At a Glance
- Tasks: Create and launch innovative food products while collaborating with a dynamic team.
- Company: Join a values-driven food business focused on quality and customer satisfaction.
- Benefits: Enjoy free snacks, subsidised meals, and excellent career development opportunities.
- Other info: Flexible working hours and a supportive environment for creative minds.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of food innovation and make a real impact on product development.
- Qualifications: Experience in product development and strong culinary skills are essential.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 45000 £ per year.
Join our team as a Development Chef / Senior NPD Technologist in our New Product Development Team! Due to continued business growth, we have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Development Chef / NPD Technologist to join our New Product Development team based in Bodmin. This is a hands-on, creative role at the heart of our food innovation, ideal for someone passionate about product development, quality food, and working collaboratively in a fast-paced FMCG environment.
Working closely with the NPD Manager, NPD Assistant Manager and wider cross-functional teams, you will be involved in developing and launching new products, as well as enhancing our existing range, ensuring everything we produce meets our quality, safety, and customer expectations.
Hours of work: 08:00 until 16:00
Days of work: Monday to Friday
Salary: £40,000 to £45,000 depending on qualifications and experience
Why Join Us? By joining our growing NPD team, you will play a key role in shaping products enjoyed by customers across the UK. We are a values-led business built on Quality, Friendliness, Customer Focus, Honesty, and Passion, and we are proud of our heritage and our people. We offer a supportive working environment where ideas are encouraged, development is supported, and careers can grow alongside the business.
If you’re a creative and driven Development Chef / NPD Technologist looking for your next opportunity in a growing food business, we’d love to hear from you.
Key Responsibilities
- Product Development: Manage new and existing product development projects from concept through to launch. Develop, refine, and trial recipes to deliver high-quality, innovative products. Ensure products align with company strategy, customer briefs, and market trends.
- Trials and Scale-Up: Plan and lead kitchen trials, factory trials, and first productions as required. Support product scale-up, ensuring smooth transition from development to production. Work closely with Operations and Technical teams to ensure manufacturability and consistency.
- Quality, Food Safety and Compliance: Ensure all products comply with food safety, legal, customer, and internal quality standards. Maintain accurate NPD documentation, specifications, and trial records. Follow the NPD Quality Assurance system and support audit activity where required.
- Collaboration and Customer Focus: Work cross-functionally with Technical, Commercial, Operations, Procurement, and Supply Chain teams. Support customer presentations, tastings, and product reviews when required. Build strong working relationships with customers and suppliers.
- Continuous Improvement: Contribute to improving NPD processes, ways of working, and product performance. Support cost control, value engineering, and margin awareness throughout development. Willingness and flexibility to travel within the UK and, where required, internationally to support customer visits, supplier meetings, product trials, and site-based project activity.
Essential Requirements
- Proven experience delivering end-to-end product development, from concept through to launch
- Strong food development capability, including recipe formulation and hands-on culinary skills
- Sound knowledge of food manufacturing processes, food safety standards, allergens, and HACCP principles
- Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously with strong organisational skills and attention to detail
- Full UK Drivers Licence
- Confidence working cross-functionally with Technical, Operations, and Commercial teams
- Strong written and verbal communication skills with a proactive, solutions-focused approach
- A genuine passion for food, quality, and product excellence
Desirable Requirements
- Experience developing products within chilled, frozen, bakery, ready meals, or protein-based categories
- Experience working within an FMCG or food manufacturing environment
- Experience working with major UK retailers or foodservice customers
- Practical experience of factory trials, scale-up, or pilot plant activity
- Formal culinary or food-related qualifications, with additional food safety training
Even Better Bits! (PROPER PERKS)
- Free pasties and pastries every day
- Weekly free fruit
- Subsidised staff canteen
- Monthly colleague treats
- Regular staff BBQs
- Christmas celebrations and goodies
- Free use of spa & golf facilities in St Austell
- Birthday meal in the canteen
- Mental Health First Aiders
- Company-funded Health Cash Plan
- Employee Assistance Programme (24/7 helpline)
- Death in Service plan
- Employment anniversary cash awards
- £500 colleague referral bonuses
- Huge discounts on pasties, pastries, cakes, and tarts!
- Local business discounts
- Excellent career development opportunities
- Strong internal communication, newsletters, suggestion boxes, etc.
If you’re a team player with a positive can-do attitude and want to be part of our friendly and rapidly growing company, apply today!
Closing Date: 14 June 2026. Please note that this vacancy may close early if we receive a high number of applications, so early submission is encouraged.
NPD Chef: Creative Food Innovator & Launch Specialist in Bodmin employer: Proper Cornish
Join our dynamic New Product Development team in Bodmin, where creativity and collaboration thrive in a supportive environment. As a values-led business, we prioritise quality and innovation while offering excellent career growth opportunities, unique perks like free pasties and spa access, and a culture that encourages your ideas and passion for food. If you're looking to make a meaningful impact in the food industry, this is the place for you!
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land NPD Chef: Creative Food Innovator & Launch Specialist in Bodmin
✨Tip Number 1
Get your networking game on! Connect with people in the food industry, especially those who work in NPD. Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy to reach out on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your culinary creativity! When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, bring up your past projects and how you’ve innovated in product development. Share your passion for quality food and how you can contribute to their team.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Prepare for interviews by role-playing common questions related to NPD and food safety. Think about how you’d handle challenges in product development and be ready to share your solutions. Confidence is key!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team. So, hit that apply button and let’s get the conversation started!
We think you need these skills to ace NPD Chef: Creative Food Innovator & Launch Specialist in Bodmin
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Food:When writing your application, let your love for food shine through! Share your experiences and what drives you in product development. We want to see that spark of creativity and enthusiasm for quality food.
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight relevant experience in NPD and culinary skills. We’re looking for someone who can manage projects from concept to launch, so showcase those abilities clearly!
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use bullet points where possible to make it easy for us to see your key achievements and skills. Remember, we appreciate strong written communication!
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity in our NPD team.
How to prepare for a job interview at Proper Cornish
✨Know Your Ingredients
Before the interview, brush up on your knowledge of food development processes and culinary techniques. Be ready to discuss specific recipes you've developed and how they align with market trends. This shows your passion for quality food and innovation.
✨Showcase Your Collaboration Skills
Since this role involves working closely with cross-functional teams, prepare examples of how you've successfully collaborated in the past. Highlight any experiences where you worked with technical or operations teams to bring a product from concept to launch.
✨Be Ready for Practical Questions
Expect questions that test your problem-solving skills in real-world scenarios. Think about challenges you've faced during product trials or scale-ups and how you overcame them. This will demonstrate your hands-on experience and ability to manage multiple projects.
✨Emphasise Your Passion for Food
Let your enthusiasm for food and product excellence shine through. Share stories about what inspires you in the kitchen and how you stay updated with food trends. This will resonate well with the company's values and show you're a great cultural fit.
