Head of Packaging Development - 6 Month Fixed Term Contract

Location: London
Working Pattern: Monday - Friday
Overview: Passionate about food and want to play a key role in turning creative concepts into commercially viable products?
We’re working with a category leading food business looking to appoint a Concept Technologist to join its NPD team.

This is an exciting opportunity for a food focused technologist to work closely with Development Chefs and NPD Manager, helping take new food concepts from the initial brief through development, feasibility and ultimately into process handover.

You’ll sit at the heart of the development process, acting as the link between the creative side of food development and the wider technical, commercial and operational teams.

It’s a varied role combining food development, costing, raw material sourcing, product feasibility, process understanding and stakeholder management, giving you exposure to the full journey of bringing new food to life.

Why this role?
This isn’t a role where you’ll be purely focused on paperwork or technical compliance.

You’ll be working closely with chefs to help turn creative ideas into products that are great tasting, commercially viable and capable of being produced successfully at scale.

You’ll play an important role in making sure concepts are properly costed, recipes and processes are accurately set up, ingredients are sourced appropriately and production implications are considered early in the development process.

You’ll also become a key point of contact between Development Chefs, NPD/EPD, Procurement, Technical, Operations and Supply Chain, giving you visibility across the wider business and the opportunity to influence how new products move through development.

For someone who genuinely loves food and wants to build their career within new product development, it offers the chance to work alongside experienced chefs while developing a much broader understanding of the commercial and operational side of food development.

What will you be doing?
You’ll support the NPD and EPD Managers across the new food development process, including:

• Working closely with Development Chefs to ensure recipes are accurately set up and appropriately reflected within P74.
• Supporting accurate process set up, packaging understanding, labour assumptions and theoretical concept data.
• Working with site teams to validate labour models and understand production requirements.
• Ensuring new food is developed in line with brand values and nutritional guidelines.
• Preparing and delivering professional food presentations covering recipes, ingredients, costs, brand values, nutritionals and cooking methods.
• Completing concept development documentation accurately and within agreed timescales.
• Developing clear ingredient briefs and ensuring sourcing activity remains aligned with project critical paths.

About the business
Our client is an established food manufacturer with a strong focus on developing high-quality, commercially successful food products.

The NPD team brings together chefs, technologists and wider business functions to develop new concepts from the earliest stages through to operational handover.

This role sits at the centre of that process, working across Food Development, Procurement, Technical, Operations and Supply Chain to make sure creative ideas can ultimately become commercially and operationally viable products.

It’s an opportunity to join a collaborative development environment where food quality, creativity and commercial thinking all need to come together.

What are they looking for?
Essential

• A genuine passion for food, ingredients and new product development.
• Experience working within either NPD or EPD programmes.
• A Food Technology, Food Science or similar degree would be advantageous.
• Experience working with recipes, ingredients, costing or food development processes.
• Strong numerical and analytical skills, with the ability to understand and work with COGS and pricing.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple development activities simultaneously.
• Confident communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with chefs, technical specialists, procurement, supply chain and operational teams.

Desirable

• Experience within chilled food manufacturing, particularly chilled meals.
• Experience working alongside Development Chefs or within a chef led NPD environment.
• Experience with P74 or similar product development / costing systems.
• Experience with raw material sourcing and ingredient specifications.
• Experience with shelf-life testing, benchmarking and product tastings.
• Understanding of packaging, nutritional and labelling considerations.
• Experience supporting process improvement or implementing new ways of working.

What’s in it for you?

• £40,000 salary plus bonus & benefits.
• Exposure to the full new food development process, from concept brief through to process handover.
• The opportunity to develop your commercial understanding alongside your food and technical expertise.
• Genuine involvement in bringing new food concepts to life rather than simply supporting one part of the process.
• A role where your ideas, attention to detail and understanding of food can directly influence the success of new products.
• Scope to take ownership of projects and develop your experience within a growing food development environment.

