Location:
Northfleet, Kent, United Kingdom
Opportunity:
Prepworld has an exciting new opportunity for an NPD Technologist!
Role Overview:
As an NPD Technologist, you will serve as the link between the product development kitchen and the production line. Your responsibilities include ensuring smooth transition of new and re-development products from trial and testing stages to industrialisation, meeting customer requirements for shelf-life, commercial targets, and consistency. You will lead R&D projects within the business.
You will oversee factory production trials, report outcomes, identify critical issues, recommend improvements, measure yield, and ensure compliance with quality, safety, and customer expectations.
You will also be involved in sourcing and trialling new process equipment to support new product launches or improve current processes.
Main Duties:
* Ensure all NPD work meets in-house and customer quality and safety standards.
* Develop procedures for recipes to meet manufacturing standards.
* Understand customer food safety codes of practice.
* Create practical schedules for product launches.
* Coordinate with Packaging, Technical, Production, Planning, and Procurement teams to ensure component availability for trials.
* Source tools and materials externally as needed.
* Investigate new raw materials and develop processing capacities.
* Lead R&D projects supporting NPD and innovation.
* Identify opportunities for process and recipe improvements early in development.
* Plan and execute production trials with new packaging or raw materials.
* Conduct organoleptic and quality assessments, including shelf-life and micro validation reports.
* Work with Finance, Production, and Sales to cost new ingredients and processes.
* Prepare necessary documentation before trials (HACCP forms, work instructions).
* Confirm perforation requirements with packaging.
* Coordinate courier collections and deliveries.
* Organise and deliver product samples for customer sign-off and panel testing.
* Attend weekly NPD meetings and provide updates on social media as appropriate.
Candidate Profile:
* Understanding of the Critical Path from concept to launch (essential).
* Experience in handing over products from trial to industrialisation, meeting shelf life, quality, and commercial targets (essential).
* Knowledge of microbiology (highly desirable).
* Degree or HND in Food Technology, Food Science, or related field (highly desirable).
* Level 3 Food Safety certification (highly desirable).
* Recognised internal auditing qualification (highly desirable).
* Previous technical experience in FMCG manufacturing (essential).
* Ability to interact with high-profile customers (essential).
Benefits:
* Medicash health benefits.
* Wagestream earnings access.
* Internal learning and development programs, including management skills.
* Annual bonus (non-contractual).
* Free onsite parking with electric charge points.
* Staff events and subsidised onsite restaurant.
* Wednesday fruit pots.
* Modern offices and facilities.
* A supportive team environment.
Working Hours:
Monday to Friday, 08:00 to 17:00, with some flexibility for remote work.
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