The Foodie Recruiter Ltd

SENIOR NPD TECHNOLOGIST - FOOD As this leading branded and own label food manufacturer continues its successful journey of growth driven by innovation, it has an opening for a Senior NPD Technologist to join their successful and growing team, offering the opportunity to gain further hands-on experience in the full product development lifecycle from concept to launch. MAIN PURPOSE OF THE JOB To provide a site-based product development resource, supporting the development department with NPD, EPD, Value engineering projects as well as other business or customer related projects. Involved in all aspects of bringing a new product to market - from the initial concept right through to product launch. Exposure to different product categories such as home baking kits, noodle, rice, and pasta snack pots. Opportunity for further development and training. Work as part of a cross functional team and will liaise with Technical, Procurement, Marketing, Account and Commercial managers & Production departments. Hands on experience across various retail own label customers and includes branded product development as well as exposure to the American/Australian markets. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Taking an active development role for account briefs with senior technologist support. Including ideation, recipe development, benchmarking, coordinating taste panels and product submissions along with supporting paperwork. Assisting across full development process from concept through to launch recipe make up, tasting and testing to customer requirements. Recipe development and reformulation to achieve a product that meets customer expectations and that is financially and technically feasible, supported by Senior NPD Technologists. Understand and review retailer and brand COP Completing account specific documentation and project work (Sample Submission Forms, NPDTT s, QAS s) Communication with internal departments and external customer/supplier contacts where required. Operating internal systems and processes for costings and nutrition with accuracy. Researching and observing trends and ideas to bring into concept development. Undertaking relevant project tasks when required. HFSS scoring/input and calculation. Conducting shelf-life panels and updating relevant paperwork. Carry out end of life micro testing to ensure the product is safe at end of life and understand shelf-life parameters. Nutritional testing of new products to ensure that the nutritional composition of a new product meets the requirements of the retailers nutritional policies and/or fulfils nutritional claims. Cooking instruction development for all new products to ensure that a food to safe to consume and of a high quality for consumers when cooked. Collect raw materials from the factory when needed and ensure sample deliveries are located. Visiting retailers and shopping to support sample preparations or customer meeting refreshments as required by the business. Managing sample requests for various retailers and brands. Preparing and dispatching accordingly and to customer timescales. Respond to retailer requests for samples for testing, Brandbank, photography, exhibitions, awards etc. Assisting and supporting in the smooth running of internal meetings and Brand & OL presentations where products are being shown. Requirement to assist Senior development technologist at external customer meetings where required. Organise and attend factory trials and ensure output of the trial is documented and communicated to the business. Ensure brand integrity is maintained at all times according to business policies and procedures. WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR Experience (minimum 2 years) working in a busy NPD/Development/Innovation department in the food industry. A passion for food and innovation. A team player with strong communication and organisational skills The ability to manage several projects at once and working with various teams. Eagerness to learn and develop in a fast-paced environment. Some experience or education in food science, nutrition, or a related field is a plus but not essential. Experience in thermal processing would be hugely advantageous. Please note, all applicants must be eligible to live and work in the UK. Unfortunately, we are unable to progress any applications requiring Visa Sponsorship.