Overview
We are seeking an experienced and innovative Senior NPD (New Product Development) Technologist to lead the development of new products from concept to launch. The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in driving product innovation, ensuring technical excellence, and collaborating closely with cross-functional teams. This position offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to the growth and success of our organisation through the creation of market-leading products.
Main purpose of the job
- The principal requirements are to take ownership and accountability for the development and innovation of new products from concept to launch for both retailers and Princes’ own brand.
- Lead the development of new and improved food products.
- Mentor and guide junior team members, sharing your expertise.
- To provide a site-based product development resource based in Leeds, supporting the development department with NPD, EPD, Value engineering projects as well as other business or customer related projects.
- Working closely with procurement and technical team supporting with business-driven ingredient projects.
- Work as part of a cross functional team and will liaise with Technical, Procurement, Marketing, Account and Commercial managers & Production departments.
- Provides invaluable experience within the NPD department, to provide support and assistant to the team as well as NPD manger.
Key Responsibilities
- Continuously develop and introduce new and improved products to meet strategic objectives of the business and expectations of the customers.
- Interpret retailer briefs ensuring innovative and technologically sound product designs are generated in line with customer expectations, operational constraints, and commercial needs of the business.
- Market research to investigate and identify customer needs, upcoming trends with aim to take advantage of potential business opportunities.
- Recipe development and reformulation to achieve a product that meets customer expectations and that is financially and technically feasible.
- Completing account specific documentation and project work when required (Sample Submission Forms, NPDTT’s, QAS’s)
- Support the development and scale-up of new products, from kitchen to full scale production.
- Organise and attend factory trials and ensure output of the trial is documented and communicated to the business.
- Carry out a feasibility study with key stakeholders on new product briefs.
- Reviewing and approving artwork
- Working with new and current suppliers to source new, high quality and cost-effective ingredients and assist Technical in the approval of new suppliers/ingredients by gathering all necessary data.
- Shelf-Life testing of new products
- Nutritional testing of new products to ensure that the nutritional composition of a new product meets the requirements of the retailers’ nutritional policies and/or fulfils nutritional claims.
- Cooking instruction development for all new products to ensure that food is safe to consume and of a high quality for consumers when cooked.
- Assist the Technical Dept. as and when required including HACCP, ensuring allergen information, food safety legislations, food industry guidelines and retailer COP maintained and up to date on an ongoing basis.
- Visiting retailers and shopping to support sample preparations or customer meeting refreshments as required by the business.
- Liaise with key stakeholders on customer visits for first production if required.
- Respond to retailer requests for samples for testing, Brandbank, photography, exhibitions, awards etc.
- Liaise with different teams to organise cross-functional meetings.
- Organise and conduct handover meeting for product launches to site’s key stakeholders.
- Actively engage in blue sky thinking and put forward well-thought-out concepts with clear rationale.
- Support the kitchen to deliver customer or development samples.
- Input data on SAP and own the HALB process
- Review and maintain department codes of practice, procedures, and policies.
- Review and maintain customer & brand codes of practice.
- Improve and develop ways of working i.e. paperwork to be used by the whole team, shelf-life paperwork, nutritional analysis.
- Support and look after the team’s training and development in relation to their role.
- Provide support and assistant to the rest of the team.
- Mentor and carry out appraisal for direct report.
- Deputise for NPD Manager as required.
Other information
- Demonstrates good housekeeping practices & due diligence at all times.
- Work to our business core values.
- Undertakes other duties to support the department.
- Responsible for own health & safety.
- Understand the importance of food safety.
- Full driving licence to support team in shopping, visiting stores and customers.
Pay: £33,000.00-£37,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Additional leave
- Bereavement leave
- Company pension
- Free parking
- On-site parking
- Referral programme
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Leeds LS11 5JL: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (preferred)
Experience:
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (preferred)
Work Location: In person
