Existing Product Technologist

Job Description

Existing Product Development Technologist – Food Manufacturing

Location: Coventry
Salary: £35,000
Working Hours: Site-based | Monday–Friday

DR Newitt is working with a leading food manufacturer to recruit an Existing Product Development Technologist to join their UK NPD team based in Coventry.

This role sits at the heart of the factory operation, supporting cost‑saving initiatives, ingredient changes, process improvements and existing product development projects across multiple manufacturing sites.

The business is looking for someone with strong food manufacturing experience who is confident working cross‑functionally with Operations, Technical, Procurement and Engineering teams. This opportunity would suit someone from a Quality, Technical, Process or Production background looking to move into a more development‑focused role while remaining highly operational and factory‑facing.

This is a fast‑paced, hands‑on role where communication skills, analytical thinking and confidence working with production teams are essential.

• Lead and support factory trials:
  Coordinate and support factory trials, capturing process settings, production data, waste levels and trial outcomes to ensure efficient development activity.
• Drive existing product development projects:
  Support ingredient changes, procurement‑led projects, contingency planning, decomplexity initiatives and operational improvements across existing product ranges.
• Ensure products are operationally robust:
  Work closely with factory teams to ensure products perform effectively on existing equipment and meet target costs and waste expectations.
• Complete technical documentation:
  Produce trial reports, recommendations, QAS documentation and ensure all associated costs are accurately recorded and communicated.
• Support testing and product validation:
  Coordinate nutritional, microbiological and organoleptic testing while managing customer sample requests where required.
• Work cross‑functionally across the business:
  Communicate development updates clearly with Technical, Operations, Purchasing, Packaging, Planning and Engineering teams.

• Food manufacturing experience (essential):
  Previous experience within food manufacturing is essential, ideally within Technical, Quality, Process or Product Development functions.
• Strong communication skills:
  Able to build relationships across factory teams and communicate effectively with multiple stakeholders.
• Analytical and data‑driven mindset:
  Comfortable capturing, analysing and interpreting production and trial data to support decision‑making.
• Hands‑on factory experience:
  Confident operating in a fast‑paced manufacturing environment and supporting trials on‑site.
• Highly organised and adaptable:
  Able to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously while working at pace.
• Food Science qualification advantageous: A Food Science/Food Technology degree is beneficial, although relevant manufacturing experience will also be considered.

This is an excellent opportunity to transition into NPD/EPD within a highly operational food manufacturing environment while working closely with multiple departments across the business.

You’ll gain exposure to factory trials, product development, procurement projects and cross‑functional collaboration in a role with genuine long‑term development potential.

Salary up to £35,000 plus the opportunity to join a growing and fast‑paced manufacturing business.

Initial screening with DR Newitt followed by client interviews and site visit.

DR Newitt is an equal opportunities recruiter and welcomes applications from all suitably experienced candidates.