At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead exciting food product launches from concept to factory production.
- Company: Join a passionate team at a leading European food manufacturer.
- Benefits: Competitive salary and the chance to make a real impact.
- Other info: Opportunity for direct customer interaction and innovative product development.
- Why this job: Combine your culinary passion with technical expertise in a fast-paced environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in NPI/NPD within food manufacturing and strong project management skills.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 € per year.
Contract Type - 6 months, Full-time
Are you a process-driven NPD expert who thrives in fast-paced, retailer-facing environments? Do you enjoy bringing exciting, culinary-led products to life from handover through to launch? We are currently recruiting for a Senior NPI Technologist to join our team on a 6-month fixed-term contract at Bodmin site. This is an exciting opportunity to work on growing, innovative product ranges within our slow cooked and cooked bacon categories — combining culinary creativity with technical excellence.
You will be part of a passionate, driven and supportive team, playing a key role in delivering successful product launches while ensuring operational excellence on site.
The Role
- Take ownership of the process side of NPD projects — ensuring smooth transition from handover through to successful factory launch.
- Lead product launches from handover to full production.
- Ensure factory capability and operational constraints are considered during development.
- Plan, organise and run pre-submission, exploratory and factory trials.
- Manage projects through critical paths to meet retailer and internal deadlines.
- Conduct pre-production runs (Pre-pro's).
- Collect, analyse and interpret trial data to drive informed decision-making.
- Troubleshoot and resolve technical and process challenges.
- Set up and improve systems to support efficient launches.
- Work closely with Production to ensure seamless scale-up and launch execution.
- Maintain direct contact with customers where required.
- Contribute to idea generation and innovation pipelines.
- Identify and implement process improvements to enhance efficiency, quality and consistency.
Depending on your experience, there is also scope to take greater ownership of retailer-facing NPD projects, including customer interaction and project management leadership.
About the Categories
You will be working across two exciting product areas:
- Slow Cooked – a fast-growing, culinary-led category with strong innovation and premium positioning.
- Cooked Bacon – a specialist, technically demanding category requiring precision, consistency and deep product knowledge.
This is a fantastic opportunity to combine food passion with technical expertise.
What We’re Looking For
- Proven experience in NPI/NPD within a food manufacturing environment.
- Strong process knowledge and experience running factory trials.
- Experience managing critical paths and retailer launch timelines.
- Confident analysing data and making evidence-based recommendations.
- Experience working closely with production teams in live factory environments.
- Strong organisational and project management skills.
- Comfortable communicating with internal stakeholders and customers.
- Commercial awareness and understanding of factory capability.
You will be proactive, detail-focused and comfortable taking responsibility for delivering results. You will bring energy, resilience and a practical mindset — someone who sees challenges as opportunities and works collaboratively to find solutions.
Why Join Us?
- Opportunity to work on exciting, high-growth culinary categories.
- Exposure to retailer-facing projects and direct customer interaction.
- Be part of a passionate, innovative and supportive development team.
- Competitive salary.
- Opportunity to make a real impact within a short-term contract.
- Experience working within a leading European food manufacturing business.
- Fast-paced, hands-on environment where your contribution is visible.
Ready to Bring Products to Life? If you’re an experienced NPI professional who enjoys taking ownership, working collaboratively and delivering successful product launches in a fast-moving food environment, we’d love to hear from you. Apply today and join Pilgrim’s Europe to help us turn great ideas into outstanding products.
Senior NPI Technologist - FTC employer: Pilgrim's Europe
Join Pilgrim's Europe as a Senior NPI Technologist in Bodmin, where you'll thrive in a dynamic, supportive environment dedicated to culinary innovation. With opportunities for direct customer interaction and involvement in exciting product launches, you will play a crucial role in shaping high-growth categories while enjoying a competitive salary and the chance to make a tangible impact within a leading European food manufacturing business.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior NPI Technologist - FTC
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect with potential colleagues on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its products. Understand their values and recent projects, especially in the culinary space. This will help you tailor your answers and show that you're genuinely interested in what they do.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your STAR technique for answering behavioural questions. Think of specific situations where you've demonstrated your skills in NPI or project management. This will help you articulate your experience clearly and confidently.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after interviews! A quick thank-you email can leave a lasting impression and shows your enthusiasm for the role. Plus, it keeps you on their radar as they make their decision.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior NPI Technologist - FTC
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Senior NPI Technologist role. Highlight your experience in NPD and any relevant projects you've led. We want to see how your skills match 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 our team. Keep it engaging and personal!
Showcase Your Achievements:Don’t just list your responsibilities; showcase your achievements! Use specific examples of successful product launches or process improvements you've implemented. We love seeing results!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and get you on our radar quickly!
How to prepare for a job interview at Pilgrim's Europe
✨Know Your NPD Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of New Product Development (NPD) processes, especially in food manufacturing. Be ready to discuss specific examples of how you've successfully led product launches and managed critical paths in previous roles.
✨Showcase Your Data Skills
Since the role involves analysing trial data, prepare to demonstrate your ability to interpret data and make evidence-based recommendations. Bring examples of how your analytical skills have driven successful outcomes in past projects.
✨Be Ready for Technical Questions
Expect questions about factory trials and operational constraints. Familiarise yourself with common challenges faced during product launches and think of solutions you've implemented in the past to overcome these hurdles.
✨Communicate Your Passion
This role combines culinary creativity with technical expertise, so let your passion for food shine through. Share your ideas for innovative products and how you can contribute to the team’s success in bringing exciting culinary-led products to life.
