Senior Product Development Technologist, Senior Product Development Technologist

Pilgrim's Europe; Craigavon; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Pilgrim's Europe in Craigavon is seeking a Senior Product Development Technologist to own end-to-end NPD and EPD projects, collaborating with customer teams, development chefs, site teams and cross-functional partners. You will drive the concept-to-launch process, ensuring products are commercially viable and technically feasible.

Join the Product & Innovation team to manage recipes, costing data, and contribute to market-driven food trends and innovation strategy for Pilgrim's Europe.

Qualifications

• Experience in a product development role within the food manufacturing industry.
• Proven experience launching food products from concept to market.
• Product costing experience and budgeting knowledge.
• Sourcing ingredients and packaging understanding.
• Strong project management across multiple projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end NPD and EPD projects.
• Collaborate with Development Chefs, Technologists, and Customer Teams.
• Ensure developments meet customer requirements, legal standards, allergens, sustainability and welfare.
• Identify opportunities for product improvements and value.
• Maintain recipe and costing data for internal systems.
• Support customer relationships with timely project delivery.

Skills

Project management

Stakeholder management

Analytical thinking

Excel proficiency

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Education

Relevant food industry qualification

Degree in Food Science or related discipline

Tools

Excel

Word

PowerPoint

Job description

Senior Product Development Technologist

Location: Craigavon

Department: Product & Innovation

Reports to: Product Development Manager

At Pilgrim's Europe, we're passionate about creating innovative food products that excite consumers and drive business growth. We're looking for a talented and driven Senior Product Development Technologist to join our Product & Innovation team and play a key role in bringing new products from concept through to successful market launch. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced food product developer who thrives in a fast-paced environment, enjoys managing complex projects, and has a passion for food trends, innovation, and delivering exceptional products for customers.

The Role

As a Senior Development Technologist, you will take ownership of end-to-end New Product Development (NPD) and Existing Product Development (EPD) projects, working closely with customer teams, development chefs, site teams, and cross-functional stakeholders. You will drive projects through our concept-to-launch process, ensuring products are commercially viable, technically feasible, and aligned to customer strategies and business growth objectives. Acting as a key link between innovation, development, NPI, and launch teams, you'll help shape the future food agenda across Pilgrim's Europe.

Key Responsibilities

Product Development & Innovation

• Deliver customer-focused and commercially successful NPD and EPD projects.
• Work alongside Development Chefs, Technologists, and Customer Teams to develop innovative food solutions.
• Ensure all developments meet customer requirements, legal standards, allergen controls, sustainability goals, and welfare standards.
• Identify opportunities for product improvement that enhance customer satisfaction and business value.
• Support innovation sessions and customer presentations, bringing market trends and consumer insights to life.
• Become a subject matter expert within your product category.

Project Management

• Lead projects through the Concept-to-Launch Gate Process, ensuring milestones are met and fully documented.
• Manage project critical paths and coordinate cross-functional teams to deliver successful product launches.
• Assess product feasibility and ensure all developments are technically and commercially viable.
• Build and maintain accurate recipe and costing data within internal systems.
• Support customer relationships by delivering projects on time and managing expectations effectively.

Technical Excellence

• Ensure products presented to customers are of the highest quality and representative of manufacturing capabilities.
• Challenge and resolve quality or consistency issues quickly and effectively.
• Review and approve artwork to ensure compliance with legal and customer requirements.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives and implementation of best-practice development processes.
• Maintain all required documentation to support internal and external audits.

People & Team Development

• Support and coach colleagues to maximise performance and development.
• Conduct regular one-to-one reviews with direct reports where applicable.
• Identify training and development needs within the team.
• Contribute to engagement initiatives and foster a positive team culture.

Market & Consumer Insight

• Stay ahead of emerging food, consumer, and restaurant trends.
• Monitor competitor activity and identify new business opportunities.
• Support customer roadmaps and innovation strategies aligned to market trends and site capabilities.
• Bring passion, creativity, and food expertise into every project.

About You

We're looking for someone who combines technical expertise with commercial awareness and excellent stakeholder management skills.

Essential Requirements

• Previous experience in a Product Development role within the food manufacturing industry.
• Proven experience launching food products from concept to market.
• Product costing experience.
• Understanding of budgets and commercial drivers.
• Supply chain knowledge, including sourcing ingredients and packaging.
• Strong project management skills with experience managing multiple projects simultaneously.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills.
• Strong analytical ability and attention to detail.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Relevant food industry qualification and/or equivalent experience.

Desirable

• Degree in Food Science, Marketing, Business, or a related discipline.
• Experience within relevant product categories.
• Experience working with geographically dispersed teams.

Why Join Pilgrim's Europe?

At Pilgrim's Europe, Our Values Drive Everything We Do

• Availability - We embrace challenges and opportunities.
• Humility - We listen, learn, and respect each other.
• Discipline - We deliver on our commitments.
• Sincerity - We act with honesty and integrity.
• Simplicity, Ownership & Determination - We focus on what matters and drive results.

If you're passionate about food innovation, thrive on bringing ideas to life, and want to make a real impact within a leading food business, we'd love to hear from you.