Product Developer

The Compleat Food Group; Caerphilly; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading food manufacturing company in the UK seeks a Senior Product Development Technologist. You will oversee product development from concept to production, managing costs, timelines, and quality. The ideal candidate has strong technical knowledge in apparel and experience working with suppliers. Benefits include a 4-day work week and flexible hours with a salary range of £30,749 – £34,808 based on skills and experience. This role offers hybrid working opportunities.

Benefits

4-day working week

Flexible work hours

Qualifications

• Strong technical knowledge of apparel, fabrics, trims, and manufacturing.
• Experience working directly with suppliers and factories in the UK and offshore.
• A sharp eye for quality and performance in sportswear or technical apparel.

Responsibilities

• Manage full accountability for product development from concept to production.
• Communicate effectively with suppliers to ensure clarity and quality.
• Drive improvements in product development processes and mentor junior team members.

Skills

Ownership

Attention to detail

Technical knowledge of apparel

Cross-functional collaboration

Commercial mindset

Organizational skills

Job description

Job Overview

As a Senior Product Development Technologist on a 12‑month FTC based in Craigavon, you will work closely with the Site NPD Manager, Technical, Commercial and Central Teams to deliver the strategy for your categories/customers. You will manage costings, the critical path, and ensure full product development transparency from concept to production.

Responsibilities

• Take full accountability for product development across your categories - from concept through to production, with complete visibility across timelines, costs, and quality.
• Work directly with directors, designers, and product managers, bringing ideas to life while driving constant improvement across fit, finish, and function.
• Own the critical path - ensuring tech packs are issued accurately and on time, with comprehensive construction, fit, and trim comments every step of the way.
• Lead fit sessions with design and product, driving timely, commercial decisions and communicating clear, actionable feedback to suppliers.
• Own sample management - inspecting and signing off styles from proto to PPS, with full confidence in your decisions.
• Guard consistency across the range - ensuring size charts, fit blocks and grading follow brand standards.
• Take full control of lab dips, strike‑offs and trim approvals - making swift, informed calls to keep things moving.
• Be the go‑to contact for your suppliers - maintaining clear, professional communication through weekly check‑ins, calls and relationship‑building visits.
• Engineer for margin - collaborating with sourcing on open‑costing and smart fabric usage, without ever compromising quality.
• Track product compliance across all relevant testing, care labelling and legislative standards - accuracy is everything.
• Be proactive in identifying delays or risks, flagging them early in weekly development meetings and driving solutions.
• Drive improvements with confidence - whether you're optimising a block, renegotiating a detail, or finding new efficiencies with the factory.
• Mentor and support junior members of the team – you lead by example, and others learn from how you operate.

Key Qualities & Qualifications

• A natural sense of ownership – you take accountability, seek solutions, and keep things moving.
• Exceptional attention to detail – in fit, construction, costing and communication.
• Strong technical knowledge of apparel, fabrics, trims, and manufacturing.
• Confidence in working autonomously while still collaborating cross‑functionally.
• A commercial mindset – you understand the impact of every product decision.
• A positive, can‑do approach and strong organisational skills – nothing gets past you.
• Experience working directly with suppliers and factories (UK & offshore).
• A sharp eye for quality and performance – especially within sportswear or technical apparel (bonus!).

Benefits

• 4‑day working week.
• Flexible work hours.

Salary: £30,749 – £34,808 (based on skills and experience). Location: Nottingham, NG8 3NH – Hybrid working.

Reporting to: Head of Product Development.