Job Advert
Join Our NPD Team at The Compleat Food Group!
We have a fantastic opportunity for a Product Developer to join our brilliant team!
At The Compleat Food Group we never just make food. We make food to feel good, taste good and do good for everyone.
Our aim is to delight our customers and consumers every day, creating the best possible foods for shoppers needs and budgets.
Our ability to drive category growth for our customers is through our focus on understanding our consumers and our relentless
pursuit of innovation – we have the courage to think differently.
We work at the correct pace to make clear decisions and deliver on our commitments on time every time. Quality is at the heart of
everything we do, always. We take in pride in everything we produce.
We value everybody who works in our organisation. Everyone is treated with respect and encouraged to thrive and develop. Together
we will become number one for culture.
We are looking to recruit a Product Developer for our dips category to drive innovation and product development in line with
customer and brand requirements. This role focuses on creating new products and adapting existing ones to meet commercial targets
while ensuring successful scale-up to production.
The ideal candidate will collaborate closely with internal teams and external partners to deliver high-quality product launches on
time. Strong relationship-building skills and a passion for developing market-leading dips are essential for success in this role.
Location: Flexible but with extensive travel to Ebbw Vale in Wales
Hours: Monday – Friday: 8:30am – 5pm with an early finish on Fridays!
Salary: Competitive
Principle Accountabilities:
* Responsible for developing products on time and to budget
* Supporting the delivery of the innovation agenda - building the pipeline of ideas, supporting scoping new projects and actively
participating in internal and external innovation sessions.
* Ensure concepts are relevant for audience and meet strategic goals
* First point of contact for customers for development - building positive pro-active relationships with customer product
development teams
* Working collaboratively with cross-functional team to ensure feasibility of products that are developed in line with TCFG and
customer strategy and policies.
* Leading the product presentation in the feasibility meeting.
* Actively working with teams to solve issues and ensure concepts are able to be made to scale and meet sustainability criteria
* Working with culinary teams (where required) to create and refine recipes and packaging team to develop appropriate packaging
solutions. Assisting with sourcing and viability of new RMs.
* Ensuring Recipe Professor is accurate throughout the process.
* Create and/or ensure accurate NPD paperwork (feasibility documents, submission forms, handovers, nutritional info etc)
* Ensure product recipes meet appropriate food quality standards alongside commercial targets and within brand standards.
* Ensure benchmarking is carried out accurately and comprehensively present at internal and external presentations.
* Actively demonstrate passion for food and a good understanding of market and food trends.
* Compile critical paths and lead the ownership of these - escalating issues and mitigating risks to ensure product launches on
time
* Attend factory trials and sign off panels to ensure production quality matches the kitchen quality signed off by the customer
* All projects to be logged and tracker maintained to allow for accurate and frequent business reporting
* Consideration and inclusion of ESG objectives for development. Supporting data input and collation as required.
* Checking and approving artwork to ensure it meets specification and marketing requirements
* Manage team performance and personal development utilising One Compleat Framework (where required)
* Acting as the 'go to' NPD contact for home site - supporting the wider central NPD team with product knowledge, product sign
off and general support at site level when required
Key Performance Indicators:
* Feedback from peers and customers
* Quality & accuracy of information
* Timely and accurate completion of tasks
* Appropriate and timely escalation
* Building a demonstrable understanding of RM parameters and production requirements
* Facilitating successful feasibility presentations
* Confidence in providing intelligent solutions to problem solving
* Gaining and developing knowledge to independently propose recipe development solutions
* Develop awareness of costing pitfalls/robustness of costing provided
* Understanding the appropriate level of challenge in taste panels and supporting the resolution of issues
* Support the delivery of ESG targets and building them proactively into product development
Knowledge, Skills and Experience Required:
Qualifications:
* Food based degree - desirable
* 3 years plus experience in retail or FMCG product development role
Key Skills:
* Extensive knowledge of product launch process ideally within FMCG environment
* Excellent communication skills both verbal and written
* Strong planning, organisation and project management skills
* Good analytical and numeracy skills
* Attention to detail
* Good level of computer literacy – Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Teams – Recipe Professor desirable
* Understanding of UK and European food regulation and legislation
* Driving Licence – desirable
* Good knowledge and understanding of our customers, products and brands.
Benefits to Include:
* 4% Matched Pension
* 33 Days annual leave
* 2 Employee Volunteering Days per year
* 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, budget tools, financial aid tools
* Holiday Discounts via Online Retail Discount
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 [recruitment@compleatfood.com]
and should we have any roles we need additional support with we will reach out to you.