New Product Development Specialist

Sonya Cooke Careers; Munster; On-site; EUR 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Sonya Cooke Careers is seeking an experienced Senior NPD Technologist to join a well-established food manufacturer in Tipperary. This hands-on, commercially focused role offers real ownership across concept development through to production, with opportunities to shape new and improved products.

You will work with Operations, Quality and Commercial teams, lead pre-production trials, ingredient and packaging development, and contribute to costing, validation, specs, and customer collaborations to

Qualifications

• Experience in food manufacturing.
• Degree or qualification in Food Technology, Food Science, or related field.
• Proven ability to manage development from concept to production.
• Experience with cross-functional teams and customer collaboration.

Responsibilities

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

Skills

Strong communication

Presentation skills

Commercial awareness

Creativity

Passion for food

Education

Food Technology / Food Science / Nutritional Science / Food Innovation / Culinary Arts qualification

Job description

Senior NPD Technologist / Senior NPD Specialist

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.