Product Developer – Food
Research & Development
Location: Mid Kent (Hybrid – 3 days office-based)
Salary: Competitive + bonus & benefits
Hours: Full-time, permanent
Pearson Whiffin Recruitment Contacts: Emily or Sammy – Manufacturing, Engineering & Technical Division
PLEASE NOTE: WE ARE UNABLE TO OFFER SPONSORSHIP FOR THIS ROLE.
Pearson Whiffin Recruitment is partnering with a well-established, innovation-focused business operating within the nutrition and supplements sector. This organisation works on a wide range of product development projects and is known for its strong technical capability and collaborative approach.
This is an exciting opportunity for a Product Developer who enjoys taking concepts from early-stage ideas through to fully realised, market-ready supplement products.
The Role
This role sits at the heart of innovation, bridging customer ideas, formulation science and manufacturing reality.
You will:
1. Lead customer and internally driven new product development projects from brief to production
2. Translate customer concepts into technically sound, commercially viable products
3. Own project scoping — aligning quality, cost, regulatory and sustainability requirements
4. Provide formulation, nutritional and technical guidance across the business
5. Support sensory evaluation, shelf-life assessment and packaging considerations
6. Collaborate with manufacturing sites and third-party partners during trials and first productions
7. Identify and mitigate technical risks throughout the development lifecycle
8. Drive continuous improvement within R&D processes and ways of working
About You
9. Degree qualified in Food Science, Food Chemistry or a related discipline
10. Experience in end-to-end product development within supplements, nutrition, food or beverage
11. Strong understanding of ingredient functionality including vitamins, minerals, flavours, colours and sweeteners
12. Confident managing multiple projects in a fast-paced, customer-focused environment
13. Commercially aware with a problem-solving mindset
14. Passionate about nutrition, innovation and product excellence
Why Join?
15. Hybrid working model offering flexibility
16. Competitive salary with discretionary bonus
17. Health & wellbeing benefits including health cash plan
18. Subsidised gym membership
19. Ongoing training and career development
20. Collaborative, forward-thinking R&D culture