KIND EMEA NPD Scientist

Job Description

Job Description:

The NPD (New Product Development) Scientist at KIND, reporting to the Director of New Product Development, is responsible for enhancing the EMEA portfolio of healthy snacks. This role will oversee product development for innovation, renovation, and productivity. It requires strong collaboration with external partners and internal teams to ensure products meet brand and nutrition standards. The NPD Scientist is part of the EMEA R&D functional team within the EMEA Technical team and will need to travel overseas (up to 40%) for co-manufacturing visits in Europe.

What are we looking for?

• Professional degree (Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional degree)

• Culinary skills are valuable but not mandatory

• Several years of consistent experience in the food manufacturing R&D sector, encompassing involvement in formulation, initiation, and enhancement projects

• A strong understanding of ingredient functionality, material selection, and formulation to understand the effects on finished product performance

• Experience with outside co-manufacturers, suppliers, and vendors to deliver project requirements

• UK-based position with a primary location in Slough

What will be your key responsibilities?

• Support and build KIND’s innovation pipeline by partnering with internal and/or external teams to generate concepts, gather consumer insights, and create prototypes as needed.

• Partner with co-man R&D teams to create and approve formulations for new/existing products, and scale products up via pilot plant or production for all innovation & renovation projects.

• Conduct or support plant trials, and interpret data collected/results to drive the project forward; develop robust action plans, risk assessment, and contingency planning accordingly.

• Ensure compliance with internal and external policies, quality standards, and regulatory requirements.

• Help co-manufacturers troubleshoot issues that arise during production, such as quality deviations or ingredient supply shortages, and ensure actions are documented and the product is approved for release.

• Manage the product approval process throughout the stage gates, ensuring appropriate controls and documentation are in place (sensory sign-off, final formula documented, and securely stored).

• Approve R&D-specific aspects of vendor documentation and ensure that co-mans have the correct and most up-to-date ingredient information for nutritional inputs.

• Conduct shelf-life testing and provide the business with a data-driven recommendation for shelf-life.

• Support co-man and internal teams in solving issues that arise during or before production, such as quality deviations or ingredient supply shortages.

• Participate in ideation sessions and support any product-related value leadership initiatives.
  

What can you expect from Mars?

• Work with over 130,000 diverse and talented Associates, all guided by the Five Principles.

• Join a purpose-driven company, where we’re striving to build the world we want tomorrow, today.

• Best-in-class learning and development support from day one, including access to our in-house Mars University.

• An industry-competitive salary and benefits package, including a company bonus.

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Mars is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. If you need assistance or an accommodation during the application process because of a disability, it is available upon request. The company is pleased to provide such assistance, and no applicant will be penalized as a result of such a request.