Why speak to True North Talent?
We're specialists in food and drink manufacturing recruitment, so we understand the development, culinary, technical, commercial and manufacturing landscape you're working in.

If you’re a Concept Technologist, NPD Technologist, Development Technologist, Food Technologist or food-focused NPD professional looking for a role where you can work closely with chefs and gain broader exposure across the product development process, we’d love to have a confidential conversation.

Interested?
If you have the desired experience, please send your CV quoting ref JO/TNT/3424, or call 0161 399 1575 / 07830 944145 for a confidential discussion.

We may hold your data, as per our privacy policy detailed on our website.

We are only able to consider candidates who have the legal right to work in the UK at the time of application. Unfortunately, due to the high volume of applications we receive, we can only contact successful applicants.
 

Location: London
Working Pattern: Monday - Friday

Overview: Passionate about food and want to play a hands on role in turning new product concepts into successful, repeatable production?
We’re working with a well trusted client food manufacturer looking to appoint a Process Technologist to join its NPD team.

This role is hands on and supports the development journey from initial concept through production trials, launch and post-launch, making sure new food can be produced consistently, efficiently and to the required quality standards.

Whilst having a strong presence within the kitchen, a major part of the role will be leading production trials - making sure everyone is aligned, objectives are clear, trials are properly planned and the resulting product meets the agreed quality and sign-off standards.

Why this role?
This is much more than a documentation or NPD support position.
You’ll lead production trials, organise validations, run tastings and provide clear recommendations following each trial. You’ll then continue supporting products through launch and into post-launch, helping production and technical teams maintain the required quality.

There’s also a strong problem-solving element to the role. When production or process issues arise, you’ll be involved in understanding what has happened, identifying root causes and helping implement practical solutions.

For someone who enjoys being close to food, people and manufacturing, it offers the opportunity to develop broad experience across NPD, process technology, food quality, manufacturing trials and continuous improvement.

What will you be doing?

You’ll support the NPD/EPD & Process Manager throughout the development process, including:

• Leading production trials and ensuring all stakeholders are aligned throughout each stage of the project.
• Planning trials against agreed critical paths and working closely with Planning to ensure the required resources and timings are in place.
• Leading pre and post trial meetings and ensuring effective cross-functional engagement.
• Setting clear objectives for each trial and communicating recommendations, outcomes and next steps.
• Organising and completing product validations including organoleptic, cooking, freezer and transit testing.
• Ensuring product costings are accurate and updated on P74 throughout development.

About the business
Our client is an established food business with a strong focus on developing and producing high-quality food products.

The NPD team works across chefs, technologists and wider business functions to take new concepts from development through to successful operational launch.

This Process Technologist role is a key part of that journey, ensuring that new products are not only great from a food perspective, but can also be validated, produced consistently and delivered successfully within the manufacturing environment.

The role also gives you the opportunity to work with a broad range of teams including Head of Food, Development Chefs, Technical, Production, Procurement and Supply Chain.


What are they looking for?
Essential

• Experience working within either NPD or EPD programmes.
• Previous experience within food manufacturing.
• Experience within chilled meals would be advantageous.
• HACCP Level 2.
• Food Technology, Food Science or a similar degree.
• Experience supporting or leading production trials.
• Strong understanding of food quality and manufacturing processes.
• Good analytical and problem-solving skills, including root cause analysis.
• Strong attention to detail and a highly accurate approach to documentation and systems.

Desirable

• Experience taking products from NPD through production trials and into launch.
• Experience with shelf life, cooking, freezer or transit validations.
• Experience with P74 and/or Syspro.
• Having previously worked with food quality audits and BRC requirements.
• Experience in process improvement or continuous improvement.
• Experience investigating material variance, process issues or production quality problems.
• Experience delivering training to production or technical teams.

What’s in it for you?

