NPD Technologist

Just Food Recruitment, part of The JFR Group is recruiting for an NPD Technologist to join this market leading and innovative Food manufacturer based in Bedfordshire.

The main purpose of this role is to be responsible for the progression of customer and strategic concepts through the NPD system to launch high quality, best in class quality and innovative products for the client and in turn facilitate the client’s sales growth.

Key Accountabilities

• • Supporting for the project management of all strategic and customer lead projects. Ensure deadlines are met and products are developed to the highest standards of quality and taste, whilst ensuring a smooth launch and delivery
  • Supporting NPD development with teams at our sister companies, working alongside them to continually develop new products that will exceed the UK expectations, whilst ensuring business targets and plans are mutually met.
  • Maintain LUUK Nutritional Policy to ensure compliance with UK & EU legislation and individual customer requirements
  • Assisting delivery of new products for retail and food service customers which meet the needs of consumers and grow sales for the client
  • Support factory trials through the correct processes to establish standards which ensure that new products attain the highest level of quality in production
  • Working with ingredients suppliers in order to understand the commercial impact of raw ingredients and launch process
  • Continuously improve existing products to meet the needs of our customers, whilst ensuring products are safe, legal and developed to budget
  • Continual market awareness and competitor analysis to keep abreast of current trends and communicate these to the Development team. Help to ensure that the client remain leaders of innovation in the frozen bake-off division.
  • Assist marketing to develop and train products to the UK sales team
  • To champion the flow of innovative new product ideas so that they are regularly reviewed by the NPD team with a decision on whether to move them forward at this stage.
  • Regular presentations to the UK commercial team showcasing new products from both existing and new suppliers
  • Sample management to ensure customers can receive samples at speed
  • Be responsible for completing customer sample submission forms
  • Assist in innovation tours for principles / suppliers and customers
  • Assist in the management and delivery of post launch reviews to assess the performance of new products
  • Organising benchmarking sessions against the market
  • Trend spotting
  • Having an active role in review of products through the development process
  • Carrying out sensory evaluations of product and organising sensory panels when required.
  • Organising and taking part in food safari’s
  • Being involved in the creation of concepts for customer briefs
  • Prepping samples and paperwork for customer submissions
  • Attending factory trials
  • Compiling quality standards for new launches

If you are have strong project management skills, with the ability to influence and manage diverse and cross functional teams across continents

Experience of NPD in a FMCG environment is essential for this position doe to the demands of the clients that you would be working with.

If you would like to learn more about this role, please apply and one of our candidate managers will be in touch.

The JFR Group is an employment agency working on behalf of our client. Should you be seeking a new permanent position, temporary assignment, or contract you will find our staff professional and courteous and our interview process straightforward.