Senior NPD Technologist

Accuri; Knutsford; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading bakery product manufacturer in the UK is seeking a Senior NPD professional who is passionate about bakery innovation. You will own the development lifecycle from idea to launch, collaborating with teams to ensure successful product delivery. The ideal candidate has proven experience in bakery NPD, a strong understanding of ingredients, and the ability to manage multiple projects effectively. Leadership skills and a commercial mindset are essential for this role.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in bakery NPD within a food manufacturing environment.
• Strong understanding of bakery processes and ingredients.
• Experience working with major UK retailers.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of new bakery products across various lines.
• Act as technical lead on key customer accounts.
• Ensure all products meet safety, quality, and retailer standards.

Skills

Product Development

Customer Interaction

Leadership

Technical Knowledge

Job description

This is a senior, sleeves‑rolled‑up NPD role for someone who understands that great bakery products are born at the intersection of craft, commercial reality, and technical discipline.

You’ll take ownership of the end‑to‑end NPD lifecycle—idea to launch—working closely with commercial, technical, operations, and supply chain teams to deliver profitable, scalable, retailer‑ready bakery products.

If you love bakery, thrive under pressure, and can turn a brief into a product that actually survives factory scale‑up and retailer scrutiny, you’ll feel right at home.

Key Responsibilities

• Product Development & Innovation
  • Lead the development of new bakery products across bread, morning goods, cakes, pastries, or seasonal ranges (depending on business focus).
  • Translate customer and retailer briefs into technically sound, commercially viable products.
  • Drive continuous improvement of existing products to optimise quality, cost, shelf life, and process efficiency.
  • Champion ingredient functionality, recipe optimisation, and process robustness.
• Customer & Commercial Interface
  • Act as the technical NPD lead on key customer accounts.
  • Support customer presentations, product submissions, tastings, and trials.
  • Balance innovation with margin—because great ideas still need to make money.
• Factory Trials & Scale‑Up
  • Lead factory trials from bench to full‑scale production.
  • Work closely with Operations and Engineering to ensure smooth handovers and repeatable processes.
  • Identify and mitigate risks early—no surprises on launch day.
• Technical & Compliance
  • Ensure all products meet food safety, quality, legal, and retailer standards.
  • Support shelf‑life testing, nutritional compliance, and specifications.
  • Work collaboratively with Technical teams to ensure seamless sign‑off.
• Mentorship & Leadership
  • Coach and support junior NPD technologists.
  • Set standards, share best practice, and raise the technical bar across the team.
  • Be a calm, credible presence when timelines tighten and pressure rises.

About You

You’re commercially sharp, technically credible, and bakery‑obsessed—in the best possible way.

• Proven experience in bakery NPD within a food manufacturing environment.
• Strong understanding of bakery processes, ingredients, and functionality.
• Experience working with major UK retailers or branded customers.
• Confidence leading trials, customer meetings, and cross‑functional projects.
• The ability to manage multiple projects without dropping the ball.