• £35,000 salary plus bonus & benefits.
• A hands-on role covering the full journey from concept through trials, launch and post-launch.
• Significant exposure to food manufacturing, process technology, quality and NPD.
• The opportunity to lead production trials and directly influence how new products are manufactured.
• A varied role combining food development with problem solving, process improvement and operational support.
• The opportunity to develop your project management and stakeholder management skills.
• The chance to work on new food products and see your work progress from development kitchen through to production.
• A role where you can make a visible contribution to food quality and manufacturing performance.

Why speak to True North Talent?
We're specialists in food and drink manufacturing recruitment, so we understand the development, culinary, technical, quality and manufacturing landscape you're working in.

If you’re a Process Technologist, NPD Technologist, Food Technologist, Development Technologist or food manufacturing professional looking for a hands-on role where you can work across product trials, manufacturing and continuous improvement, we’d love to have a confidential conversation.

Interested?
If you have the desired experience, please send your CV quoting ref JO/TNT/3425, or call 0161 399 1575 / 07830 944145 for a confidential discussion.

We may hold your data, as per our privacy policy detailed on our website.

We are only able to consider candidates who have the legal right to work in the UK at the time of application. Unfortunately, due to the high volume of applications we receive, we can only contact successful applicants.
 

Location: Greater Manchester
Overview: Great opportunity for a Senior Packaging Technologist to join a leading food manufacturer in this unique opportunity. Whilst there is no guarantee, as they are part of a group, there may be opportunities elsewhere after the contract finishes. This is a busy, demanding role where you will need to hit the ground running.

About You:
•    As a Senior Packaging Technologist, you will need to demonstrate strong packaging experience, ideally within flexible packaging and corrugate.
•    You will be delivery focused, with determination, self-motivation, drive and a strong instinct to look for efficiency in the way you work and the products you develop.
•    You will have a strong presence and exceptional influencing skills, with the confidence to project yourself well and build trust and credibility as the packaging expert within the business.
•    Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with a collaborative approach. You will be comfortable working closely with colleagues across the business, manufacturing teams, suppliers and customers.
•    This is a fast-paced business that can often operate more like a start-up, so you will need plenty of energy, be adaptable and comfortable when priorities change or projects need to move in a different direction.
•    You will be resilient and comfortable working in an environment where expectations are high and feedback is direct. As the key packaging contact within the business, you will be happy working independently, taking ownership and dealing with a varied and sometimes challenging workload.

What will you be doing?
•    Deliver packaging expertise across the business to ensure they are legal and compliant.
•    Executes development projects to meet the business needs for sustainability, innovation, cost reduction and quality improvements.
•    Ensure that quality expectations are met in terms of packaging quality and performance.
•    As Packaging Technologist, you will be supporting projects where packing expertise is required.
•    Create packaging briefs for existing and innovation pipeline.
•    Working closely with all departments, suppliers and customers.

What can they offer you?
This is a great business to work for. Opportunities exist within not only your department but in the wider business too.

We are seeking applications from talented Packaging Technologists, Senior Packaging Technologists, Packaging Technologists, Materials & Packaging Technologists and Packaging Innovation Technologists who live within Greater Manchester and surrounding areas, such as Bolton, Oldham Bury, Rochdale, Stockport, Cheshire and Warrington.

How to Apply
If you have the desired qualifications and experience, please send your CV quoting re CH/TNT/3356 or call 0161 399 1575 / 07899 686690 for a confidential discussion.

True North Talent is recognised as a trusted supplier of permanent, contract and interim recruitment services to the food manufacturing and FMCG industries. Our teams of specialist recruiters operate across food manufacturing Operations Jobs, food manufacturing Engineering jobs, food manufacturing Technical jobs, food manufacturing NPD jobs, food manufacturing Supply Chain jobs and food manufacturing Commercial jobs. We may hold your data, as per our privacy policy detailed on our website.

We are only able to consider candidates who have the full legal right to work in the UK. Unfortunately, due to the high volume of applications we receive, we can only contact successful applicants.

