NPD Technologist

1. The Compleat Food Group’s brand strategy, category pipeline plans and growth aspirations as well as meeting all Compleat brand and/or customer standards.
2. To support in the effective delivery of the NPD, EPD and Continuous Improvement agenda across the group, in-line with the Compleat Food Group and customer category plans.
3. Follow the Compleat Food Group’s Product Launch Process effectively to deliver timely development of new and existing products in line with.

Job Purpose:

To support in the effective delivery of the NPD, EPD and Continuous Improvement agenda across the group, in-line with the Compleat Food Group and customer category plans. Follow the Compleat Food Group’s Product Launch Process effectively to deliver timely development of new and existing products in line with. The Compleat Food Group’s brand strategy, category pipeline plans and growth aspirations as well as meeting all Compleat brand and/or customer standards.

General: Effective delivery of the NPD / EPD process from kitchen handover to launch in line with customer category plans.

What Good Looks Like:

• Delivery of the NPD agenda to required cost and within agreed timescales. 
• Delivery of the scale up of products within site food safety and technical standards
• Responsible for all stages of critical path of projects with understanding of the implications and effects of deviations. 
• Work alongside other Development team members across multiple projects to bring new products and processes to life across multiple accounts.

Verify: Aid Process teams to move product from kitchen to factory, ensuring all aspects of product quality are met and delivers the agreed margin.

• Organise process trials, ensure objectives are set and communicated to all relevant teams prior to the trials.
• Support the ordering of new ingredients / packaging for trials and assess on arrival & through trials. 
• Carry out production trials in line with site standards, fully accountable for these being actioned in the factory, in all areas from make to wrap.
• Gather relevant information from trials including: – run rates, weights, settings, labour, washouts, data logging etc.
• Work closely with production and planning to determine optimum batch sizes / volumes and dual processing requirements when required.
• Liaise with relevant departments such as engineering where the is a requirement for new kit or where amends may be required. 
• Send product for shelf life and nutritional testing from factory trials; liaising with technical department for full sign off. 
• Complete storage trials and complete organoleptics.
• Complete re-heat validation &/or arrange relevant testing against customer code of practice. 
• Complete packaging and transit trials with support of packaging technologist when required.
• Liaise with site chefs and development managers for kitchen V factory verification panels (internal & external)
• Highlight any amends from product at handover to management for re-costing and paperwork amends.
• Accountable for the trial material within the factory ensuring standards are maintained across relevant sites.

Experience:     

• HND/Degree in food based/manufacturing subject (desirable).
• Food manufacturing experience within an FMCG environment. 
• HACCP / Food Safety Training/basic knowledge.

Key Skills:

• Planning, organisation and project management
• Communicating at different levels of seniority
• Presentation skills
• Identifying solutions
• Basic computing skills 

Qualities:

• A passion for food – Product tasting is required across multiple categories 
• Problem solving
• Enthusiasm to learn and grow
• Self Motivated
• Flexible attitude
• A team player with well-developed interpersonal skills