NPD Technician

Company overview

Milish Bakery is a family-owned bakery that has been operating since 1959 and focuses on creating and producing high-quality muffins and scones. What began as KC Confectionery on Dublin’s High Street has grown into one of Ireland’s prominent contract bakery producers, serving customers throughout Ireland, the United Kingdom, and Europe.

With decades of baking knowledge, the company is known for developing new ideas, maintaining strong product standards, and building lasting customer relationships. Food safety, consistency, and product integrity are central to its work.

Role summary

The business is looking for a practical and motivated NPD Technician to join its New Product Development team in County Dublin. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys baking, food innovation, and hands-on product development, and who wants to help take new bakery items from the initial idea stage through to commercial release.

Working alongside the Product Manager and other teams across the business, the successful candidate will help develop new products and improve existing recipes, with a strong emphasis on muffins and scones.

Key responsibilities

• Make and bake product samples for customer meetings, internal reviews, and development work.
• Assist with NPD projects from the idea stage through to launch.
• Carry out product trials in both the development kitchen and the production area.
• Keep accurate records of recipes, process settings, trial outcomes, and technical paperwork.
• Support shelf-life testing, sensory reviews, taste panels, and product evaluation work.
• Help convert customer requirements into bakery products that can be produced commercially.
• Maintain records for ingredients, packaging, and product specifications.
• Support nutritional data, product files, and sample tracking systems.
• Source ingredients and materials needed for trials and development activity.
• Assist with factory trials, product scaling, and launch preparation.
• Keep the NPD area clean, organised, hygienic, and compliant with food safety standards.
• Work closely with Production, Quality, Procurement, and Commercial teams.

Skills and experience

The role calls for a candidate with a background or qualification in Food Science, Bakery Technology, Culinary Arts, Nutrition, or a similar field.

Strong bakery know-how is important, including handling ingredients, scaling recipes, mixing, baking, and assessing finished products. The ideal person will be highly accurate, organised, and comfortable documenting formulas and technical information.

A good understanding of food safety, HACCP, and quality requirements is essential. Strong communication skills, time management, and the ability to collaborate effectively are also needed. The role is based in a fast-moving manufacturing environment, so adaptability is important.

Applicants must have valid permission to work in the Republic of Ireland.

Desirable experience

Experience in a bakery, food manufacturing, kitchen, quality, or NPD setting would be an advantage. Previous involvement in factory trials, product launches, or continuous improvement work is also preferred, along with familiarity with Microsoft Excel and basic data analysis.

Working hours

This is a full-time position for 38.75 hours per week, usually Monday to Friday, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Because of the nature of the job, flexibility is required. Start and finish times may need to change depending on operational demands such as trials, customer visits, production runs, product launches, project work, and other business needs.

Normal working times will generally be during standard daytime hours, but fixed start and finish times are not guaranteed.

Pay

The pay rate is €14.15 per hour, which is approximately €28,512 per year based on a 38.75-hour week. Candidates with significant relevant experience in bakery, NPD, or food manufacturing may be considered for a revised pay level.

Benefits

• On-site parking
• Bike to Work Scheme
• On-site canteen facilities
• Opportunity to join a growing and innovative bakery business
• Hands-on involvement in new product development projects