New Product Development Technologist - Bread

This is an exciting opportunity to join Roberts Bakery 1887 to support us in delivering our growth plans. If you have experience of NPD within the Bakery sector, specifically Bread, then we would like to hear from you.

You will be an active member of the bread NPD team, a creative and detail-oriented individual. You will be responsible for developing and reformulating products from concept to launch, ensuring they meet consumer expectations, internal QMS and ensuring commercial viability. This role requires strong technical knowledge of ingredients, food processes and sensory evaluation, as well as the ability to work cross-functionally with marketing, procurement, quality and production teams.

What you will contribute:

• Maintain the NPD and documentation for both brand and non-brand.
• Lead some and support all Bread projects.
• Support the team – be a true foody – aware of trends from insight and competitors and be commercially aware around influences in market beyond just the bakery category.
• Carry out concept development for both EPD and true NPD projects – support the longer-term innovation pipeline programme under guidance from the Senior NPD Technologist/NPD Manager.
• Nurture strong customer relationships understanding the end user/consumer to ensure pro-active NPD/EPD programmes to deliver the Channel & Customer Strategy – visit customers as required.
• Work closely with the costing process to ensure new products meet both customer and internal targets.
• Work alongside strategic suppliers’ resources to support NPD projects and act as specialist knowledge resource to support the team.
• Follow the Product Development procedure and remain compliant with both BRC and Customer specific policies at all times – work closely with Technical colleagues around allergens/HACCP.
• Provide troubleshooting support to the Operations including assistance with harvest transition, cost engineering projects.

What you will bring:

• Food science Degree or equivalent in technical discipline.
• Development Technologist experience > 2 years.
• Good level of technical expertise in food processes – essential bread industry experience, good understanding of manufacturing processes & confidence when working on plant and equipment.
• Good level of knowledge of the product development cycle, including all aspects of QMS internal procedure and experience of Top 4 retailer NPD systems/processes.
• Awareness of Food Labelling, Product Specifications, Nutritional information, Raw material specifications and packaging.
• Project Management skills across multi-disciplinary teams including Risk analysis/mitigation, ability to coordinate to achieve critical path deadlines competently.
• Awareness of external developments in Food Science, Technology, Sensory Science, Legislation related to food/materials.
• Collaborative work style, team player and good attention to detail. Completer finisher ensuring all elements of a project are completed.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills.
• Flexible and agile in approach.
• A willingness to lead with the ability to influence peers and at level above.

Competitive Salary in line with experience & benefits package.