Are you passionate about food and looking to accelerate your career in a fast-paced, innovation-led environment?

This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in driving concept-to-launch innovation across multiple categories for major UK retailers, including M&S, Waitrose, and Sainsbury’s. With plenty of progression on offer and a collaborative team culture, this hybrid role is perfect for someone ready to take their career to the next level.

‍

As a Product Development Technologist, you will be responsible for (but not limited to):

• Being the driving force behind product development, from concept to launch.
• Staying informed on consumer trends, markets, and category insights.
• Proactively identifying new product opportunities or improvements to existing SKUs.
• Leading engaging showcases, innovation days, and safaris to bring ideas to life.
• Holding regular benchmarking sessions to assess product quality, category competitiveness, and future potential.
• Focusing on the next 6–12 months of the innovation pipeline and progressing ideas through to reality.
• Collaborating with Category teams to justify and shape future product launches.
• Building strong relationships with suppliers and procurement to source ingredients and foster innovation partnerships.
• Managing the delivery of NPD/EPD projects, aligning with Project Managers on critical paths and cross-functional collaboration.
• Taking a hands-on approach to sample preparation and overseeing factory trials.
• Working closely with internal and customer-facing technical teams to meet all technical requirements and standards.
• Maintaining thorough product trial records and writing up product CQM documentation.
• Supporting operational teams with NPD launch training, ensuring effective kitchen scale-up and communication of product requirements.
• Building strong relationships with internal teams, customers, and suppliers.
• Applying commercial awareness to product feasibility, costings, and ingredient sourcing.
• Thriving in a fast-paced, action-driven environment.

‍

To be successful in this role, you’ll bring:

• Demonstrable experience in product development or food manufacturing, ideally within Fresh/FMCG.
• Experience with value-added ingredients or product ranges.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills across all levels.
• Strong commercial awareness and technical understanding.
• The ability to support decisions with data and clear rationale.
• A proactive approach to problem-solving.
• HACCP / Food Safety training or foundational knowledge.
• Understanding of retailer processes and technical requirements.
• Strong organisational skills and ability to manage multiple projects.
• HND/Degree in a food-related or manufacturing discipline.

‍

What's In It For You?

• £35,000.00 - £45,000.00 per annum
• Hybrid working: 3–4 days per week in the office
• Opportunity to work with top UK retailers across a multi-category portfolio
• Clear career progression and development opportunities
• A collaborative and innovation-focused team environment

‍

Ready to bring your passion for food to life?
Want to learn more?

‍

ID 183