Senior NPD Technologist

Agrial Fresh Produce Ltd; Fradley; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 58,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Life Assurance 3x salary

Remote GP service & 24/7 helpline

33 days annual leave

Learning & Development opportunities

Salary finance platform

Subsidised staff transport

Job summary

Florette in Lichfield is seeking a Senior NPD Technologist to lead product development for Florette and own-label projects across major supermarkets.

You will manage trials, shelf life analysis, and costings, working with customers and cross-functional teams.

The role requires experience in chilled/short shelf life foods and strong leadership; working hours are 08:30-17:00.

Qualifications

• Proven work experience in NPD for chilled/short shelf life products.
• Experience with shelf life analysis, product sampling, factory trials, and costings.
• Experience presenting to customers in an NPD environment.
• Degree level education in Food Science/Technology or related.
• Strong communication and leadership skills.
• Exposure to FMCG or fresh produce is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Manage product development projects including trials, shelf life, samples and validations.
• Lead new product development from concept to launch.
• Oversee Florette and own label product development per marketing briefs.
• Collaborate with customers from ideation to leaf knowledge.
• Coordinate with factory departments for project development.
• Monitor products post-launch via reviews.
• Step up to lead NPD team in the manager's absence.

Skills

NPD Leadership

Product Development

Shelf Life Analysis

Factory Trials

Costings

Customer Liaison

Education

Degree in Food Science/Technology

Related discipline

Job description

We have an exciting opportunity for a Senior NPD Technologist to join our team at Florette in Lichfield, WS13 8NF. This role will lead the Product Development of new and modified products for Florette brand and to support on own label and retail projects, for all major supermarkets as well as household name retailers. This role is perfect for an experienced NPD Technologist to move into a varied, end-to-end, and quality-focussed NPD role.

The Senior NPD Technologist, reporting into the Head of Florette NPD, will be instrumental in leading NPD projects for both the Florette brand as well as own-label products from our Lichfield Head Office and factory. This role will manage NPD activities for new and improved products from research to post launch reviews. The successful candidate will have notable work experience in the development of chilled and/or short shelf life food products, and have proven experience in shelf life analysis, product sampling, factory trials, product costings, and more. We are looking for someone that is assertive with leadership qualities, and who has experience with presenting and working with customers directly in an NPD environment.

Working hours: Monday to Friday, 08:30am - 17:00pm

Pay: £Competitive, with annual bonus

Main Responsibilities

• Manage product development projects with responsibility for trials, shelf life, samples, and industrial validations for all Florette projects.
• Play a leading role in new product development projects, developing products from concept to launch.
• Manage the Florette brand as well as the new product developments for our own label products, following briefs from the Marketing Department.
• Work closely with customers, managing ideation to create new ideas and engaging customers on product and leaf knowledge.
• Liaise with all factory departments for the development of projects.
• Monitor products after launching following the post launch review procedure.
• Able to step-up when required to lead the NPD team in manager's absence.

Skills And Experience Required

• Innovative with a creative flair and a passion for food.
• Ideally educated to degree level in a Food Science/Technology or related discipline.
• Proven work experience of working within an NPD department with strong experience of the development of Chilled/Short shelf life products, Shelf life analysis, Product Sampling, Factory Trials, Product Costings.
• Experience and ability to present to customers confidently and knowledgably.
• Proven work experience in researching and developing food products from concept to launch, desirably in an FMCG and/or fresh produce environment.
• A quick learner that is eager to develop into a subject matter expert in existing and new salad products.
• Assertive, problem solver, decision maker, communicator.

Benefits

• Life Assurance: 3x your basic salary paid to your nominated beneficiary.
• Employee Assistance Programme and BUPA: Providing a Remote GP service along with a 24/7 helpline for financial, legal, medical and life issues, as well as access to BUPA Membership.
• Annual leave entitlement: 33 days annual leave per annum inclusive of UK Bank Holidays which increases with service, as well as the option to purchase up to 2 additional working weeks of holiday per annum.
• Learning and Development: Personalised induction and regular learning and development courses and schemes: From L2 to L7 Funded Apprenticeships, Leadership Development Programme, First-Aid and MHFA Training, and many more!
• Benefits Platforms: Employee discount platform for multiple retailers and access to salary finance schemes for bicycles, gyms, and financial assistance.
• Other: Recognition awards, Regular Employee Engagement days, attendance incentives, an annual volunteering day, and subsidised staff transport service from Burton on Trent.

About Us

Florette is one of three UK food manufacturing sites within Agrial Fresh Produce Ltd, which is an autonomous part of the larger 17,500 employee strong French co-operative group, Agrial.

The business operates mainly under it's recognisable Florette salad brand and we are one of the UK’s leading producers in the industry. Under the well-known Florette brand, our site processes and distributes pre-packed, ready to eat, fresh salad bags and bowls to some of the UK's most well-known supermarkets and retailers, as well as your favourite restaurants and fast food vendors. In total, we sell on average around 600,000kg of products every week - an unbe-leaf-able amount!

Agrial has operations across 11 countries, with 100 industrial sites, and a 2024 turnover of €7.1bn across 5 food divisions which comprise of Beverage, Dairy, Meat, Fresh Produce & Agricultural operations; it’s not just about lettuce! As well as 2 factories we also have a farming operation - Agrial Fresh Farms. All UK sites operate under the name of Agrial Fresh Produce Limited and fall under Agrial's vegetable division. We have a recipe for success through our EPIC values and working together as one team.

VISA Sponsorship: This role is only open to applicants who have the permanent right to work in the UK. We are unable to provide or take over visa sponsorship, either now or in the future. Applicants must be able to demonstrate their ongoing eligibility to work in the UK without the need for employer sponsorship.

Agrial Fresh Produce Ltd is an Equal Opportunities employer. In addition, as part of Responsible Recruitment, Agrial Fresh Produce Ltd believes in the Employer Pay Principle. No worker should pay for a job – the costs of recruitment should be borne not by the worker but by the employer.

We are committed to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of all of our staff. That’s why we’ve taken the Mental Health at Work Commitment and are currently delivering a programme of activities to ensure that everyone can have open and honest conversations about their wellbeing in the workplace and feel supported. We encourage applications from persons with experience of poor mental health and are committed to supporting our employees to fulfil their potential and perform at their best in work.