Graduate Food Technologist (Quality, NPD & Technical)
Location: Cheshire, Northwest (commutable from Chester, Deeside, Wirral, Runcorn, Wrexham)
Salary: Up to £30,000 + Bonus + Excellent Development
Are you a recent Food Science, Food Technology or Nutrition graduate ready to launch your career in the food industry?
We’re recruiting a Graduate Food Technologist on behalf of a growing food ingredients business supplying customers in over 40 countries worldwide.
Despite its international reach, this isn't a corporate giant. It's a small, agile business where you'll quickly get to know everyone – and they'll get to know you. You won't just be a face in the crowd.
That agility extends to the role itself. If you're looking for a highly structured graduate programme with rigid boundaries, this probably isn't for you. But if you want real exposure, faster development, greater responsibility and a broader remit than most graduate roles can offer, read on.
The Role - Graduate Food Technologist
You’ll begin in the Quality team:
- Work with product specifications, customer questionnaires and technical documentation
- Support compliance activities and audit preparation
- Develop strong attention to detail in a regulated food environment
- Progress to leading smaller audits (e.g. Kosher, Halal) within your first year!
You’ll also spend time in New Product Development (NPD):
- Support sample preparation and lab trials
- Assist in developing commercially viable food products
- Translate customer requirements into technical solutions
- Travel to visit customers at their manufacturing sites (including internationally)!
Along the way, you’ll build Regulatory knowledge:
- Build knowledge of food labelling regulations and HACCP
- Become part of the internal HACCP team
- Gain exposure to food safety and compliance processes
In short, this is an opportunity to gain hands-on experience across three critical functions – Quality, NPD and Technical. Once you've developed a clearer sense of where you'd like your career to go, the business will support you in taking that next step.
About You
- Degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Nutrition or related scientific discipline
- Passion for the food industry – graduates who haven’t done a food-focused degree will have to prove this passion!
- Strong communication and organisational skills
- High attention to detail
- Proactive, motivated and keen to learn
What’s on Offer
- Starting salary up to £30,000
- Bonus eligibility (after year one)
- Extensive training and development
- Clear progression opportunities
- 24 days holiday (increasing with service)
- Broad exposure across QA, NPD and Technical functions
Location & Eligibility
- Based in the Northwest
- Must be within commuting distance or willing to relocate
- Due to the location, a driving license and your own vehicle will be essential
- Available to start July / August 2026
- Must have the right to work in the UK (no sponsorship available, either now or in the future)
Why Apply?
This isn’t a rigid graduate scheme - it’s an opportunity to gain real industry experience, faster responsibility and broader exposure than most graduate roles in food manufacturing.
If you're looking to build a career in Quality, Technical or NPD but you’re not quite sure which direction you’d like to take your career, this role offers the perfect foundation.
Apply now to kick-start your career in the food industry.
Other suitable skills and experience include: Graduate Food Technologist, Graduate Food Scientist, Food Technology Graduate, Food Science Graduate, Graduate NPD Technologist, Graduate QA Technologist.
