New Product Development Specialist

Sonya Cooke Careers; Munster; On-site; EUR 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

A well-established food manufacturer in Tipperary is seeking a Senior NPD professional to lead development and launches from concept through to production.

This hands-on, commercially focused role involves collaboration with Operations, Quality and Commercial teams to ensure quality, technical and commercial targets are met.

Qualifications

• Experience in hands-on product development and launch in a food manufacturing setting.
• Qualification in Food Technology, Food Science, Nutritional Science, or related discipline.
• Strong communication and presentation skills; commercial awareness.

Responsibilities

• Lead product development and renovation from concept to production.
• Conduct pre-production trials and first production runs.
• Develop ingredients and packaging; support costing and validation.
• Prepare product specifications and support customer collaboration.
• Conduct taste panels, benchmarking, and market/trend analysis.
• Support successful launch of new product ranges.

Skills

Food manufacturing

Product development

Innovation

Communication

Education

Food Technology or related discipline

Job description

Senior NPD Technologist / Senior NPD Specialist

Location: Co. Tipperary

Food Manufacturing | Product Development | Innovation

I’m currently recruiting for a well-established food manufacturing business looking to appoint an experienced Senior NPD professional to join its team in Tipperary.

This is a hands‑on, commercially focused product development role with real ownership across the development and launch of new and improved products — from initial concept right through to production.

The successful person will work closely with customers and cross‑functional teams across Operations, Quality and Commercial, helping to bring innovative food concepts to market while ensuring quality, technical and commercial requirements are achieved.

Key areas of responsibility will include product development and renovation, pre‑production trials and first production runs, ingredient and packaging development, costing and validation, product specifications, customer collaboration, taste panels and benchmarking, market and consumer trend analysis, and supporting the successful launch of new product ranges.

We’re particularly interested in hearing from candidates with experience in food manufacturing, ideally with a qualification in Food Technology, Food Science, Nutritional Science, Food Innovation, Culinary Arts or a related discipline.

You’ll ideally bring strong communication and presentation skills, commercial awareness, creativity, a genuine passion for food and the confidence to work closely with customers and internal stakeholders.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone who enjoys combining innovation, technical expertise, customer interaction and commercial thinking in a fast‑moving manufacturing environment.