Senior Product Developer

Manpower UK Limited; Stagsden; Hybrid; GBP 39,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global FMCG company is seeking a Senior Product Developer. The role involves managing innovative ice cream product projects, collaborating across functions, and requires a degree in food technology or a related field. Offering competitive compensation in a flexible work environment, this position drives agile innovation in a renowned product development team.

Qualifications

• Degree level qualification or relevant experience in a technical discipline preferably in food technology.
• Experience of leading projects from brief to delivering in-market.
• Health & Safety knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Plan and execute a variety of project types.
• Work closely with marketing teams to define project scope.
• Lead technical delivery of projects including product concept development.

Skills

Experience of working cross-functionally

Excellent communication skills

Project management skills

Attention to detail

Passion for creative food product design

Education

Degree in food technology or related field

Job description

We are currently seeking a Senior Product Developer to work with our global FMCG client, Unilever, renowned for brands such as Ben & Jerry's, Knorr, Walls & Marmite, and become an integral part of their fast-paced FMCG environment.

The position are based at our client's Research & Development facility, at Colworth Science Park, in Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire (MK44), accessible by car. It also houses our client's global centre of excellence in safety and sustainability sciences.

This is a full-time temporary role,Maternity Cover until 31/03/2026 requiring 37.50 hours per week, Monday to Friday. Compensation for this role is competitive, paying up to £46,000 per annum, pro rata, depending upon experience.

The role currently offers a mix of remote and onsite working, subject to adjustment based on business requirements.

JOB PURPOSE
Unilever Ice cream business in Europe is large and highly successful. The EU Ice Cream Research Development and Innovation (RD&I) team is the driving force behind the creation and delivery of benefit-led, innovative ice cream products across our world-renowned global (e.g. Magnum, Carte d'Or, Cornetto, Walls), premium (e.g. B&J, GROM) and regional (e.g. Cremissimo, Ingman, Evga, Cucciolone) brands. The team embrace agile innovation and are fully connected to countries and markets to land global, regional, and local projects in the markets.
The business reaches across all Ice Cream experiences from familiar in-home tubs, pints and mono portions and out of home scooping to global and local classics and kid's favourites.
In this role you will be the R&D first point of contact in an area of the portfolio. You will lead projects in close partnership across functions (Marketing; Supply Chain; Procurement) as well as key (external) partners and suppliers (e.g. 3PM, Flavour and Ingredients suppliers). You will manage a portfolio of projects across innovation, quality, complexity and cost reduction. And will use your understanding of consumer and customer needs to shape and deliver brilliant, sustainable, product experiences.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Plan, organise and execute a variety of project types as assigned under guidance from line manager, working closely with R&D experts from a variety of fields.
• Work closely with marketing teams in global, European and local country teams to define projects scope at start of projects.
• Use your creative talents to develop great products.
• Lead technical delivery of projects. This includes diverse topics such as product concept development; formulation design; lab and pilot plant prototypes; cost calculation; specifications; quality assessments; legislation compliance checks and claims assessments.
• Manage supplier relationships working closely with other functions such as Procurement.
• Lead and manage pilot plant and factory trials for prototype/product development.
• Write and manage specifications and systems data for the products you work on.
• Provide key updates for our Innovation Process Management and other relevant systems
• Develop selling stories and supporting Customer Development teams with sell-in meetings.
• Provide support and training for more junior members of the team.

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

• European & local country Marketing Team
• Global & European Supply Chain (factories, planning, quality, etc.) and Procurement Teams
• Supplier/partner organisations
• Technical R&D specialists (CTI, Processing, Packaging, Formulation, Nutritionist, Digital & Data)
• Other functional representatives including Finance, Legal, CMI and Quality

ALL ABOUT YOU

• Degree level qualification (or equivalent) and / or relevant experience in a technical discipline preferably in food technology or development.
• Experience of working cross-functionally and with third parties
• Experience of leading projects from brief to delivering in-market
• Passion for creative food product design and development
• Excellent communication and project management skills
• Attention to detail especially with experimentation, data recording and analysis
• Time management and priority setting
• Health & Safety
• European language skills are highly desirable

LEADERSHIP BEHAVIOURS

• Purposeful impact
• Personal mastery
• Consumer love
• Agility
• Passion for high performance

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

• Occasional short business-trips within Europe may be required.

Colworth Science Park working environment:

• 9 miles from Bedford
• 18 miles from M1
• Modern working environment in a beautiful, listed building
• Large green outdoor spaces
• Shuttle bus is provided from Bedfordshire area to Site.