Location: Craigavon
Department: Product & Innovation
Reporting to: NPI Manager
We have an exciting opportunity for an NPI Assistant Technologist to join our Product & Innovation team.
This role is responsible for supporting the delivery of New Product Introduction (NPI) projects from concept through to launch, ensuring all products meet customer, technical, and business requirements. Working closely with NPI Technologists and cross-functional teams, you will play a key role in coordinating trials, evaluating products, managing project activities, and helping to deliver successful product launches.
This role offers excellent exposure to all aspects of product development and manufacturing and would suit someone looking to build a career within Product Development, Innovation, or Technical functions.
As part of the Pilgrim's Europe way of working, this role will be primarily site-based, with occasional travel required to customer sites, suppliers, and other Pilgrim's Europe locations.
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Support NPI Technologists in the delivery of product development and innovation projects.
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Organise and coordinate product samples, including preparation, documentation, labelling, and dispatch.
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Assist with factory and production trials, including product preparation, trial set-up, assessments, and reporting.
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Conduct shelf-life and product evaluations to support product quality and technical validation.
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Complete cooking instructions and supporting documentation accurately and on time.
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Maintain project documentation and trial records in line with company processes.
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Collaborate with Commercial, Operations, Technical, Packaging, Process, and OPEX teams to support successful launches.
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Support the management of project critical paths to ensure key milestones are achieved.
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Identify and support continuous improvement opportunities within ways of working and project delivery.
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Participate in customer visits, product presentations, and corporate events as required.
We are looking for a highly organised and enthusiastic individual with a passion for food, innovation, and product development.
Essential Skills
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Strong organisational and planning skills.
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Excellent communication and relationship-building abilities.
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High attention to detail and accuracy.
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Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
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Ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities.
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Confident working within cross-functional teams.
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Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
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A proactive attitude with a willingness to learn and develop.
Desirable
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Food industry qualification and/or relevant food manufacturing experience.
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Previous exposure to product development, technical, or innovation environments.
At Pilgrim's Europe, we invest in our people and offer opportunities to develop your career within one of Europe's leading food businesses.
Our benefits include:
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Competitive salary and benefits package
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Career development opportunities across a global organisation
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Ongoing training and professional development
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Employee benefits and discount platform
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Wellbeing support programmes
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Collaborative and supportive working environment
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Opportunity to work on exciting new product launches and innovation projects
Our Values
Our values are at the heart of everything we do:
Availability ¦ Humility ¦ Discipline ¦ Sincerity ¦ Ownership ¦ Determination ¦ Simplicity
If you're passionate about food, product development, and innovation, we'd love to hear from you.
Apply now to join Pilgrim's Europe as an NPI Assistant Technologist.
Pilgrim’s Europe produces some of the best-known and most iconic brands in the UK and Ireland, including Fridge Raiders, Rollover, Denny, Richmond, Oakhouse and Moy Park, alongside a diverse range of industry leading own-label products in categories including fresh pork, lamb and chicken, working with all the major retailers and food service outlets.
Our portfolio extends to authentic chilled and frozen ready meals, snacking ranges, added value and food service products.
Across Pilgrim’s Europe we combine 20,000 of the best people in the industry, united by a shared set of core values and a passion for producing the highest quality, most delicious and innovative food, which is enjoyed by millions of people in the UK, Ireland and Europe every day. Our Pilgrim’s Europe team are based in our Pilgrim’s UK, Moy Park, Pilgrim’s Food Masters and Pilgrim’s Shared Services businesses.
