NPD Technologist - Biscuits

About East Coast Bakehouse

East Coast Bakehouse (ECB) is renowned as The Home of Irish Biscuits and stands as the sole large-scale biscuit manufacturer in Ireland. With a substantial investment exceeding 30 million, ECB hosts the most advanced biscuit and cookie manufacturing line in Europe. The company promotes a portfolio that includes its challenger Irish biscuit brand "The Bakehouse," extensive own label operations for global retailers, and contract manufacturing for prominent international brands. ECB is rapidly expanding, being recognized as Europe's fastest-growing biscuit manufacturer, exporting to over 20 countries, and earning accolades such as inclusion in the Financial Times' Top 1000 Fastest Growing Food Businesses of 2026 and the Irish Exporter of the Year award, alongside industry honors in 2025. In early 2026, ECB embarked on a new growth chapter after acquisition by leading Danish biscuit producer Bisca, promising further expansion and innovation in the UK & Ireland markets.

Role Overview

The NPD Technologist will be instrumental in propelling ECB's expansion by managing key growth initiatives and leading innovation projects from initial concepts through to commercial launch across the UK, Ireland, and European markets. This role requires collaboration across brand development, contract manufacturing, and private label projects to ensure top-tier execution and product success.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead multiple high-visibility new product development (NPD) and innovation projects, ensuring exceptional delivery from concept to market launch.
• Collaborate closely with major retail partners and brand clients across UK & Ireland and Europe to address new product briefs.
• Investigate global market trends, novel products, and emerging flavors to identify opportunities aligning with ECB's innovation strategies.
• Develop new biscuit products and prototypes in the NPD kitchen in response to briefs and proactively for future consideration.
• Prepare and distribute recipes, nutritional information, and production documentation supporting product introduction.
• Plan, conduct, and document sensory evaluations, ensuring comprehensive reporting and record keeping.
• Provide technical and process support to transition kitchen samples into commercial production effectively.
• Foster strong working relationships with cross-functional teams including supply chain, operations, sales, and technical departments.
• Report directly to the Chief Commercial Officer.

Qualifications and Experience

• Minimum of two years' experience in a New Product Development or Food Technologist role, ideally with significant exposure to biscuit or bakery products.
• Experience working within a large-scale automated manufacturing facility.
• Self-motivated, ambitious, and capable of driving projects independently.
• Strong organizational skills with meticulous attention to detail and effective time management.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities with demonstrated project leadership skills.
• Proven experience managing relationships with both suppliers and customers.
• Effective collaboration skills across multidisciplinary teams.
• Possession of a valid full driving license and access to a vehicle is advantageous.