At a Glance
- Tasks: Create innovative chocolate products from concept to launch with a passionate team.
- Company: Join Ombar, an award-winning chocolate brand committed to sustainability.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hands-on experience, and potential for a permanent role.
- Other info: Gain diverse experience in product development and work closely with industry experts.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on delicious products enjoyed by thousands across the UK.
- Qualifications: Degree in Food Science or related field; passion for food and creativity required.
The predicted salary is between 26000 - 28000 £ per year.
Could you help create the next Ombar chocolate bar? We're looking for a bright, curious and enthusiastic graduate to join our team as a Graduate Chocolate Product Developer. At Ombar, you'll work directly with our Founder and senior team to develop new chocolate products that could be stocked by some of the UK's biggest retailers, including Tesco, Waitrose and Sainsbury's. From brainstorming new concepts to creating kitchen samples, costing recipes and supporting factory trials, you'll experience every stage of bringing an idea to life. If you're passionate about food, fascinated by chocolate and love discovering emerging consumer trends, we'd love to hear from you.
What you'll be doing:
- Developing exciting new chocolate products from initial concept through to launch.
- Working with the commercial team on Existing Product Development (EPD), continually reviewing our current range and identifying opportunities to improve quality, flavour, functionality and manufacturing performance.
- Producing kitchen samples for customer presentations and supermarket buyer meetings.
- Developing exciting limited-edition flavours and seasonal concepts to create buzz with consumers and on social media.
- Researching emerging food, flavour, nutrition and health trends to build our future innovation pipeline.
- Working alongside our marketing team to develop packaging concepts for new products.
- Learning how commercial product costing works alongside our Finance Manager.
- Collaborating with our cacao specialist, Paola, in Ecuador to explore the unique flavour profiles of cacao from different growing regions.
- Maintaining our dedicated NPD kitchen and ensuring it remains organised, clean and ready for product development.
What you'll learn:
One of the biggest advantages of joining a small, ambitious company is the breadth of experience you'll gain. You'll work closely with our Founder, learning the science of chocolate making from bean to bar. You'll gain hands-on experience developing recipes, understanding ingredient functionality and translating ideas into products that can be manufactured successfully. You'll also receive practical training on our production equipment, giving you an understanding of how products move from the development kitchen into commercial manufacture. Alongside this, you'll work with our Sales, Marketing and Commercial teams to understand retailer requirements, consumer trends and the commercial decisions behind successful product launches. By the end of the placement, you'll have gained practical experience across product development, manufacturing, packaging, ingredient sourcing, commercial costing and innovation - experience that would normally take several years to build within a larger organisation.
About you:
- Is studying towards, or has recently completed, a degree in Food Science, Food Technology or a related discipline.
- Is naturally curious and eager to learn.
- Has a genuine passion for food, chocolate and consumer trends.
- Is creative, organised and practical.
- Can manage their own workload while enjoying working as part of a close-knit team.
- Wants to make a real contribution rather than simply observe.
About Ombar:
Mood Foods is the company behind Ombar, an award-winning chocolate brand with a mission to make chocolate better for both people and the planet. We make our chocolate from scratch in Cambridgeshire, sourcing cacao directly from Fairtrade farming cooperatives before transforming it into finished chocolate bars in our own factory. Every stage - from recipe development and chocolate making to packing and dispatch - is managed by our team. We're an ambitious and growing business, supplying major UK retailers while continually investing in new products, new equipment and new ideas. This placement offers the chance to make a genuine impact. Your ideas won't disappear into a filing cabinet - they could become products enjoyed by thousands of people across the UK. For the right person, this placement could be the beginning of a long-term career with us. While the role is offered as a 12-month placement, there is the potential for a permanent position if it's the right fit for both you and the business.
Salary: £26,000-28,000
Contract: 12-month paid placement with the potential for a permanent position.
Chocolate Product Developer in Cambridge employer: Ombar Chocolate
At Ombar, we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer that fosters creativity and innovation in a supportive environment. As a Graduate Chocolate Product Developer, you'll gain invaluable hands-on experience working closely with our Founder and senior team, allowing you to make a real impact on our exciting product range. With a commitment to employee growth and a vibrant work culture, this role offers the unique opportunity to contribute to a mission-driven company dedicated to making chocolate better for both people and the planet.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Chocolate Product Developer in Cambridge
✨Get Involved in Industry Events
Don’t miss out on food science and technology conferences or local meetups! These events are prime opportunities to meet industry professionals, learn about the latest trends, and maybe even impress potential employers like Ombar Chocolate with your knowledge and enthusiasm.
✨Join Food Tech Communities
Dive into online communities and forums specifically for food science and technology. Platforms like Food Science & Technology Association or even LinkedIn groups can provide access to job postings and insider tips that are tailored to our field. It's a great way to get noticed by actual hiring managers!
✨Utilise University Resources
As you’re aiming for a placement, make the most of your university's career services. They often have relationships with companies looking to hire students for placements—keep an eye out for those connections and specific application windows!
✨Make Your Passion Visible
Showcase your passion for food science and technology through projects or research you’ve done, even if they're just class assignments. Create a simple portfolio or blog to put your work out there. When you apply to Ombar Chocolate, these can really help you stand out as not just a candidate, but someone who truly loves the field.
We think you need these skills to ace Chocolate Product Developer in Cambridge
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Foodie Knowledge!:For a food science technology placement, we need to see your passion for all things food-related. Use your cover letter to highlight relevant projects or coursework, like food safety or product development. Let your enthusiasm for food innovation shine through!
Get Technical with Your CV:Make sure your CV includes specific technical skills relevant to food science technology, like analytical techniques or laboratory skills. If you’ve worked with any food processing software or have hands-on experience with food quality testing, shout about it – it's what sets you apart!
Highlight Your Team Work and Communication Skills:In the food science field, teamwork is crucial! Make sure you mention any group projects or experiences you’ve had in labs or classes. Employers like Ombar Chocolate want to see you can communicate effectively – especially when collaborating on projects.
Tailor Your Application for the Role:Every placement is different, so we should tailor your application to Ombar Chocolate’s specific needs. Take some time to research their work and values; then weave that understanding into your cover letter and CV. It’ll show them you’re genuinely interested in contributing to their team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Ombar Chocolate
✨Show Off Your Lab Skills
In the food science and technology field, hands-on lab skills are super valuable. Be ready to discuss specific techniques you've used or experiments you've conducted during your studies. If you have any relevant lab experience from your coursework, definitely bring that up!
✨Know Your Food Safety Standards
Interviews in food science often touch on regulations and safety standards like HACCP or ISO 22000. Brush up on these as they might ask you how you've applied or would apply these in your work. Showing that you're familiar with these concepts can really set us apart from other candidates!
✨Demonstrate Your Learning Agility
With this being a placement, the interviewers are likely to focus on your willingness to learn and adapt. Be ready to talk about how you've tackled challenges in your studies and how you approach new topics. We want to give them the confidence that you’ll be eager to soak up all the knowledge you can!
✨Prepare Case Studies on Food Innovation
Having a couple of real-world examples ready about recent innovations or technologies in food science can be a game-changer in your interview. Think about trends like plant-based alternatives or food preservation techniques. This shows you’re not just book smart but also up to date with industry developments, which is crucial for us in a placement role!
