Senior NPD Technologist

Accuri; Winsford; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading food technology company in the UK seeks a Development Technologist to manage the NPD process, ensuring product development aligns with customer expectations. The successful candidate will have a food science degree and over 5 years of experience, particularly in the bread industry, with strong project management skills and a collaborative approach. Responsibilities include nurturing customer relationships and supporting the team in concept development. This position offers the opportunity to influence product innovation within a dynamic environment.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of Development Technologist experience required.
• Good understanding of manufacturing processes essential for the bread industry.
• Awareness of Food Labelling and Product Specifications.

Responsibilities

• Manage the NPD process and documentation for various projects.
• Support concept development for EPD and NPD projects.
• Nurture strong customer relationships to ensure proactive NPD programmes.

Skills

Food science expertise

Project Management

Team collaboration

Communication skills

Education

Food science Degree or equivalent

Job description

To work cross functionally with project managing the NPD process to deliver EPD and NPD to exceed both internal customers and external customers expectation. Interface with customers (internal & external) to take products through concept to launch ensuring compliance with policies and procedures throughout stage gate process.

What you will contribute

• Maintain the NPD process and documentation for both brand and non brand. Lead and support all projects
• Support the team - be a true foody - aware of trends from insight and competitors and be commercially aware around influences in market beyond just the bakery category
• Carry out concept development for both EPD and true NPD projects - support the longer term innovation pipeline programme
• Nurture strong customer relationships understanding the end user/consumer to ensure pro-active NPD/EPD programmes to deliver the Channel & Customer Strategy - visit customers as required
• Work closely with the costing process to ensure new products meet both customer and internal targets
• Work alongside strategic supplier's resources to support NPD projects and act as specialist knowledge resource to support the team
• Lead and manage product trials
• Follow the Product Development procedure and remain compliant with both BRC and Customer specific policies at all times - work closely with Technical colleagues around allergens/HACCP
• Provide troubleshooting support to the Operations including assistance with harvest transition, cost engineering projects

What you will bring

• Food science Degree or equivalent in technical discipline
• Development Technologist experience > 5 years
• Good level of technical expertise in food processes - essential bread industry experience, good understanding of manufacturing processes & confidence when working on plant and equipment
• Good level of knowledge of the product development cycle, including all aspects of QMS internal procedure and experience of Top 4 retailer NPD systems/processes
• Awareness of Food Labelling, Product Specifications, Nutritional information, Raw material specifications and packaging
• Project Management skills across multi-disciplinary teams including Risk analysis/mitigation, ability to coordinate to achieve critical path deadlines competently
• Awareness of external developments in Food Science, Technology, Sensory Science, Legislation related to food/materials
• Collaborative work style, team player and good attention to detail. Completer finisher ensuring all elements of a project are completed
• Good communication and interpersonal skills. Flexible and agile in approach
• A willingness to lead with the ability to influence peers and at level above