NPD (New Product Development) Lead

Lord Search & Selection; East Midlands; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

Lord Search & Selection has partnered with a fast-growing UK food manufacturer to recruit an experienced NPD Food Technologist. This role sits at the heart of product development, manufacturing and commercial delivery, taking concepts from idea through to launch in a busy factory environment.

You will work closely with suppliers, production teams, and customers to create innovative, commercially viable and scalable products.

Qualifications

• Ideally a degree in Food Science or related discipline.
• Experience in a factory-based NPD role.
• Experience across bakery, desserts, beverages or value-added food categories serving retail/foodservice/hospitality.

Responsibilities

• Develop new food and beverage products from concept through to launch in a manufacturing environment.
• Collaborate with suppliers, production teams and customers to ensure products are innovative, commercially viable and scalable.
• Create detailed product specifications and manage trials to support successful product launches.
• Maintain and develop robust quality systems and ensure compliance with customer requirements.
• Drive continuous improvement and support smooth transfer of products from development to full-scale production.

Skills

NPD

Supplier management

Quality systems

Food industry knowledge

Education

Degree in Food Science or related discipline

Job description

Our client is a fast-growing food manufacturer supplying a diverse customer base across the bakery, beverage and dessert foodservice sectors. Known for developing high-quality sweet bakery products, desserts and beverage solutions, they partner with customers to deliver innovative products that meet evolving consumer trends and operational requirements. With ambitious growth plans and continued investment in product innovation, quality and manufacturing capability, they have created a new role for an experienced NPD Food Technologist to become a key part of their product development function. This is a business with real momentum, a collaborative culture and a genuine passion for creating exceptional products for the out-of-home market.

The Role

This position sits at the heart of product development, manufacturing and commercial delivery. You'll be responsible for developing new food and beverage products from concept through to launch, working closely with suppliers, production teams and customers to create products that are innovative, commercially viable and scalable within a manufacturing environment.

Alongside the creative and technical aspects of NPD, you'll be responsible for creating detailed product specifications, managing trials and supporting successful product launches. Quality, food safety and consistency will be central to the role, and you'll play an important part in maintaining and developing robust quality systems. You'll help drive continuous improvement, ensure compliance with customer requirements and support the successful transfer of products from development into full-scale production.

The Person

Ideally educated to degree level in Food Science or a related discipline, you'll currently be working within a factory-based NPD role and be comfortable managing technical challenges, ingredient functionality and supplier relationships. You'll have proven experience within food manufacturing across bakery, desserts, sweet treats, beverages or other value-added food categories supplying retail, foodservice or hospitality customers.