Location: Teesside
Overview: We're working with a well-established and growing fresh food manufacturer looking to appoint an NPD Manager to lead the site's New Product Development function.

This is a fantastic opportunity to join a fast-paced manufacturing business where you'll take ownership of the end-to-end NPD process, bringing innovative food-to-go products from concept through to launch while ensuring they meet customer expectations, commercial objectives and operational capabilities.

Working closely with Technical, Operations, Commercial, Procurement and Supply Chain, you'll play a key role in delivering exciting product innovation, continuous improvement and successful customer launches within a dynamic chilled food environment.

About You:
•    An experienced NPD Manager, Senior NPD Technologist or Development professional with a strong background in food manufacturing, ideally within chilled, fresh food or food-to-go production.
•    Proven experience managing the end-to-end product development process from concept through to successful factory launch.
•    Strong understanding of food manufacturing processes, customer requirements, food safety and quality standards.
•    Experienced in working with major retailers or foodservice customers, translating customer briefs into commercially successful products.
•    A confident communicator with excellent project management skills and the ability to influence stakeholders across multiple departments.
•    Passionate about food innovation, consumer trends and delivering products that exceed customer expectations.

What will you be doing?
•    Leading the site's New Product Development function, managing projects from initial concept through to successful factory launch.
•    Working closely with customers to understand briefs, develop innovative product concepts and deliver commercially viable solutions.
•    Collaborating with Technical, Operations, Procurement, Commercial and Supply Chain teams to ensure products are manufacturable, cost-effective and meet quality standards.
•    Managing product trials, factory launches and first production runs, ensuring a smooth transition into manufacturing.
•    Driving continuous improvement across existing product ranges, identifying opportunities for recipe optimisation, cost reduction and product enhancement.
•    Monitoring food trends, consumer insights and market developments to generate innovative product ideas.
•    Managing development timelines, ensuring projects are delivered on time and in line with customer expectations.
•    Supporting presentations, customer tastings and internal innovation sessions to showcase new product concepts.

What can they offer you?
•    The opportunity to join a successful and growing food manufacturing business with an exciting pipeline of new product development.
•    A varied role where you'll have genuine influence over product innovation and customer relationships.
•    The chance to work with major retail and foodservice customers on exciting product launches.
•    A collaborative environment where Technical, Operations and Commercial teams work closely together to deliver success.
•    Excellent opportunities for career progression within a forward-thinking and ambitious business.

We are seeking applications from talented NPD Managers, Senior NPD Technologists, Development Managers, Product Development Managers, Innovation Managers, Process Managers, Senior Development Technologists and NPD Project Managers who live within  Stockton-on-Tees, Darlington, Redcar, Hartlepool, Northallerton, Thirsk, Durham, Sunderland, York, Newcastle upon Tyne and the surrounding areas.

How to Apply: 
If you have the desired qualifications and experience, please send your CV quoting ref IC/TNT/3317, or call 0161 399 1575 / 07447 735175 for a confidential discussion.

True North Talent is recognised as a trusted supplier of permanent, contract and interim recruitment services to the food manufacturing and FMCG industries. Our specialist recruiters operate across food manufacturing Operations Jobs, Engineering Jobs, Technical Jobs, NPD Jobs, Supply Chain Jobs and Commercial Jobs. We may hold your data in accordance with our privacy policy, available on our website.

We are only able to consider candidates who have the legal right to work in the UK at the time of application. Unfortunately, due to the high volume of applications we receive, we can only contact successful applicants.


 

Location: Greater Manchester
Overview: Our client is a well-established food manufacturer with an excellent reputation for product innovation and quality. Due to continued growth and an exciting pipeline of new product development projects, they are looking to strengthen their Development Team with the appointment of a Product Developer.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone with previous NPD experience to take ownership of exciting development projects, working closely with customers and internal teams to bring innovative products from concept through to successful launch.

