New Product Development Technologist

Dovecote Park Ltd; Pontefract; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

A family business in the food industry is seeking a New Product Development Technologist in Pontefract. You will translate concepts into feasible product formulations while working with the NPD team. Ideal candidates will have kitchen experience and a solid foundation in computer skills. The role offers a salary between £28,000 and £32,000, alongside various benefits including onsite gym and subsidized canteen.

Benefits

Free onsite parking

Staff shop

Onsite Gym open 24/7

Subsidised canteen

Cycle to Work scheme

Dovecote Rewards scheme

Yearly attendance bonus

Qualifications

• Solid grounding of computer skills required.
• Experience in kitchen is essential.
• Good understanding of meat desirable.

Responsibilities

• Translate concepts to factory-friendly recipes.
• Combine ideas for flavors and concepts.
• Support the NPD team in product concepts.
• Work closely on innovation projects.
• Champion food trends and insights.
• Maintain development paperwork.

Skills

Computer skills on Word, Excel and PowerPoint

Kitchen experience

Understanding of meat

Excellent communication skills

Attention to detail

Relationship building skills

Ability to balance workload

Job description

Role: New Product Development Technologist

Salary: Between £28,000 and £32,000 per annum (dependent on experience)

Contract: Permanent

Hours: Monday to Friday, 8am to 4:30pm

Location: Stapleton nr Pontefract

We are a family business established in Yorkshire since 1997 based in Pontefract with a reputation for exceptional product, innovation and industry leading animal welfare standards. Our facilities combine traditional British butchery technique with some of the best technological prowess in the food sector.

A committed team of over 700 staff oversee the whole process: from procuring the best possible livestock from our carefully picked group of farms, through butchery, retail packaging and despatch before it finally arrives on the supermarket shelf or as part of the restaurant dining experience.

About you:

• A solid grounding of computer skills required on Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• Previous Kitchen experience is essential
• A good understanding of meat desirable
• Excellent communications skills with all stakeholder and clients
• Has good attention to detail and has accurate records
• Can build a positive relationship, internally and externally with customers
• Can balance and prioritise a diverse workload

Role:

• Translate blue‑sky concepts to factory‑friendly recipe formulations
• To combine innovative and creative ideas in new flavours and concepts to present to customers in line with cuisine trends and product development principles.
• Support the wider NPD team in delivering feasible product concepts that fit the criteria of the internal product development framework
• Working closely with members of the NPD team to carry out all associated innovation projects and other work in line with critical path. This includes kitchen concept samples, factory feasibility trials, marketing samples and handover to technical samples
• Champion food trends, through a proactive approach and self‑education of food trends. This is to be undertaken by attending shows, exhibitions, restaurants, carrying out competitor analysis and social media. Using this insight to drive a food culture within the business that puts our products and innovation at the heart of what we do.
• Be a go‑to member of the NPD team for keeping up to date on restaurant, chef and new ingredients inspirations
• Works closely with key stakeholders with DCP to ensure that all concepts can be delivered and all associated innovation projects and other work are delivered in line with agreed critical path.
• Maintaining the filing of development paperwork in line with department standards
• Develops and sustains a close customer relationship, interacting in such a way as to take the lead on category‑led development. Ability to respond to issues raised by the customer and provides creative and lateral thinking solutions
• Ensure that when required VIP lunches are delivered to the required food and trend standard
• Ensure that samples are made and sent to the correct standard with communication with the project lead of customer
• Manage the internal testing on new ingredients to determine the feasibility prior to industrialisation, complying a report with images during the stage gate process of product development

Benefits:

• Free onsite parking
• Staff shop, with products as low as £1
• Onsite Gym open 24/7
• Subsidised canteen
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Dovecote Rewards scheme where you’ll find discounts at over a 1000 retailers.
• Yearly attendance bonus – (qualifying criteria)