NPD Baker

Vickerstock; Northern Ireland; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A food manufacturing client in Northern Ireland seeks an experienced NPD Baker to develop and adapt recipes for customer briefs. You will conduct feasibility trials, support production runs, and document processes systematically. The ideal candidate has over 2 years of experience in bakery production and a relevant qualification. This role offers a competitive salary and professional development opportunities in a creative, family-focused environment.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Professional development opportunities

Supportive family business environment

Qualifications

• 2+ years experience in a bakery production or development environment.
• Hands-on experience in small batch baking and/or pilot trials.
• Ability to follow recipes, protocols and documents accurately.
• Familiarity with HACCP, Food Safety & Quality Systems.

Responsibilities

• Develop and adapt recipes to meet customer briefs.
• Produce early-stage samples for customer engagement.
• Conduct kitchen and pilot-scale feasibility trials.
• Support first production runs and line trials.
• Document recipes, methods, and trial parameters accurately.
• Collaborate with NPD, Commercial, and Production teams.

Skills

Bakery production experience

Recipe development

Technical baking skills

Problem-solving

Education

Relevant bakery qualification (NVQ, Diploma, or equivalent)

Job description

Overview

Vickerstock are delighted to be working in partnership with our food manufacturing client who has a proud reputation for quality, creativity and reliability and are seeking an NPD Baker to join the team.

The successful candidate will play a hands-on role in transforming customer concepts into manufacturing realities by creating samples, executing kitchen and scale-up feasibility trials and documenting methods and standards.

What’s in it for you?

• Supporting the bakery's ambition to be the most innovative business in the UK & Ireland by 2030.
• Work in a supportive family business environment that celebrates creativity and ambition.
• Competitive salary and professional development opportunities.

What your day to day will look like

• Develop and adapt recipes to meet customer briefs, cost targets, and production feasibility.
• Produce early-stage samples for customer engagement and feedback.
• Conduct kitchen and pilot-scale feasibility trials to validate scalability.
• Support first production runs and line trials, identifying risks and improvements.
• Document recipes, methods, and trial parameters accurately and systematically.
• Contribute to the creation and refinement of SOPs for new products and processes.
• Ensure trial methods are consistent, practical, and aligned with production capability.
• Collaborate closely with NPD, Commercial, and Production teams to balance creativity with feasibility.
• Apply strong technical baking skills and problem-solving to deliver innovative solutions.
• Communicate clearly, manage multiple projects, and drive continuous improvement.

What you will need to succeed

• 2+ years experience in bakery production or development environment
• Hands-on experience in small batch baking and/or pilot trials
• Ability to follow recipes, protocols and documents accurately
• Familiarity with HACCP, Food Safety & Quality Systems
• Relevant bakery qualification (NVQ, Diploma, or equivalent) preferred.
• Training in bakery craft, product development, or process methods.

What you will need to do next

Sound like the career move you've been after and would like to hear more? Contact Anna for more information, or send an updated CV - in Word format - via the link on the page (or email).

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