Senior Concept and Process Technologist

Pay: £38,000.00-£45,000.00 per year

Got big ideas and a love for cheese?

We’re growing our team and looking for a Senior Concept & Process Technologist to drive exciting new concepts through to launch. If you’re passionate about innovation, process excellence, and turning great ideas into reality. Lets Talk .

Overview
The Senior Concept and Process Technologist support the successful delivery of product development projects from concept to launch across branded, own-label, and foodservice sectors. Serving as the key link between product development and manufacturing, the role ensures a seamless transition from kitchen development to full-scale production. Key responsibilities include generating new concepts and product and packaging ideas, leading factory trials, identifying and mitigating process risks, and ensuring compliance with food safety, quality, and customer requirements through close collaboration with Operations, Engineering, and Technical teams.

MAJOR ACTIVITIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

(Job role primarily includes, but is not limited to)

1. Innovation & Market Research

• Champion new product development from concept and kitchen trials through to full-scale launch for UK retail, export, foodservice, and B2B, including branded and own-label ranges.
• Lead packaging innovation, working alongside our packaging suppliers to create cost-effective packaging solutions.
• Research market trends, emerging innovations, and competitor activity to inspire new product concepts.
• Contribute to long-term PD strategy through blue-sky innovation, supplier collaboration, and customer presentations.
• Participate in food exhibitions and benchmarking activities to maintain industry awareness.

2. Recipe & Product Development (Concept to Factory)

• Develop and refine flavours, formats, and recipes, ensuring allergen compliance and regulatory adherence.
• Source and cost new raw materials, support recipe approvals, and assess new raw materials with suppliers to meet product briefs.
• Prepare samples and documentation for product submissions, tastings, and internal/external presentations.
• Participate in organoleptic panels and taste evaluations to ensure consistent product quality.

3. Factory Trials & First Production Runs

• Plan, organise, run, and evaluate factory and packing trials, including first production runs.
• Capture and report trial data (yields, weights, quality metrics) and communicate findings to relevant teams.
• Support EPD trials, transit trials, and production validation, identifying and resolving issues promptly.

4. Materials & Sample Coordination

• Maintain ingredient, sample, and trial stock, ensuring freshness, quality, correct allergen labelling, and rotation.
• Prepare and package product samples as required for trials, submissions, or customer engagement.
• Validate product costings and coordinate shelf-life, nutrition, pH, and water activity testing with technical teams.

5. Documentation, Compliance & Systems

• Develop, update, and maintain technical documentation to support trials, product launches, and process modifications.
• Ensure accurate input into systems (Qpulse/M3) and manage product handover information for seamless transition to production teams.
• Prepare Gate documentation, QAS, submission forms, and handover documents, ensuring compliance with internal standards.

6. Customer & Co-Packer Collaboration

• Build and manage relationships with customers, co-packers, and co-manufacturers throughout development and launch.
• Define and communicate production and quality standards during trials and first production runs.
• Support customer and supplier presentations, tastings, and PD meetings.
• Ensure alignment with retailer codes of practice and regulatory requirements for own-label and branded product launches.

7.Quality, Food Safety & Compliance

• Ensure all products meet internal standards, regulatory requirements, HACCP, and customer codes of practice.
• Conduct shelf-life, microbiological, and other product validation studies; interpret results and escalate any out-of-specification issues.
• Maintain audit-ready product files, documentation, and trial records.
• Support internal and external audits, ensuring full traceability and compliance with safety and quality standards.

8. Product Development and Lifecycle Management

• Lead by example to ensure adherence to the gated product development (PD) process.
• Coordinate and support all stages of PD, including kick-off, factory trials, Gate 2.5 and Gate 3 activities.
• Track actions, escalate risks, and maintain cross-functional alignment across development, technical, and operations teams.
• Provide cover for the PD Manager as required.

BACKGROUND & PROFILE:

Essential:

• Degree (or equivalent) in Food Technology, Food Science, or Nutrition
• 3+ years’ experience in Product Development / Process within FMCG food manufacturing.
• Proven product and packaging development experience, including factory trials.
• Strong operational, hands-on approach with good organisational skills.

Experience across process, technical and product development,

• Proven customer-facing experience within UK retail environments.
• Knowledge of BRC audits, gated development processes, and UK retailer Own Label codes of practice.
• Experience in branded product development and retailer/customer-facing audits.
• Strong communication, influencing, and interpersonal skills with cross-functional team working.
• Analytical and problem-solving capability, including data interpretation, with good PC skills

Desirable:

• Experience in chilled foods, particularly dairy and cheese.
• Experience managing co-packer relationships and collaborating with them to develop and launch products.
• Product development experience for export markets.
• Food Safety Level 3 and HACCP trained.
• Experience presenting to auditors.