Senior NPD Technologist
Senior NPD Technologist

Senior NPD Technologist

Chester Full-Time 32000 - 42000 £ / year (est.) No home office possible
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead the development of innovative food inclusions like chocolate and caramel products.
  • Company: Join Meadow, a global leader in bespoke food solutions and sustainable practices.
  • Benefits: Enjoy perks like free parking, life insurance, and enhanced maternity leave.
  • Why this job: Be part of a hands-on role that drives innovation and creativity in food development.
  • Qualifications: Degree in Food Science and 4+ years in food manufacturing or product development required.
  • Other info: Work in a collaborative environment with opportunities for mentoring and growth.

The predicted salary is between 32000 - 42000 £ per year.

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About Us:

Meadow collaborates with leading food manufacturers worldwide, addressing their intricate needs and solving complex challenges. From maintaining a secure and stable supply base to producing bespoke ingredients at scale, ensuring supply traceability, and pioneering sustainable futures, we are committed to excellence.

The Role:

The Senior NPD Technologist for Meadow Inclusions will be responsible for leading the development and successful implementation of innovative inclusion products, including chocolate pieces, fat-based coatings, and cooked inclusions such as fudge, caramel, and honeycomb. This role supports both proactive innovation and customer-driven development projects.

The role involves working cross-functionally to deliver kitchen samples, scale recipes for factory production, and manage the NPD aspects of the stage gate process. The Senior Technologist will also maintain strong relationships with key customers, suppliers, and internal teams including Production, Technical, and Commercial.

The post-holder will take full ownership of the inclusion development process, ensuring alignment with the NPD Manager, emerging market trends, and operational capabilities. Their expertise will be key in expanding the inclusions range, enhancing existing formulations, and driving innovation in flavour, texture, and visual appeal.

This is a hands-on, collaborative role that bridges concept development with production delivery to bring high-quality, distinctive inclusions to market.

Key Accountabilities:

Process Development & Scale-Up

  • Lead development and optimisation of manufacturing processes for chocolate-coated, fat-coated, and line-cooked inclusions.
  • Plan and support factory trials for all new and modified products, capturing detailed process data and driving continuous improvement.
  • Translate kitchen-scale samples into robust, scalable factory processes with clear technical documentation.

Stage Gate & Project Support

  • In partnership with the NPD Manager ensuring stage gate is followed from concept through to launch for all projects.
  • Collaborate with Commercial and Operational teams to ensure technical feasibility, risk management, and process validation.
  • Document process parameters, trial findings, and key learnings to support smooth handover into operations.
  • Develop high-quality kitchen samples of cooked inclusions and coated products in response to customer briefs and proactive innovation ideas.
  • Optimise texture, stability, shelf life, and sensory properties for coated and cooked inclusions.
  • Support in customer communication and management of samples.

Customer & Commercial Support

  • Act as the main point of contact for select customers- managing all aspects of their project, responding to queries, and supporting trials.
  • Provide technical input to commercial teams during pitches, feasibility assessments, and sample submission stages.
  • Support co-manufacturers and supplier partners as needed to ensure consistent process delivery and quality.
  • Interpret customer briefs and translate them into commercially viable prototypes.
  • Support proactive development of new aligned with trends and category insights.
  • Work closely with insights, commercial, and marketing teams to generate ideas and validate concepts through prototyping.
  • Maintain awareness of new technologies in fat systems, sugar cookery, and ingredient functionality relevant to inclusions.

Technical Support & Continuous Improvement

  • Identify and lead process improvements for yield, efficiency, product consistency, and quality enhancement.
  • Troubleshoot issues across cooking systems, enrobing lines, cooling tunnels, and coating equipment.
  • Contribute to internal knowledge sharing, mentoring junior technologists, and maintaining best practice documentation.

Role Requirements:

  • Degree in Food Science, Food Technology, or a relevant discipline.
  • 4+ years’ experience in food manufacturing or product development, ideally with hands-on knowledge of chocolate/fat coating, sugar cooking, and inclusions.
  • Experience with fudge, caramel, honeycomb, brittle, or similar sugar-based systems.
  • Working knowledge of enrobing, coating, cooling, and mixing equipment.
  • Strong process and project management capabilities.
  • Comfortable operating across kitchen, pilot, and production environments.
  • Excellent communication skills and commercial awareness.
  • Able to work independently, prioritise multiple projects, and collaborate across functions.

