New Product Development Technologist (FMCG)

Teamwork Partnership is currently recruiting on behalf of their clients for New Product Development Technologist ( food environment ) in Leicester on a permanent basis. This is a permanent role.

Main Purpose of the Job

• Responsible for the development and innovation of new products from concept through to launch for both retailers and brand.
• Site based product development for NPD, EPD, Value engineering project, process trials and customer related projects.
• Working closely with retailers and brands to identify new food trends and design innovative product to meet market trends and customer expectations.
• Work as part of a cross functional team and will liaise with Technical, Procurement, Account and Commercial managers & Production departments.
• Provide invaluable experience within the Development department, to provide support and assistance to the business and NPD manager.
• Prepare and make product samples for internal and external tasting, customer review, nutritional’s, photography, ect.
• 50/50 kitchen and factory role.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and introduce new and improved products for concept to launch, to meet with the customers brief and strategic objectives of the business.
• Interpret retailer briefs, ensuring inventive and feasible products are designed in line with customer expectations, operational constraints, and commercial needs of the business.
• Carry out market research, food trends and identify customer needs to take advantage of potential business opportunities.
• Recipe development and formulation to create products that meet customer expectations and that are commercially and technically feasible.
• Carrying out regular benchmarking sessions, to assess the market and highlight and potential opportunities.
• Manage sample requests, creation and ordering of raw materials, including but not limited to, customer samples, testing, Brandbank and photography.
• Organise and attend factory trials, ensuring the findings are documented and communicated to the wider business.
• Carry out nutritional, shelf-life and organoleptic testing for all new products.
• Conduct cooking and defrost validations for all new products, ensuring they are food safe and of a high quality for the consumer.
• Collect raw materials from the factory for the kitchen, ensuring it is replenished when needed, and location samples that are delivered.
• Review raw material and conduct cost saving exercises on existing SKU’s.
• Liaise with key stakeholders on customer visits for trials, pre-pros and first launches.
• Visiting retailers and shopping to support samples preparation or customer meetings with refreshments and lunch as required by the business.
• Complete relevant paperwork, including QAS’s, line sheets & system set up prior to product launch.
• Deputise for the NPD manager as required.

The Right Person

• Undertake other duties to support the business.
• Detail oriented person with a high level of organisation.
• Works well under pressure to strict timelines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Has a can-do attitude and is flexible to change.
• Always demonstrate good housekeeping practices and due diligence.
• Full driving licence.
• 2 years’ experience in similar role
• Experience within chilled food manufacture, preferably desserts.
• Good standard of IT skills, including power point and excel.
• Ideally educated to degree level in a related subject.
• Previous experience working with a results-oriented team.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: £28,000.00-£35,000.00 per year