Process Development Technologist

The Compleat Food Group; Tees Valley; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A food manufacturing company is seeking a Process Development Technologist to support the NPD team in Middlesbrough. Responsibilities include managing product development processes, ensuring compliance with safety standards, and leading trials. Ideal candidates will have food manufacturing experience and relevant educational qualifications. This role may require weekend and night shifts and offers a comprehensive benefits package.

Benefits

Salary Sacrifice Schemes

33 days’ annual leave

Access to enhanced retail discounts

Free product hand-outs

24/7 access to Grocery Aid

Physical Wellbeing Hub

Access to online learning platform

2 paid volunteering days per year

Qualifications

• Food manufacturing experience within an FMCG environment.
• HACCP / Food Safety training or basic knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Deliver the Process / NPD agenda within agreed cost and timescales.
• Scale up products while maintaining food safety and technical standards.
• Prepare detailed paperwork for every trial & pre-production.
• Conduct shelf-life and nutritional validation.

Skills

Planning, organisation and project management

Communication at different levels of seniority

Presentation skills

Identifying solutions

Basic computing skills

Education

HND/Degree in a food-based or manufacturing subject

Job description

To support the effective delivery of the NPD and EPD agenda across the group in line with the Compleat Food Group and customer category plans, you will follow the Product Launch Process to deliver timely development of new and existing products. You will work to meet all Compleat brand and/or customer standards, contribute to continuous improvement projects, and ensure the NPD / EPD process runs smoothly from kitchen handover to launch.

Responsibilities

• Deliver the Process / NPD agenda within agreed cost and timescales.
• Scale up products while maintaining food safety and technical standards.
• Own all stages of the critical path of projects, understanding the implications of deviations.
• Work alongside other development team members on multiple projects to bring new products and processes to life.
• Deputize for the Senior Process Technologist at the site when required.
• Lead process teams to move product from kitchen to factory, ensuring product quality meets margin targets (pre‑ and post‑trial meetings).
• Prepare detailed paperwork for every trial & pre‑production: recipe amendments, process parameters and staff training.
• Ensure all CCPs (temperature, Aw and pH) are met.
• Guarantee food safety and product quality are 100% repeatable.
• Conduct shelf‑life and nutritional validation.
• Validate pack weight, organoleptic and sensory characteristics.
• Organize process trials, set objectives and communicate them to all relevant teams.
• Support ordering of new ingredients/packaging for trials and assess them on arrival and throughout trials.
• Carry out production trials in line with site standards, fully accountable for actions from make to wrap.
• Gather trial data: run rates, weights, settings, labour, washouts, data logging, etc.
• Work with production and planning to determine optimum batch sizes, volumes and dual‑processing requirements.
• Liaise with engineering and other departments that require new kit or amendments.
• Send product for shelf‑life and nutritional testing; liaise with the technical department for full sign‑off.
• Complete storage trials and organoleptics.
• Complete re‑heat validation and arrange relevant testing against customer code of practice.
• Complete packaging and transit trials with support from the packaging technologist when required.
• Liaise with site chefs and development managers for kitchen‑to‑factory verification panels (internal & external).
• Highlight any amendments required at handover for re‑costing and paperwork updates.
• Ensure trial material is maintained to standard across all relevant sites.
• Lead process‑team documentation to an auditable standard.
• Develop and update process‑development documents and procedures, initiating amendments when needed.
• Support writing of factory specifications.
• Attend HACCP meetings where required to approve new raw materials prior to arrival.
• Complete process flow and site‑specific food‑safety documents, such as SUSSLE.
• Compile trial reports, distribute them, and identify actions for the next trial.
• Compare nutritional findings against customer standards and policies, providing feedback to the customer.
• Collect samples for microbiological analysis and organise relevant testing; arrange review and sign‑off against customer standards with the technical department.
• Document post‑trial data analysis and secure sign‑off from relevant departments: organoleptics, storage approvals, re‑heat validation.
• Gather information for document‑control approval.
• Support QAS writing and site sign‑off.
• Maintain electronic and paper copies of product documentation and ensure checklists are signed off by management for audit compliance.
• Support the site with artwork sign‑off.
• Lead product launch to agreed standards.
• Support PPR meetings and make trial amendments as required to ensure launch readiness.
• Support launch meetings and paperwork, ensuring all documentation is complete.
• Ensure efficient hand‑over of product at pre‑production to technical, production and all departments.
• Check off BOM, recipe, and costings prior to launch.
• Verify that all production shifts are trained to run the products; raise issues with management if not.
• Arrange and support sampling of production for customers in line with relevant codes of practice.
• Review launched products and follow up on any process or ingredient issues.
• Support post‑launch review and continuous improvement initiation.
• Work with technical teams to assess product quality via internal benchmarking and QAS sessions.
• Provide solutions to manufacturing problems on new and existing lines.
• Feed costing model with process knowledge, wastage figures and trial results for accurate costing.
• Identify cost‑saving opportunities through continuous improvement, ingredient and packaging innovation, and value engineering.
• Facilitate supplier liaison for process and ingredient improvement.

