Location
Dudley, West Midlands | United Kingdom
Job description
About the Role:
Are you the innovative type with a proactive and naturally creative nature? Are you looking for a new challenge in your NPD career?
As an inclusive, forward-thinking business, we take pride in our approach to New Product Development across Avara Foods and are looking for a highly competent and motivated Development Technologist to join our NPD Team, based at our Hereford or Dudley/Wednesbury sites.
This is a fantastic opportunity for a self-focused "foodie", with a logical approach to their tasks and a customer focused mind.
Purpose of the role: As an NPD Technologist you will support the NPD Development Product Manager in developing and delivering upon NPD initiatives for your business unit area. You will report directly to the New Product Development Manager, and work closely with cross functional teams such as Technical, Operations, Commercial, Planning & Procurement teams to identify requirements and plan schedules of work for product delivery.
Travel to suppliers, customers & Avara manufacturing sites will be required on a weekly basis.
Your key responsibilities will include:
- Category and Market Knowledge: Have an awareness of the retail and food service markets and current products / ranges in your area.
- Support internal and external benchmarking sessions.
- Complete product information sheets for all competitor products as required.
- Manage the NPD Programme: Develop products to agreed customer briefs and present for internal & customer approval.
- Work with suppliers to develop products to customer briefs.
- Use Point 74 Recipe Professor system through development programmes to agreed procedure.
- Support customer presentations ensuring all required documentation has been completed.
- Attend Business Unit NPD Meetings as required.
- Ensure all development activity is completed in line with NPD Procedures and Processes and information is correctly and accurately recorded.
- Deliver the Launch Programme: Work in conjunction with technical & operations to organise and execute production trials and manage subsequent shelf-life assessments, organoleptic testing, cooking instruction verification, and nutritional sample analysis.
- Occasional weekend working will be required to complete Organoleptic Assessments.
- Use production trials to generate information to validate the product costing.
- Liaise with the site-based Operations and Technical teams to plan the Product launch.
- Manage launches to ensure the product complies with the specification and meets the agreed quality parameters.
What we are looking for:
- Experience in developing and launching new products with retail and food service customers.
- Experience of working within product development in an FMCG environment.
- Managing critical paths and coordinating internal departments to ensure successful product launches.
- Knowledge of the functional characteristics of food ingredients.
- Have a thorough understanding of the product development process from concept through to launch with previous experience of adherence to Retailers NPD systems.
- Able to work under your own initiative.
- Computer literate.
- Methodical approach, able to ascertain clear requirements from stakeholders
- Highly accurate with excellent attention to detail.
- Full UK Driving License.
Desirable
- A recognised qualification in Food Sciences or related subject areas.
- Experience of working within product development in an FMCG environment – ideally Meat/Poultry.
- Knowledge of food labelling and ingredient regulatory requirements
A little about us:
Avara Foods is one of the UK’s largest food businesses, supplying chicken and turkey to the nation’s most popular supermarkets and restaurants. We are a fully integrated business controlling the whole product supply chain, which include feed mills, farms, hatcheries and factories with associated transport and logistics functions that employ more than 7000 people. This is achieved by investing in people, utilising the latest technology and being uncompromising in our commitment to high quality and food standards.
What’s in it for you?
As aDevelopment Technologist you will enjoy a secure, supportive and progressive working environment, where your contribution and achievements will be recognised and rewarded.
We offer comprehensive training as well as continuous development as you build your career with us. You can also look forward to benefits that amongst other things include the following:
- 31 Days Holiday
- 6% Pension
- Private Medical Insurance
- Life Insurance
- Various lifestyle benefits, including wellbeing resources
If you’re ready to work in a dynamic environment alongside talented people who take pride in delivering great results, apply today!
We are committed to being an equal opportunities employer.
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