Key Responsibilities:

• As Product Developer, you will manage new product development and existing product improvement projects from concept through to launch.
• Develop products in line with customer briefs, market trends and commercial objectives, ensuring products meet both quality and cost expectations.
• Work closely with Technical, Production and Packaging teams throughout the development process, coordinating factory trials and supporting successful product launches.
• Source raw materials and support packaging development whilst managing products through a structured development process.
• Build strong relationships with customers, supporting presentations, product submissions and innovation projects across the business.
• Support junior members of the development team, providing guidance and contributing to continuous improvement initiatives.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Previous experience within a Product Developer, Development Technologist or similar NPD role within food manufacturing.
• Experience managing products through the full development lifecycle, including factory trials and product validation.
• Experience within a fast-paced food manufacturing environment, with exposure to cross-functional project teams.
• Experience working with major retailers or foodservice customers would be advantageous.
• Degree qualified in Food Science, Food Technology or a related discipline, or equivalent industry experience.
• Strong communication, organisational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple development projects simultaneously.

Benefits:

• Opportunity to join a well-established and growing food manufacturer.
• Exciting role developing innovative products for high-profile customers.
• Collaborative and supportive working environment with genuine opportunities for career progression.
• Join a business with a strong focus on innovation, continuous improvement and employee development.

We are seeking applications from talented Product Developers, Development Technologists, NPD Technologists, Product Development Technologists, Food Technologists, and Process Technologists who live within Greater Manchester, Oldham, Bolton, Rochdale, Bury, Blackburn, Stockport, Wigan, Cheshire and surrounding areas.

How to Apply:
If you have the desired qualifications and experience, please send your CV quoting re DW/TNT/3216 or phone 0161 399 1575 or 07830 944183 for a confidential discussion.

True North Talent is recognised as a trusted supplier of permanent, contract and interim recruitment services to the food manufacturing and FMCG industries. Our teams of specialist recruiters operate across Operations/Engineering/Technical/NPD/Supply Chain and Commercial. We may hold your data, as per our privacy policy detailed on our website.

We are only able to consider candidates who have the full legal right to work in the UK Unfortunately, due to the high volume of applications we receive, we can only contact successful applicants.
 

Location: UK
Overview: Our client is seeking a creative Interim Development Chef to develop their products that meet the evolving needs of consumers in their category.

The Candidate:
•    Experience as a development chef within a food manufacturing environment
•    Expertise in recipe development and culinary innovation, preferably in a fast paced food manufacturing business
•    Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
•    Proficient in cost management and production efficiency strategies
•    Strong communication and collaboration skills

The Role:
•    Recipe development and innovation, creating and developing insight led new ready meal concepts, working as part of the development chef team, innovate with new ingredients, cooking techniques, and packaging solutions to differentiate products in the marketplace
•    Continuously refine products based on feedback from consumer panels, customer 
•    Develop recipes that meet target cost parameters while maintaining high quality and taste standards
•    Work with procurement teams to source cost-effective ingredients without compromising on quality
•    Provide training and support to production staff on the implementation of new recipes and techniques
•    As the Development Chef, support a culture of innovation and continuous improvement within the NPD team

The Offering:
Day Rate, dependant on experience, plus expenses.

We are seeking applications from Development Chefs, Innovation Chefs, Product Development Chefs, Menu Development Chefs, R&D Chefs, Research and Development Chefs, Food Innovation Chefs.

True North Talent is recognised as a trusted supplier of permanent, contract and interim recruitment services to the food manufacturing and FMCG industries. Our teams of specialist recruiters operate across food manufacturing Operations Jobs, food manufacturing Engineering jobs, food manufacturing Technical jobs, food manufacturing NPD jobs, food manufacturing Supply Chain jobs and food manufacturing Commercial jobs. We may hold your data, as per our privacy policy detailed on our website.

We are only able to consider candidates who have the legal right to work in the UK at the time of application. Unfortunately, due to the high volume of applications we receive, we can only contact successful applicants.