New Product Development Technologist

New Product Development Technologist

Join Our NPD team at The Compleat Food Group!

We’re excited to offer an excellent opportunity for NPD Technologist to join our dedicated NPD team at Harvey & Brockless in London.

About The Compleat Food Group

At The Compleat Food Group, we’re proud to be a food business built on purpose and passion. Formed in 2021, we’re on a mission to create Food to Feel Good – great quality, tasty and affordable food that people love to eat.

We’re home to some of the UK’s most exciting and loved food brands, including Wall’s Pastry, Pork Farms, Wrights, The Real Yorkshire Pudding Co., unearthed, Vadasz, Squeaky Bean, Palace Culture, and Harvey & Brockless. Alongside our branded portfolio, we’re a leading supplier of delicious own-label pastry, sweet bakery, party food, olives and antipasti, added-value egg products, continental meats, dips and sauces and plant-based food to the UK’s major retailers, as well as across foodservice.

With over 6,000 talented colleagues across 17 sites, and an annual turnover of £1.3bn, we’re united by a shared ambition to shape the future of food for the better.

We are backed by European private equity firm PAI Partners.

Working Hours: Monday – Friday: 9am – 5pm (flexible)

Location: London – Battersea, with travel to our Evesham site once a week

Salary: £35,000 – £40,000 per annum DOE

Job Purpose:

We are looking for an enthusiastic NPD Technologist to support the development, improvement and launch of products across the Harvey & Brockless and dell’ami ranges.

This is a fantastic opportunity for a Food Science graduate, or someone with relevant industry experience, looking to develop their technical, commercial and project management skills within a fast-paced food manufacturing environment.

The successful candidate will play a key role in supporting product development projects, ensuring all activity is accurately documented and managed in line with BRC and internal quality standards. Initially, the role will focus on sample creation and QAS management, with the opportunity to progress into areas such as product costings, factory trials, product launches, training and customer-led NPD projects over time.

Key Duties & Responsibilities:

New Product Development – Core Responsibilities:

• Support end-to-end New Product Development under the guidance of the Head of Food Development.
• Develop products to customer or internal briefs, including bespoke customer-specific products.
• Create and refine kitchen samples to meet agreed sensory, technical and commercial requirements.
• Accurately document development activity in line with BRC and internal quality systems.
• Maintain detailed, accurate and contemporaneous records throughout the development process.
• Manage multiple development projects, prioritising workload to meet customer and internal deadlines.

Quality & Food Safety (QAS):

• Own and maintain QAS records for products at development stage.
• Update QAS documentation in response to recipe, process or supplier changes.
• Communicate all QAS changes clearly to the Technical and Factory teams.
• Maintain an accessible and well-organised QAS record system.
• Log and manage weekly trial organoleptic tastings.
• Incorporate specific customer requirements into the QAS process.
• Work in line with Section 5.1 of the BRC Standard (NPD) and the internal Quality Manual.
• Attend development and HACCP review meetings as required.

Role Development & Progression:

• Prepare accurate and timely product costings.
• Support and lead factory trials, ensuring successful scale-up from kitchen to factory.
• Produce clear and effective process documentation.
• Deliver factory training for new product launches and process changes.
• Support and manage smooth product launches, including post-launch reviews.
• Progress to customer-facing NPD responsibility, managing selected customer development accounts.

Knowledge, Skills & Experience:

Essential

• Degree in Food Science, Food Technology or a related discipline.
• Some relevant food industry experience (placement, graduate role or similar).
• Good understanding of food safety, quality and hygiene principles.
• Strong interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills.
• Highly organised with excellent attention to detail.
• Willingness to learn and develop technical and commercial capability

Desirable

• Previous experience in NPD or a food manufacturing technical role.
• Exposure to BRC or similar food safety standards.
• Basic understanding of product costings and factory trials.
• Demonstrates strong food curiosity, with an active interest in ingredients, cuisines and flavours.
• Keeps up to date with emerging food trends, concepts and recipes and can translate inspiration into practical development ideas.

Personal Attributes

• Curious, proactive and enthusiastic about food development.
• Pragmatic and hands-on approach to problem solving.
• Able to work effectively across departments.
• Resilient and adaptable in a fast-paced development environment.

Benefits:

• 2 Employee Volunteering Days per year
• 22 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Online and High-street retailer discount scheme
• Employee well-being and community support groups
• Informal and Formal training opportunities with personalised online LMS platform
• Charity Initiatives and Team events
• 24/7 Access to Grocery Aid (Free Financial, Emotional and Practical Support)
• Physical Wellbeing Benefits – Free on demand exercise hub and various gym discounts.
• Online Wellbeing benefits
• Free Financial wellbeing – mortgage calculators

The Compleat Food Group fosters an inclusive, respectful culture where everyone feels safe, supported, and valued. We welcome diverse talent, knowing it drives exceptional results and a better workplace.

We are committed to Fairness, Equity, Inclusivity, and Respect, we ensure all colleagues can thrive by bringing their whole selves to work. As an equal opportunity’s employer, we provide all the support you need to succeed.

Contact us with any questions about Diversity & Inclusion or accessibility during the application process.

Recruitment Agencies: 

We have a small, active and trusted Preferred Supplier List to assist us if required. We do not acknowledge any speculative CVs or unsolicited candidate introductions. We only accept CV submissions for roles released to you directly by our Talent Acquisition team. 

If you would be interested in working with us please send a message to recruitment@compleatfood.com  and should we have any roles we need additional support with we will reach out to you.