At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead innovative food product development from concept to launch in a collaborative team.
- Company: Respected B2B food manufacturer with a strong reputation and low staff turnover.
- Benefits: Stable long-term opportunity, high autonomy, and clear progression to leadership roles.
- Why this job: Own projects end-to-end and make a real impact in the food industry.
- Qualifications: 3-5+ years in food manufacturing or NPD; attitude and curiosity are key.
- Other info: Hands-on role with exposure to diverse customers and applications.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Are you an experienced NPD/Food Technologist with a keen interest in developing into a leadership position, responsible for the entire NPD function? If so, this role may be of interest to you!
Paragon Talent is partnering with a highly respected, niche B2B food manufacturer to appoint a Senior NPD Technologist into a genuinely rare role. This is a business with exceptionally low staff turnover, a strong reputation across the UK food manufacturing sector, and a culture built on common sense, trust, and people working together in the same direction. They operate in the sweet space, fruit preparations, confectionery and sauce systems, supplying major bakery, dairy and ice cream manufacturers with bespoke, high-quality solutions.
The role exists to strengthen and future-proof the NPD function. You’ll join a small, experienced development team and take on meaningful responsibility from day one, with clear scope to become a long-term cornerstone of the business. If you’re looking for a role where you can truly own projects end-to-end, get stuck in technically, and be valued for your contribution rather than your job title, this is that role.
What’s in It for You
- A stable, long-term opportunity in a business where people stay for years
- High autonomy and genuine ownership of NPD projects
- Hands-on development work, from kitchen to factory scale
- Exposure to a wide variety of customers and applications (bakery, dairy, ice cream, desserts)
- Clear succession and progression to leadership of the NPD team
What You’ll Be Doing
This is a broad, practical Senior NPD role covering concept, development, scale-up and launch. You’ll:
- Lead the development of fruit preparations, liquid caramels and sauce systems (including low Aw products)
- Translate kitchen concepts into scalable, repeatable factory processes
- Plan and support factory trials, capturing data and driving continuous improvement
- Own projects through the full stage-gate process, from brief to launch
- Develop high-quality kitchen samples in response to customer briefs and proactive innovation
- Work closely with production, technical and commercial teams to ensure feasibility and delivery
- Act as technical lead for selected customer projects, supporting trials and discussions
- Contribute to innovation, process improvement and best practice sharing within the team
This is a hands-on role; you’ll be as comfortable in the kitchen and factory as you are in project discussions.
What We’re Looking For
We’re far more interested in attitude, curiosity and fit than a perfect product background.
- 3–5+ years’ experience in food manufacturing or NPD
- Experience working with sauces, fruit-based systems, confectionery or similar cooked products is a clear advantage, but not essential
- Strong practical understanding of scaling products from kitchen to factory
- Comfortable managing multiple projects at once
- A collaborative, team-first mindset
- Someone who enjoys getting stuck in and taking responsibility
Senior NPD Technologist in Telford employer: Paragon Talent
Contact Detail:
Paragon Talent Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior NPD Technologist in Telford
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to industry contacts on LinkedIn or at events. A friendly chat can lead to opportunities that aren’t even advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Show your passion! When you get an interview, let your enthusiasm for NPD and food tech shine through. Share your ideas and experiences that relate to the role.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for practical assessments. Brush up on your technical skills and be ready to demonstrate how you’d tackle real-world challenges in NPD during interviews.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed and shows you’re serious about joining the team.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior NPD Technologist in Telford
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for NPD: When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for New Product Development shine through. We want to see your genuine interest in the role and how you can contribute to our team. Share specific examples of projects you've worked on that excite you!
Tailor Your CV and Cover Letter: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for this role. Highlight your relevant experience in food manufacturing and NPD, especially if you've worked with sauces or fruit-based systems. We love seeing how your background aligns with what we're looking for!
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application clear and to the point. We appreciate straightforward communication, so avoid jargon and focus on what makes you a great fit for the Senior NPD Technologist position. Remember, we want to know about your skills and experiences without wading through fluff!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures it gets into the right hands. Plus, it shows you're keen on joining our team at StudySmarter!
How to prepare for a job interview at Paragon Talent
✨Know Your NPD Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of new product development, especially in the food sector. Familiarise yourself with the latest trends in fruit preparations, sauces, and confectionery. Being able to discuss recent innovations or challenges in these areas will show your passion and expertise.
✨Showcase Your Hands-On Experience
Since this role is very practical, be ready to share specific examples of your hands-on experience in the kitchen and factory. Talk about projects where you’ve taken a concept from idea to launch, highlighting any challenges you faced and how you overcame them.
✨Emphasise Team Collaboration
This position values a collaborative mindset, so prepare to discuss how you've worked effectively within teams. Share stories that demonstrate your ability to communicate and collaborate with production, technical, and commercial teams to achieve project goals.
✨Express Your Leadership Aspirations
Since the role has clear progression to leadership, don’t shy away from expressing your ambitions. Talk about your desire to lead projects and teams, and how you envision contributing to the growth and success of the NPD function in the long term.