Senior NPD Technologist

The Abbey; Manchester; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

The Abbey in Greater Manchester is seeking a Senior NPD Technologist to own food development from concept through to factory launch, turning customer-approved recipes into scalable, safe, and commercially viable products.

That role involves coordinating trials, driving Stage & Gate processes, and leading a small team while working with Operations and Engineering to deliver robust technical outcomes.

Qualifications

• Experience leading NPD projects in food manufacturing.
• Knowledge of HACCP, BRC and retailer standards.
• Ability to juggle multiple projects with a practical hands-on approach.
• Strong collaboration with Technical, Operations and Engineering.

Responsibilities

• Manage food development projects from concept through to factory launch.
• Coordinate factory trials and first production runs.
• Lead Stage & Gate processes and post-launch reviews.
• Balance customer requirements with manufacturability and compliance.

Skills

NPD experience

Team leadership

Food manufacturing

Project coordination

HACCP compliance

Retailer standards

Education

Food Science degree or equivalent

Job description

Job DescriptionSenior NPD TechnologistFood ManufacturingLocation: Greater ManchesterSalary: £35,000 - £42,000 Getting a recipe right in the kitchen is one thing. Getting it right at scale, on a live production line, is where NPD gets interesting. This is an opportunity to take genuine ownership of that journey. You'll manage food development projects from concept through to factory launch, taking customer-approved recipes and turning them into products that can be manufactured safely, consistently and commercially. It's a hands-on role. One day you could be coordinating a factory trial, the next working through a critical path, solving a technical challenge with Operations or Engineering, or sitting with a customer discussing their latest development. You'll own projects through the Stage & Gate process, coordinating trials, first production runs and post-launch reviews while making sure the technical detail behind every product is robust.

That means understanding more than just cooking and cooling validations, HACCP, microbiological standards, nutritional requirements, labelling, packaging and specifications all form part of getting a product successfully over the line. You'll need to balance what the customer wants with what can actually be delivered in a fast-paced manufacturing environment. You'll also have the opportunity to lead and develop a small team, while working closely with Technical, Operations, Engineering and the wider NPD function. You'll need previous NPD experience within food manufacturing and a track record of taking products from development into production. A Food Science degree or equivalent would be ideal, alongside a good understanding of BRC, HACCP and retailer/customer standards. More importantly, you'll be someone who enjoys being close to the factory, can juggle multiple projects and isn't fazed when a trial doesn't quite go to plan first time.