Product Developer – Maternity Cover and Permanent roles available
Hybrid, 3 days in the office – Aylesford, Kent
About Our Client
Our client is a leading global supplier of ingredients and premix manufacturing solutions for the food, beverage and nutrition industries. They hold strategic stocks in 35+ centres around the world to ensure continuity of supply and have liquid and dry premix manufacturing facilities in the UK, China and the USA. Their premix business is underpinned by over 40 years of experience in ingredient sourcing and distribution, servicing customers with global inventories, market expertise, and leading market positions in Vitamins, Amino Acids, Sweeteners, Preservatives, Proteins, Aroma Chemicals, and more.
What does Product Developer mean in this role?
This role is responsible and accountable for scoping, developing and delivering NPD and Innovation solutions that meet customer needs to the agreed quality, cost and sustainability targets that are legally and regulatory compliant with the launch countries. From concept idea through to supporting implementation either in their own production facilities or via external co-manufacturers. Identifying and mitigating risks that may occur during the development and implementation stages and assure that these risks are effectively mitigated and managed throughout the project life cycle. Driving continuous improvement in the process of end-to-end product development and implementation.
What's in it for you?
1. Personal growth, including training and development opportunities.
2. Health Cash Plan.
3. Subsidised gym membership.
4. Discretionary bonus.
5. Access to flexible pay with Aslan.
What to expect?
6. Complete customer product development and internal led innovation projects as assigned.
7. Continuously build expertise on functional ingredients and nutrients – to be kept up to date on market trends.
8. Be able to communicate professionally and effectively with customers to assure robust scoping of all projects.
9. Provide Formulation and Nutrition support to all sections of the business and customers.
10. Assure during the scoping process that the business truly understands the customer requirements and can provide accurate indicative costs and approve/reject projects on this basis.
11. Assure that in the scoping process criteria are agreed in the scoping stage for product approval by the customer.
12. Assure that all product development solutions are designed effectively to meet the customer requirements locked in the scoping stage which will include organoleptic, quality, legal and regulatory, stability and cost.
13. Be able to design a product formulation from the customer idea whether that is an intermediate pre-mix, nutrition product (human or pet), RTD soft drink, or Dairy alternative product solution and implement it in the final manufacturing site (internal or external).
14. Where applicable, complete sensory assessment prior to submission to the customer to assure that from an organoleptic perspective the products meet the agreed brief.
15. Consider the role of the final packaging in the product shelf life based on industrial experience.
16. Make informed decisions about the product shelf life based on the ingredient list, method of manufacture and final product packaging to be able to advise the customer as to an indicative product shelf life.
17. Be able to advise customer on methodology to validate product shelf life.
18. Assist in preparation and training provided to Sales Representatives and customers.
19. Work alongside Procurement and Quality to identify and on board new raw material suppliers to meet customer needs as per company process. Ensure full approval is completed in a timely manner.
20. Complete training for the broader team in product development.
21. Scope and lead trials at internal manufacturing facility and with third party manufacturers to support product development (where required).
22. Prepare for and attend first productions to assure that the manufacturing site is supported and any issues pertaining to the product can be dealt with effectively in a timely manner (where required).
23. Provide technical inputs for supplier raw material approval.
Does this sound like you?
24. Have a BSC/MSc in Food Science, Food Chemistry or related field.
25. Experience in end-to-end product development from idea to implementation (ideally 2 years).
26. Good understanding of ingredient functionality including but not limited to vitamins, minerals, flavours, colours, covering additives, and sweeteners and in the development and manufacture of premixes, nutritional products, RTD beverages and beverage concentrates.
27. Experience in leading and project managing all technical aspects of a project from scope through to implementation.
28. Passionate about sustainability and food innovation and a passion for continuous improvement.
Interested? Our client would love to hear from you!
Submit your CV by clicking Apply.