Job Type: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: £38,000.00-£45,000.00 per year

  • Canteen
  • Company pension
  • Enhanced maternity leave
  • Free parking
  • Life insurance
  • On-site parking
  • Sick pay

Schedule:

  • 8 hour shift
  • Monday to Friday
  • Do you have the right to work in the UK?
  • Do you live within a 1 hour commute of Dolgellau?

Experience:

  • food manufacturing or product development: 4 years (preferred)

Seniority level

  • Seniority level

    Mid-Senior level

Employment type

  • Employment type

    Full-time

Job function

  • Job function

    Engineering and Information Technology

  • Industries

    Food and Beverage Manufacturing

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Senior NPD Technologist employer: Meadow

At Meadow, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration. Our commitment to employee growth is evident through continuous training opportunities and a supportive environment where your ideas can flourish. Located in Dolgellau, you'll enjoy a balance of professional development and the beauty of the Welsh countryside, making it an ideal place for those seeking meaningful and rewarding employment in the food manufacturing sector.
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Contact Detail:

Meadow Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Senior NPD Technologist

✨Tip Number 1

Familiarise yourself with the latest trends in food technology and inclusions. Understanding current market demands and innovations will help you stand out during discussions with the hiring team.

✨Tip Number 2

Network with professionals in the food manufacturing industry, especially those involved in product development. Engaging with others can provide insights into the role and may even lead to referrals.

✨Tip Number 3

Prepare to discuss specific examples of your past projects related to chocolate or sugar-based inclusions. Highlighting your hands-on experience will demonstrate your capability to handle the responsibilities of the role.

✨Tip Number 4

Showcase your communication skills by being clear and concise when discussing your ideas and experiences. This is crucial as the role involves collaboration with various teams and customers.

We think you need these skills to ace Senior NPD Technologist

Food Science Knowledge
Product Development Expertise
Process Development and Optimisation
Experience with Chocolate and Fat Coating
Knowledge of Sugar Cooking Techniques
Project Management Skills
Technical Documentation Proficiency
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Customer Relationship Management
Problem-Solving Skills
Understanding of Sensory Properties
Ability to Translate Customer Briefs into Prototypes
Continuous Improvement Methodologies
Mentoring and Knowledge Sharing

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in food manufacturing and product development, particularly with chocolate and sugar-based systems. Use keywords from the job description to demonstrate your fit for the role.

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that showcases your passion for innovation in food technology. Mention specific projects or experiences that align with the responsibilities of the Senior NPD Technologist role, such as leading development processes or managing customer relationships.

Showcase Technical Skills: In your application, emphasise your technical skills related to process development, project management, and troubleshooting in food production environments. Provide examples of how you've improved processes or developed new products in previous roles.

Highlight Collaboration Experience: Since the role involves working cross-functionally, include examples of successful collaborations with commercial and operational teams. This will demonstrate your ability to work effectively in a team-oriented environment.

How to prepare for a job interview at Meadow

✨Know Your Products

Familiarise yourself with the types of inclusions Meadow develops, such as chocolate pieces and fat-based coatings. Be prepared to discuss your experience with similar products and how you can contribute to their innovation.

✨Demonstrate Process Knowledge

Highlight your understanding of manufacturing processes, especially in relation to chocolate and sugar cooking. Be ready to explain how you've optimised processes in previous roles and how you would approach challenges in this position.

✨Showcase Collaboration Skills

Since the role involves working cross-functionally, prepare examples of how you've successfully collaborated with different teams in the past. Emphasise your communication skills and ability to manage customer relationships effectively.

✨Stay Updated on Trends

Research current trends in food technology and inclusions. Be ready to discuss how these trends could influence product development at Meadow and share any innovative ideas you might have for new products.

Senior NPD Technologist
Meadow
Location: Chester
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