NPD Technologist - Exclusive

Zest; Bierton; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

Zest, a well-established food manufacturer based near Milton Keynes, is seeking a curious and driven Development Technologist for their busy NPD team. This is an ideal role for someone early in their development career who wants hands-on involvement from idea to handover.

You will support a pipeline of innovation, NPD and EPD projects for a premium retail customer base. Travel to other sites and customers is required, a UK driving licence and your own car are essential, and visa applications

Qualifications

• UK food-related degree required.
• Some experience in food manufacturing preferred.
• Willing to travel to other sites and customers.

Responsibilities

• Support a busy pipeline of innovation, NPD and EPD projects.
• Prototype with development chefs and run factory trials.
• Gather data and ensure allergen controls throughout.
• Develop recipes from scratch and run benchmarking panels.
• Travel to other sites and customers with a full UK driving licence.

Skills

Food development

NPD

Food manufacturing

Education

UK food-related degree

Tools

Excel

Job description

Do you dream in flavour profiles and get a thrill from seeing a concept you helped create land on a supermarket shelf? We are working with a well-established food manufacturer in Milton Keynes who are looking for a curious and driven Development Technologist to join their passionate NPD team.

This is a wonderful opportunity for someone early in their development career who wants real hands‑on involvement from the first spark of an idea right through to handover.

You will support a busy pipeline of innovation, NPD and EPD projects for a premium retail customer base. One day you might be prototyping alongside the development chefs and the next you could be in the factory running trials, gathering data or making sure every allergen has been carefully considered. With the support of an experienced Senior NPD Manager you will grow towards leading your own trials, building recipes from scratch and running benchmarking panels while keeping your finger on the pulse of the latest food trends.

To be considered you must hold a UK food-related degree and ideally bring some experience within food manufacturing. You'll have a genuine love of food, a keen eye for detail and the confidence to feel at home in a kitchen, factory or office. As the role involves travel to other sites and customers, a full UK driving licence and your own car are essential. Please note, our client is unable to accept visa applications for this role.