At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the development of innovative food products from concept to launch.
- Company: Join a progressive food manufacturing business with a focus on innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, travel opportunities, and a chance to shape the future of food.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of food trends and create products that excite consumers.
- Qualifications: Degree in food science or relevant experience in NPD within food retail.
- Other info: Dynamic role with European travel and excellent career growth potential.
GBR Recruitment Ltd are working exclusively in partnership with a highly progressive food manufacturing / import business, recruiting for an experienced NPD Technologist who has worked on NPD / EPD within the food retail space, working with the Big 4 retailers, bringing out new innovative food product lines.
In this key new product development & existing product development role, you will work closely with the internal teams, as well as suppliers & retail customers, to deliver innovative food products that meet demand / current trends. It would be beneficial if you were experienced within frozen food product lines, but other food lines would suffice such as fresh produce, chilled, ambient, RTC, RTE, value added etc.
As the NPD Technologist you must be strong in critical path (CCP's) & stage gate processes / project management, ensuring all products are developed in line with the current food safety regulations & in line with the food companies internal NPD procedures, delivering product offerings that are commercially viable, on-brand & delivered on time in full, to the quality of standard desired by the end using customer.
European travel is involved in this role (on average x1 time per month, approx. 2-5 days at a time), as it works closely with both the UK & European operations / commercial teams analysing the market, managing the product development process (from product concept through to launch), as well as ensuring customer interactions are managed effectively & ensuring that there is a successful product launch.
Duties:- End-to-end development of products in response to customer or internal branded NPD & EPD briefs, driven by market trends.
- Manage control critical path (CCP) timelines to deliver projects OTIF.
- Prepare product samples & customer submission forms to a high standard for customer sampling & customer visits.
- Coordinate & assess pre-production trials, reporting on them.
- Put together improvement plans & actions required prior to new product launches (if any amendments are needed).
- Assist the Specification Technologist in managing product testing (organoleptic evaluation & nutritional analysis).
- Develop, validate & launching new food products & processes ensuring they comply with food safety regulations, legislation, quality standards & internal NPD processes.
- Carry out retail benchmarking exercises & market reviews, monitoring & highlighting any trends, maintaining detailed category knowledge, plus monitoring performance & producing management reports.
- Coordinate with suppliers on NPD opportunities, presenting the opportunities to the Technical Director.
- Assist the Specification Technologist in the completion of all online specifications for retail customers (inc. the sign off for all artwork & labelling).
- Professionally represent the NPD team in front of key customers & suppliers, ensuring strong long term business partnerships are achieved / maintained.
- Ideally Degree qualified in a food related subject matter (food science or other) or time served in a comparable role.
- Creative & innovative mindset with the vision to bring to the open market new innovative products & solutions, that are enticing to the public.
- Strong technical knowledge inc. food science, ingredients & consumer / market trends.
- Excellent professional communication skills, able to communicate at Director / Senior Exec levels.
- Strong with CCP's & stage gate processes.
- Online retail specification portals experience.
NPD Technologist in Grantham employer: GBR Recruitment Limited
Contact Detail:
GBR Recruitment Limited Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice π€«
We think this is how you could land NPD Technologist in Grantham
β¨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to industry contacts on LinkedIn or attend food tech events. We all know that sometimes itβs not just what you know, but who you know that can get you in the door.
β¨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and their latest product launches. We want you to show off your knowledge about their brand and how you can contribute to their NPD goals!
β¨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to discuss your experience with CCPs and stage gate processes. We need to hear how youβve successfully managed projects and delivered innovative products on time.
β¨Tip Number 4
Donβt forget to apply through our website! Itβs the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Weβre excited to see how you can bring your creative ideas to our team!
We think you need these skills to ace NPD Technologist in Grantham
Some tips for your application π«‘
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the NPD Technologist role. Highlight your experience with new product development and any relevant projects you've worked on, especially those involving the Big 4 retailers. We want to see how your skills align with what we're looking for!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're passionate about food innovation and how your background makes you the perfect fit for this role. Don't forget to mention any experience with frozen food or other relevant product lines.
Showcase Your Project Management Skills: Since this role involves managing critical paths and project timelines, be sure to highlight your project management experience. Share specific examples of how you've successfully delivered projects on time and met quality standards in previous roles.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you donβt miss out on any important updates. Plus, we love seeing applications come directly from our site!
How to prepare for a job interview at GBR Recruitment Limited
β¨Know Your NPD Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of new product development (NPD) and existing product development (EPD) processes. Be ready to discuss specific examples from your past experience, especially those that relate to the food retail space and working with major retailers.
β¨Showcase Your Creativity
As an NPD Technologist, creativity is key! Prepare to share innovative ideas you've brought to life in previous roles. Think about how you can align these ideas with current market trends and consumer demands to impress your interviewers.
β¨Master the Critical Path
Familiarise yourself with critical path management and stage gate processes. Be prepared to explain how you've successfully managed timelines in past projects, ensuring products were delivered on time and met quality standards.
β¨Communicate Like a Pro
Strong communication skills are essential for this role. Practice articulating your thoughts clearly and confidently, especially when discussing technical aspects of food science and how they relate to customer needs. Remember, youβll be representing the NPD team, so make a great impression!