NPD Technologist in Downpatrick

Job Title: NPD Technologist

Reporting To: Head of Innovation, this role will be a key part of the NPD Department within a leading NI food (sauce) manufacturer.

Overview:

• The candidate would be coming into the business at an exciting time as we are trying to drive through a new focus on new product development to find next opportunity to sustainable growth.
• Key responsibilities will revolve around the successful development of cost-effective new products in line with customer requirements, process capabilities and legal standards and the efficient transfer of those products from concept through to launch.
• This role will require flexibility in approach and will incorporate kitchen sample preparation, recipe concept development, factory trial organisation and management, and will require a close working relationship with many internal departments.

Key Responsibilities:

• Carrying out product development and recipe development in line with internal / customer briefs for a range of NPD projects. Basic recipe preparation and costing.
• Carrying out any additional project work as required, including but not limited to sample preparation, ingredient replacement work, cost reduction work, efficiency improvements, packaging review.
• Logging all development on the NPD Database to maintain traceability.
• Arrange product tasting sessions of NPD samples ahead of dispatch to customer.
• Carry out benchmarking sessions.
• Sourcing new ingredients and / or suppliers. A proactive approach to suppliers and ingredients to drive improvements.
• Managing all aspects of process trials and planning for success first time.
• Preparation of NPD & Final specification documents for development samples, and by sourcing material ingredient specifications for any new raw materials.
• Communicating to customers, both written and verbal.
• Maintaining Company brand confidence and product integrity by producing and preparing high quality product samples, maintaining IT and paper records where applicable, and maintaining a library of reference samples.
• Working with Health and Safety Standards within workplace.
• Working to all Company procedures and practices.
• Complying with company hygiene policy at all times.

Knowledge & Specific Job Skills:

• Degree/HND qualified in a food related discipline desirable or previous experience of NPD.
• Understanding of the fundamentals of food processing.
• Experience of microbiology/legal codes of practice, and Sound knowledge of HACCP.
• Must have strong interpersonal skills, able to drive changes, and identify possible improvement workstreams.
• Innovative, with a logical and systematic approach to problem solving (must be able to think laterally).
• Effective project management skills.

Hours of Work:

• Monday to Friday. 9.00am - 5.00pm. Due to the nature of the work, some flexibility would be required.

Salary:

• To be discussed

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