Product Development Technologist at Danone

Danone; Auckland; On-site; NZD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Life insurance

Parental leave (26 weeks, gender‑null)

Employee share plan

Performance bonuses

Discounts on products

Job summary

Danone in Auckland seeks a Product Development Technologist to drive end-to-end development of dairy and infant nutrition products, optimise manufacturing processes, and integrate new formulations. You will own key outcomes and lead cross-functional initiatives to deliver high-quality results.

Reporting to the Product Development Manager, you will champion technical portfolios, ensure plant integration, and support cost-effective recipe design while collaborating with multiple teams in a

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualification in Chemical Engineering, Food Science, Dairy Science, Life Science or Human Nutrition.
• Proven dairy or infant formula industry experience.
• Familiarity with FSANZ/GB/FSMP regulations.
• Strong Excel and MS Office skills with data management ability.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and stakeholder engagement.
• Flexible, well-organised with ability to adapt to shifting priorities.

Responsibilities

• Champion product and process optimisation with cost-effective recipe design.
• Provide operational support at Auckland and Balclutha sites with portfolio maintenance.
• Lead formulation advancements, ingredient sourcing, trials and documentation.
• Identify productivity improvements delivering measurable business value.
• Monitor and analyse product and plant process performance for excellence.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive project execution.

Skills

Excel proficiency

MS Office

Communication skills

Organisational & planning

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelors in Chemical Engineering / Food Science / Dairy Science / Life Science / Human Nutrition

Tools

Microsoft Excel

MS Office Suite

Job description

About the Job

Are you seeking an exciting new opportunity in product development? Do you have a passion for technical innovation within the early life nutrition sector? We are delighted to offer a compelling position for a Product Development Technologist to join our skilled and dynamic Research \& Innovation (R\&I) team in Auckland. In this pivotal role, you will drive the end-to-end delivery of product development projects by leveraging your expertise in manufacturing process optimisation, nutritional powder formulation, and their integration. As a key contributor, you will play a central part in shaping innovative solutions and advancing our commitment to excellence in early life nutrition.

As a valued member of our team and reporting directly to the Product Development Manager, you will take ownership of delivering key product development outcomes, as well as leading impactful cross-functional initiatives. Your focus will be on ensuring projects are executed efficiently and to the highest quality standards, consistently exceeding business expectations.

Responsibilities

• Champion the optimization of products and processes, focusing on cost-effective recipe design, strategic material selection, scalable product improvements, and the application of zero-based methodologies and tools.
• Deliver expert operational support at both the Auckland and Balclutha sites by ensuring the seamless maintenance and troubleshooting of established product portfolios.
• Drive product development initiatives, including formulation advancements, sourcing innovative ingredients, conducting trials and testing, and maintaining up-to-date technical documentation.
• Identify and implement productivity enhancements that deliver measurable value to the business.
• Oversee continuous monitoring, data collection, and analysis of product and plant process performance to ensure operational excellence.
• Collaborate proactively with cross-functional teams to ensure the successful execution of projects and achievement of strategic objectives.

About You

Bring your expertise as a product development technologist to the forefront, collaborate seamlessly across teams, contribute strong technical insights, and thrive in an inclusive, agile environment. Your hands‑on experience in the fast‑paced dairy or infant formula sector, especially managing technical portfolios, will be highly valued. Known for your positive energy, people skills, and ability to build rapport, you naturally foster great working relationships. As the key link between Research \& Innovation and Operations, you’ll champion the smooth commercialisation of innovative powder formulations, ensuring clear processes and successful plant integration. Take this opportunity to drive plant performance, exceed KPIs, and shape leading-edge solutions in early life nutrition alongside a talented team.

To be Successful

• A tertiary qualification in Chemical Engineering/Food Science/ Dairy Science /Life Science/Human Nutrition, or a closely related discipline
• Proven experience in a comparable role within the dairy or infant formula industry
• Familiarity with FSANZ/GB/FSMP regulations
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and the MS Office suite is highly regarded
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, enabling effective collaboration and stakeholder engagement
• Strong organizational and planning abilities, coupled with a flexible approach to managing shifting priorities in a dynamic environment

About Us

At Danone, we aim to inspire healthier and more sustainable eating and drinking practices, in line with our Vision - Danone, One Planet. One Health. We operate across four business lines: Essential Dairy and Plant-Based Products, Waters, and Specialised Nutrition. Our headquarters are in France, we have offices in 55 countries across the globe, and our products are sold in over 120 markets. We have been around for more than a century and we have the proud owners of some of the best-known brands worldwide, including favourites like YoPro, Activia, Aptamil, and Karicare. Danone ANZ focuses on dairy and specialized nutrition products for infants and adults and is proud to be awarded the Great Place to Work accreditation winner for ANZ for the last 5 years in a row – a globally recognised program where we feature as one of Australia’s top places to work.

Visit our website,WE ARE DANONE, to know more about us.

WHAT’S NEXT? If this opportunity resonates with you and you’re eager to shape and define this role, then go ahead and seize the moment.

WE OFFER A high-performing, collaborative team culture Diverse and inclusive work environment Personalised learning opportunities to set you up for success Competitive Total Reward package including Medical insurance paid for by the company for you and discounts for your whānau Free life insurance Flu vaccination, free annual medical checks, and free onsite car parking 26 weeks of gender-neutral paid parental leave Employee Share Subscription Plan after 12 months of service Performance-related incentives and annual reviews Discount on our products Gym and cafe discounts. Annual Bonus Scheme, Fresh fruit every day. 4% Kiwisaver contribution and so much more!

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)

We proudly affirm that we are an Equal Employment Opportunity employer, and our ambition is to foster an INCLUSIVE & DIVERSE workplace where all Danoners can bring their uniqueness to contribute to business results. Our commitment to DEI ensures that all qualified individuals receive fair consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or disability at our company.