Experience

• HND/Degree in a food‑based or manufacturing subject (desirable).
• Food manufacturing experience within an FMCG environment.
• HACCP / Food Safety training or basic knowledge.

Key Skills

• Planning, organisation and project management.
• Communication at different levels of seniority.
• Presentation skills.
• Identifying solutions.
• Basic computing skills.

Qualities

• A passion for food – product tasting required across multiple categories.
• Problem‑solving.
• Enthusiasm to learn and grow.
• Self‑motivated.
• Flexible attitude.

We have a new opportunity for a Process Development Technologist to join our brilliant NPD team in Middlesbrough!

Due to the nature of the role, you may be required to cover weekends and night shifts.

Benefits

Financial & Lifestyle Benefits

• Salary Sacrifice Schemes – including electric vehicles, home & tech, cycle to work and SMART pension.
• 33 days’ annual leave (including bank holidays) with the option to purchase extra.
• Holiday discounts via our online retail platform.
• Access to enhanced retail discounts online and in‑store.
• Free product hand‑outs across our sites.
• EV charging points – available at selected sites.

Health & Wellbeing

• 24/7 access to Grocery Aid for free financial, emotional, and practical support.
• Physical Wellbeing Hub – free on‑demand exercise classes and gym discounts.
• Free diet & nutrition advice with access to thousands of healthy recipes.
• Online wellbeing support – from mindfulness to lifestyle resources.
• Financial wellbeing tools – including mortgage calculators, budgeting tools and financial aid.

Career Growth & Development

• Access to a personalised online learning platform (LMS).
• Formal and informal training opportunities tailored to your role.
• Performance Development Plans and regular career conversations.
• Company mentoring scheme.
• Recognition through Club Compleat rewards.

Community & Culture

• 2 paid volunteering days per year.
• Charity initiatives and fundraising events.
• Team socials.
• Employee networks & support groups – including Women @ Compleat.
• New‑baby gift for new parents.

We are committed to Fairness, Equity, Inclusivity, and Respect. We ensure all colleagues can thrive by bringing their whole selves to work. As an equal‑opportunity employer, we provide all the support you need to succeed. Contact us with any questions about diversity & inclusion or accessibility during the application process.

Recruitment agencies: We have a small, active and trusted preferred supplier list to assist us if required. We do not acknowledge any speculative CVs or unsolicited candidate introductions. We only accept CV submissions for roles released to you directly by our Talent Acquisition team.

We are a food business built on purpose and passion. Formed in 2021, we’re on a mission to create food to feel good – great quality, tasty and affordable food that people love to eat. We’re home to some of the UK’s most exciting and loved food brands… with over 6,000 talented colleagues across 17 sites and an annual turnover of £1.3bn, we’re united by a shared ambition to shape the future of food for the better.