NPD Technologist

Search International; West Midlands; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading food manufacturer in the West Midlands is seeking a New Product Development (NPD) professional to join their team. The role involves developing cost-effective new products, managing trials, and working closely with internal departments to ensure compliance with hygiene and safety standards. The ideal candidate will have a degree in a food-related discipline and experience in the NPD process, with effective project and problem-solving skills. This role promises a dynamic work environment with opportunities for innovation and improvement.

Qualifications

• Previous experience in New Product Development (NPD) is desirable.
• Understanding of food processing fundamentals and microbiology.
• Knowledge of HACCP and legal codes of practice.

Responsibilities

• Develop cost-effective new products based on customer requirements.
• Conduct factory trials and manage product transfer to launch.
• Arrange product tastings and benchmarking sessions.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Project management

Problem-solving

Education

Degree / HND in food related discipline

Job description

West Midlands, Wolverhampton

Competitive

Reporting to the NPD Manager this role will be a key part of the NPD Department with a leading food manufacturer.

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 Role Information :

• Deputising for NPD Manager .
• Working with Health and Safety Standards within workplace.
• Working to all Company procedures and practices.
• Complying with company hygiene policy at all times.
• Managing all aspects of process trials and planning for success first time.
• Arrange product tasting sessions of NPD samples ahead of dispatch to customer.
• Carry out benchmarking sessions
• Carrying out any additional project work as required, including but not limited to ingredient replacement work, cost reduction work, efficiency improvements, packaging review.
• Basic recipe preparation and costing.
• Carrying out product development and recipe development in line with customer briefs for a range of NPD projects. Logging all development on the Technical NPD Database to maintain traceability.
• Sourcing new ingredients and / or suppliers. A proactive approach to suppliers and ingredients to drive improvements.
• Support to the Technical Department by preparing provisional 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.

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