Job Description
This is a fantastic opportunity to gain 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 based in Leeds, 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 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 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.
- Supporting Senior NPD Technologists in account specific tasks.
- 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’re Looking For:
- A passion for food and innovation.
- A team player with strong communication and organisational skills.
- 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.
We are committed to equality of opportunity for all staff and applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships.
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