Additional information

• Travel to Origin sites may be required with a clean driving licence.
• Flexibility needed around trials, launch moments, and production planning.
• 26 days' holiday, including your birthday off, plus flexible bank holidays.
• Unlimited coffee and discounts on merchandise and partner products.
• B Corp certified and proudly independent.
• People‑first culture with meaningful, values‑led work.
• SCA training and learning opportunities for everyone.
• Enhanced family leave, sick pay, period leave, and personal days.
• 5% employer pension contribution.
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme and GP service.
• Two paid volunteering days each year.

Why join us?

Everyone is welcome at Origin We believe diverse perspectives enrich our culture and creativity. If you're passionate about coffee and excited by this opportunity - even if you don't tick every box - we encourage you to apply. Your unique experience could be exactly what we need. At Origin, you'll be part of a dynamic team that values creativity, sustainability, and collaboration. We're committed to providing an inclusive and inspiring environment where you can grow professionally and make a meaningful impact. And, of course, you'll have access to some of the best coffee experiences imaginable.