The Country Chef Bakery Co. is seeking an experienced Product Development Technologist (NPD) to join our team in our Bells Creek facility on the Sunshine Coast.
Country Chef’s recipe for success has transformed us from a small family run start-up in the 1950’s, to one of Australia’s leading bakery businesses with partnerships that include Australia’s major retailers. As we move into a new and exciting stage in the Country Chef story there’s one ingredient we cannot do without … our fantastic people!
The Opportunity
The Product Development Technologist (NPD) plays a crucial role at Country Chef in creating and improving products, ensuring they meet consumer needs, regulatory requirements, and company objectives. They drive innovation and excellence in product development by creating high-quality, market-driven products that align with company goals, meet consumer expectations, and comply with industry standards.
Reporting to the NPD Manager, the Product Development Technologist (NPD) will ideally come from a baked goods background. This person would need to be someone who likes to work in detail, follows processes and can be hands-on when needed.
Specifically, you will:
* Identify innovative ingredients from reliable suppliers and working with Procurement to ensure quality, security of supply and cost efficiency.
* Working with Sales and Marketing, QA and Manufacturing to contribute a cross-functional process for NPD pipeline from concept to commercialisation.
* Actively participate in NPD trials, identifying and addressing any process gaps to ensure efficient, safe and high-quality production.
* Oversee the introduction of new products onto our production lines, ensuring they meet our rigorous standards (including new packaging requirements, batch and recipe information and all quality requirements).
* Work collaboratively with other departments to identify opportunities for improvement
* Being a helping hand in the Kitchen, conducting sensory evaluations and attending project meetings.
About You
To be successful in this role you will need:
* Degree in Food Science or related discipline.
* A minimum 2 years industry experience with proven track record of NPD.
* Practical hands-on product development experience, preferably in the field of commercial bakery producing mass volume of bakery or similar products.
* Good knowledge of bakery and food functional ingredients
* Good knowledge in applying scientific experimental design, shelf life of finished products in terms of organoleptic evaluation and microbiological analysis.
* Able to adopt innovation and creativity in terms of new ingredients and technology.
* Must be able to work independently in the test bakery as required.
* Creative flair for developing new products.
Why Join Us
* Take home up to two items of product a day, on us!
* Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
* Onsite parking
* Great organisational culture and supportive team environment
* Flexible working hours
We foster an inclusive equal employment opportunity culture, celebrating diversity in all its hues.