NPD Technologist

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.

Key Accountabilities

What Good Looks Like

General:

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

Verify:

• Lead process teams documentation to support product development to an auditable standard.
• Work to Development documents and procedures ensuring the team follows appropriate guidelines and initiating amends where required.
• Support the writing of factory specifications.
• Attend HACCP meetings where required ensuring new raw materials are approved prior to arrival at site/trials commencing.
• Complete relevant documentation including process flow and site specific food safety documents, such as SUSSLE.
• Complete trial reports, distribute these accordingly and identify actions prior to next trials.
• Complete nutritional comparisons and review against customer standards and policies with relevant development manager, feeding back to customer as required.
• Collect samples for microbiological analysis and organise relevant testing. Arrange for review and sign off against customer standards and policies with technical department at site &/or group.
• Complete relevant paperwork following post trial data analysis and ensure sign off by relevant departments. Example: organoleptics, storage approvals and reheat validation.
• Gather information for document control approval.
• Support the writing of QAS and sign off of these at site.
• Ensure electronic and paper copies of products are organised and complete alongside relevant checklist in line with site standards. Initiate these being signed off by management to audit standard.
• Support site with artwork sign off.

Launch:

• Lead the launch of product to agreed standards.
• Support PPR meeting and support running of the trial making amends where required to ensure product and factory are launch ready.
• Support launch meetings and paperwork and ensure all relevant paperwork is complete.
• Efficient hand over of product at preproduction to Technical, Production teams & all departments.
• Check off BOM v recipe v costings prior to launch.
• Ensure all production shifts have been adequately trained to run the products, if not raise with management.
• Arrange & support in collection and sort of production samples to go to customers in line with relevant codes of practice.
• Review products once launched and follow up any process/ ingredient issues.

Review:

• To understand and drive proactive process development initiatives which push production boundaries.
• Support post-launch review.
• Support Technical teams, ongoing assessment of product quality through internal benchmarking against QAS sessions.
• Work with team to provide solutions to solve manufacturing problems on new & existing lines.
• Support feeding into the costing model with process knowledge, wastage figures and trial results to deliver accurate costings via the process development manager.
• Support driving continuous improvements and identify cost savings in reducing production costs / new ideas and ingredient potential to maximise cost savings and efficiency to business.
• Support in the liaising with suppliers to provide process and ingredient improvement.
• Demonstrate ability to communicate with various teams as required by manager.
• Work to Development documents and procedures.
• Support in sending samples out for customer requests.
• Support other sites as and when required.
• Appropriate communication (written and verbal) to teams and team members.
• To work as part of a team and not by customer head. Projects may be split so working on multi-customers.
• To work alongside the rest of the development team and be flexible in roles where required across the team.
• Attend relevant meetings, to communicate relevant information regarding trials / process improvement.
• Support the organising of customer visits.

Promote Health and Safety Culture

• Follow all H&S requirements during kitchen and process development work.

Promote safe working across site and advise immediately on unsafe work practices.

General

• May be required to carry out projects within the Compleat Food Group which may require time spent at other sites.
• Due to the nature of the role you may be required to cover weekends and night shifts.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

Experience: 

The right candidate will have a passion for food and an enthusiasm to learn on the job in a fast paced sector of the industry. The position is suitable for a candidate looking to start or continue their career within the food manufacturer industry with minimal experience.

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.
• 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.
• A team player with well-developed interpersonal skills.