Junior Research and Development Technologist

About the Role and Company

Kickstart your career in Research and Development by joining Kraft Heinz's New Zealand R&D team in Hastings. Kraft Heinz is a global leader in the food and beverage industry, with an extensive portfolio of over 200 brands and sales approximating $25 billion worldwide. Their product range includes condiments, dairy, meals, meats, beverages, coffee, infant nutrition, and more.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the creation and enhancement of new and existing products and processes while balancing time, quality, and cost expectations.
• Evaluate project feasibility and develop prototypes.
• Assess and approve new ingredients and manage product costing.
• Establish production techniques and contribute to factory documentation setup.
• Oversee factory trials and commercial manufacturing processes.
• Engage in new product development (NPD), value engineering, and both in-house and co-pack production.
• Identify and implement cost-saving strategies.
• Provide support to manufacturing and procurement teams.
• Ensure recipe control by entering accurate documentation into data control systems promptly.
• Prepare timely progress and final reports in the required formats.
• Develop technical product information including bills of materials, production methods, labeling, ingredient and product specifications, and shelf-life assessments.
• Collaborate with marketing and other departments to guide project completion and maintain adherence to business protocols.
• Contribute to growth and cost reduction initiatives leveraging commercial insight and category expertise.
• Offer technical assistance within manufacturing, procurement, and quality programs like QRMP.
• Comply with Kraft Heinz's standards on food safety, environmental health, safety, ethics, and human resources.

Required Skills and Experience

• Strong project management, planning, and organizational abilities.
• Ability to analyze data effectively and translate findings into recommendations.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Responsibility, integrity, and ownership mentality.
• Consumer and quality-focused mindset that balances risks and rewards.
• Positive, proactive attitude with problem-solving and detail orientation.
• Experience in product development within the food sector, including technical knowledge of products and processing.
• Understanding ingredient, additive, recipe, processing, and packaging interactions.
• Proficiency with business and production software, including Excel and Word.
• Familiarity with NPD stage and gate processes.
• Awareness of FSANZ Food Standards and food labeling regulations.

Employee Benefits

• Flexible hybrid working arrangements for schedule and location.
• Special leave programs including volunteer and LiveWell leave to support personal causes and work-life balance.
• Recognition as a Great Place to Work in Australia and New Zealand.
• Comprehensive in-house training opportunities.

Additional Information

The role is based in Hastings, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand. Kraft Heinz is committed to equality in employment and encourages applications from underrepresented ethnic minorities, women, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and those from diverse sexual orientations and gender identities.