NPD Technologist in Northfleet

Location: Northfleet, Kent, United Kingdom

Prepworld have an exciting new opportunity for an NPD Technologist! As an NPD Technologist, you will be the link between the product development kitchen and the production line, with responsibility for making sure that new and existing re-development products make a smooth transition from trial and testing stages to industrialisation of factory trials, meeting the customer requirements for shelf-life commercial targets, and consistency. You will lead projects relating to R&D (Research and Development) in the business. You will ensure the factory production trials runs take place with the outcomes reported to all relevant staff. You will identify any critical issues, come up with recommendations for improvements, measure yield and make sure that everything complies with quality, safety and customer expectations. You will be involved in buying and trialling out new process equipment either in support of a new product launch or to make an improvement to current production processes.

Main Duties

• Ensuring all NPD related work meets in-house and customer standards for quality and safety.
• Ensuring procedures required for all recipes are developed to meet current manufacturing quality standards.
• Understanding of customer codes of practice relating to food safety.
• Developing practical schedules for work relating to product launches.
• Liaise with Packaging, Technical, Production, Planning and Procurement on arranging for availability of all components for industrialisation of factory trials.
• Contacting with external stakeholders to source tools required for projects.
• Full investigation of new raw materials as required.
• Conducting the processing capacity of new raw material and development of the production process required.
• Lead R&D projects supporting NPD & Innovation across the business.
• Understanding company production processes and spotting opportunities for improvement in recipe design of new products at early development stages.
• Planning and implementing of production trials with new packaging or raw material.
• Organoleptic shelf-life assessment for raw material and quality assessment of all products including use of new packaging.
• Generating Micro validation reports for new products sending reports directly to customer.
• Liaise with Finance, Production & Sales team to ensure all new ingredients and processes products are costed thoroughly after production trials and prior to full production.
• Making sure all relevant documents are in place prior to factory trials (HACCP form, work instruction relating to new fruit processes etc).
• Confirmation of Perforation requirements for each line to Packaging Team.
• Liaising with courier collections and confirmation of delivery.
• Organisation and delivery of product samples relating to customer sign off to factory standards.
• Scheduling the production, management and delivery of product samples relating customer panel samples to factory standards.
• Attending the weekly NPD meetings.
• Providing updates on NPD related topics on Socials.

Who we are looking for:

• Understanding of the Critical Path / Concept to Launch (essential).
• Experience in handover from trial & testing stage to industrialisation of factory trials, meeting customer requirements for shelf life, consistency & quality and commercial targets (essential).
• Awareness in Microbiology (highly desirable).
• Degree/HND or equivalent in food related subject such as Food Technology / Food science (highly desirable).
• Level 3 Food Safety (highly desirable).
• An externally recognised internal auditing qualification (highly desirable).
• Previous Technical experience of FMCG related manufacturing operations (essential).
• Ability to interact with high profile customers (essential).

What we provide in return:

• Medicash (allowances to cover costs such as dental and optical bills, physiotherapy, alternative therapies, and even consultancy charges, available for employees and their families. A taxable benefit).
• Wagestream (track your earnings and instantly access up to 50% of your money as you earn it, without waiting for payday).
• Internal Learning and Development programme including Management essential skills.
• Annual bonus (non-contractual).
• Free, on site parking with electric charge points.
• Staff events.
• On site staff restaurant serving heavily subsidised hot and cold food.
• Fruit pots on Wednesdays.
• Modern offices and facilities.
• A supportive team.

Days and hours of work: Monday to Friday, 08:00am to 17:00pm. Some work from home opportunity (flexibility to be on site as required).