NPD Technoloigest

Protea Recruitment; Bantry; On-site; EUR 35,000 - 47,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Job summary

Protea Recruitment is seeking an experienced New Product Development (NPD) Technologist to join our innovation team in Ireland. You will lead and support projects from concept to launch, ensuring technical soundness, commercial viability, and regulatory compliance.

You will work with Technical, Production, Sales and Marketing to deliver high‑quality products, optimise recipes, manage costs, and drive continuous improvement across the portfolio.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Food Technology, Food Science, or a related field.
• Proven experience in NPD, R&D, or a related technical role in food manufacturing.
• Strong understanding of food quality systems (BRC, HACCP, allergen control).
• Excellent project management and planning skills.
• Strong research and analytical abilities with technical reporting.

Responsibilities

• Lead End-to-End NPD process from concept to launch.
• Conduct market research, competitor analysis and trend monitoring.
• Develop and optimise product recipes meeting sensory, nutritional, cost and shelf-life targets.
• Ensure regulatory compliance and prepare technical documentation.
• Coordinate NPD projects with cross-functional teams and suppliers.
• Manage product costings and ensure targets are met.
• Drive continuous improvement in products, processes and costs.
• Present progress to stakeholders and organise taste panels.

Skills

NPD experience

Project management

Food safety systems

Cross-functional collaboration

Analytical skills

Education

Bachelor’s/Master’s in Food Technology or Food Science

Tools

Excel

Word

PowerPoint

Job description

We are a dynamic and growing food business focused on creating high-quality, innovative products for retail and commercial markets. Our team is passionate about delivering products that combine great taste, technical excellence, and consumer appeal. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to our product development pipeline and make a real impact on our future product portfolio.

Requirements

The Role:

We are seeking an experienced and motivated New Product Development (NPD) Technologist to join our innovation team. This hands-on role involves leading and supporting new product development projects from concept to launch, ensuring products are technically sound, commercially viable, and fully compliant with regulations. You will work closely with cross-functional teams, including Technical, Production, Sales, and Marketing, to deliver high-quality, value-added products.

Key Responsibilities:

Lead the End-to-End NPD Process: Manage product development projects from initial concept and recipe development to trials and successful product launch.

Market & Consumer Insight: Conduct market research, competitor analysis, and trend monitoring to identify innovation opportunities.

Recipe & Product Development: Develop and optimise product recipes, ensuring sensory, nutritional, cost, and shelf-life requirements are met.

Technical & Regulatory Compliance: Ensure all products comply with food safety legislation, quality standards (e.g., HACCP, BRC), and internal specifications. Prepare and approve technical documentation.

Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with internal teams to coordinate NPD projects, align objectives, and ensure smooth delivery.

Supplier Management: Source ingredients and packaging, maintaining quality and cost-effectiveness.

Cost Management: Prepare product costings and ensure commercial targets are met.

Project Management: Manage multiple NPD projects concurrently, delivering on time, within budget, and to high-quality standards.

Continuous Improvement: Identify opportunities to improve products, processes, and costs.

Stakeholder Engagement: Present NPD progress to internal stakeholders; organise taste panels and feedback sessions.

Requirements – Skills & Experience:

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Food Technology, Food Science, or a related field.

Proven experience in NPD, R’D, or a related technical role within food manufacturing.

Strong understanding of food quality systems (e.g., BRC, HACCP, allergen control) and technical specifications (e.g., TTL, Igloo).

Excellent project management and planning skills with the ability to handle multiple priorities.

Strong research and analytical skills, including literature review, hypothesis development, investigation execution, and technical reporting.

Outstanding attention to detail and a proactive, hands-on approach.

Knowledge of current food innovations and industry trends.

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; ability to work effectively in cross-functional teams.

Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).

Knowledge of R’D tax credits or funding applications is desirable.

Flexibility to travel and work extended hours if required.

Benefits – What We Offer:

Competitive salary of £30,000 - £40,000 per annum.

Opportunity to work in a fast-growing and innovative food business.

Collaborative and supportive work environment where ideas are valued.

Opportunities for professional growth and development.