NPD Technologist

Bell Recruitment; Downpatrick; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

Bell Recruitment is seeking an NPD Technologist for a leading Northern Ireland food manufacturer. The role focuses on developing cost-effective new products from concept to launch, with emphasis on meeting customer briefs and complying with safety standards.

You will handle kitchen sampling, recipe concept development, factory trials, and liaise with internal teams and suppliers to drive improvements. The position is on-site, with standard hours Monday to Friday, 9 to 5, and a flexible approach.

Qualifications

• Degree/HND in a food-related discipline desirable or NPD experience.
• Understanding of the fundamentals of food processing.
• Experience with microbiology, regulatory codes and HACCP.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to drive improvements.
• Innovative, with a logical, systematic approach to problem solving.
• Effective project management skills.

Responsibilities

• Carrying out product development and recipe development in line with internal / customer briefs for a range of NPD projects. Basic recipe preparation and costing.
• Carrying out any additional project work as required, including sample preparation, ingredient replacement work, cost reduction work, efficiency improvements, packaging review.
• Logging all development on the NPD Database to maintain traceability.
• Arrange product tasting sessions of NPD samples ahead of dispatch to customer.
• Carry out benchmarking sessions.
• Sourcing new ingredients and / or suppliers. Proactive with suppliers and ingredients to drive improvements.
• Managing all aspects of process trials and planning for success first time.
• Preparation of NPD & Final specification documents for development samples, and by sourcing material ingredient specifications for any new raw materials.
• Communicating to customers, both written and verbal.
• Maintaining Company brand confidence and product integrity by producing and preparing high quality product samples, maintaining IT and paper records where applicable, and maintaining a library of reference samples.
• Working with Health and Safety Standards within workplace.
• Working to all Company procedures and practices.
• Complying with company hygiene policy at all times.

Skills

NPD experience

Project management

Interpersonal skills

Problem solving

Education

Degree/HND in food-related discipline

Job description

Job Title: NPD Technologist

Reporting To: Head of Innovation, this role will be a key part of the NPD Department within a leading NI food (sauce) manufacturer.

Overview:

• The candidate would be coming into the business at an exciting time as we are trying to drive through a new focus on new product development to find next opportunity to sustainable growth.
• Key responsibilities will revolve around the successful development of cost-effective new products in line with customer requirements, process capabilities and legal standards and the efficient transfer of those products from concept through to launch.
• This role will require flexibility in approach and will incorporate kitchen sample preparation, recipe concept development, factory trial organisation and management, and will require a close working relationship with many internal departments.

Key Responsibilities:

• Carrying out product development and recipe development in line with internal / customer briefs for a range of NPD projects. Basic recipe preparation and costing.
• Carrying out any additional project work as required, including but not limited to sample preparation, ingredient replacement work, cost reduction work, efficiency improvements, packaging review.
• Logging all development on the NPD Database to maintain traceability.
• Arrange product tasting sessions of NPD samples ahead of dispatch to customer.
• Carry out benchmarking sessions.
• Sourcing new ingredients and / or suppliers. A proactive approach to suppliers and ingredients to drive improvements.
• Managing all aspects of process trials and planning for success first time.
• Preparation of NPD & Final specification documents for development samples, and by sourcing material ingredient specifications for any new raw materials.
• Communicating to customers, both written and verbal.
• Maintaining Company brand confidence and product integrity by producing and preparing high quality product samples, maintaining IT and paper records where applicable, and maintaining a library of reference samples.
• Working with Health and Safety Standards within workplace.
• Working to all Company procedures and practices.
• Complying with company hygiene policy at all times.

Knowledge & Specific Job Skills:

• Degree/HND qualified in a food related discipline desirable or previous experience of NPD.
• Understanding of the fundamentals of food processing.
• Experience of microbiology/legal codes of practice, and Sound knowledge of HACCP.
• Must have strong interpersonal skills, able to drive changes, and identify possible improvement workstreams.
• Innovative, with a logical and systematic approach to problem solving (must be able to think laterally).
• Effective project management skills.

Hours of Work:

• Monday to Friday. 9.00am - 5.00pm. Due to the nature of the work, some flexibility would be required.

Salary:

• To be discussed