Job Title: Food Technologist Location: Newry, Northern Ireland Job Type: Full-Time, Permanent About the Role: An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Food Technologist to join a dynamic and growing food manufacturing company based in Newry. This is a permanent position where the successful candidate will play a key role in product development, innovation, and ensuring the highest food safety and quality standards are maintained throughout the production process. You will work closely with cross-functional teams, including New Product Development (NPD), Quality Assurance, and Operations, to support product design, production, and testing, while ensuring compliance with food safety regulations. Key Responsibilities: Collaborate with the NPD and technical teams to develop new food products, from concept to launch, ensuring alignment with market trends, customer needs, and production feasibility. Conduct product and process development trials, providing technical input and ensuring all trials are completed in a timely manner. Oversee the testing of raw materials, ingredients, and final products to ensure compliance with regulatory standards and quality control guidelines. Assist in the creation and maintenance of product specifications, recipes, and ingredient functionality documentation. Support the development and optimization of manufacturing processes to enhance product consistency, efficiency, and safety. Ensure products meet quality, safety, and legal standards by adhering to internal food safety systems and external regulatory requirements (e.g., BRCGS, HACCP). Work closely with suppliers to source ingredients and packaging solutions that align with product development requirements and quality standards. Assist with the preparation of customer presentations, product samples, and product prototypes, ensuring all technical and marketing materials are accurate. Conduct market research to keep up-to-date with current food trends, ingredients, and competitor offerings. Provide technical support to production teams, troubleshooting product and process issues and implementing corrective actions where necessary. Assist with product labeling, including nutritional information, allergen labeling, and regulatory compliance. Ensure compliance with food safety, health, and safety policies and procedures within the production environment. Key Requirements: A degree or relevant qualification in Food Science, Food Technology, or a related field. At least 1-2 years of experience within a food manufacturing or food technology role. Strong knowledge of food safety systems, including HACCP, BRCGS, and other relevant food safety standards. Experience with new product development processes, including product testing, trials, and formulation. Proficient in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint). Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively in a team environment. A passion for food innovation and a keen interest in market trends and consumer preferences.