Junior NPD Technician (12M FTC) | THG Manufacturing
Overview
THG Manufacturing, the contract and co-manufacturing division of THG, is recruiting a Junior New Product Development Technician on a 12-month fixed-term contract in the Manchester area. The division operates accredited manufacturing facilities for powder blending, tablets and capsules, protein bars, and fruit preparations and concentrates, and partners with well-known brands to formulate, produce and scale their products. It reports 300 percent growth this year and is forecasting another 100 percent next year.
The technician joins the New Product Development team and reports to the Senior NPD Project Manager. The role combines technical formulation, laboratory bench work, project delivery and direct customer contact, taking client concepts through pilot trials to commercial production. The work is based at the Omega site for four days and at the Icon 1 office for one day.
What you will do
Bench work includes formulating recipes and making prototype samples in the laboratory, creating reference samples that match client sensory, nutritional and shelf-life requirements, preparing formulations for costing, and evaluating new flavour systems and ingredients with flavour houses and suppliers. Customer-facing duties include joining discovery calls to capture technical briefs and target costs, hosting site visits, coordinating samples and getting packaging specifications approved. On the factory floor the technician hosts first production runs, aligns technical and microbiological standards with site teams, works with Supplier Quality Assurance to onboard raw materials, and manages bills of materials across UK and US requirements. The role also covers setting up projects and milestones, updating internal recipe systems and creating product records in the ERP system.
Requirements
Applicants need a degree or HND in food science, food technology, nutrition, chemical sciences or a related field, or equivalent practical experience, plus hands-on or academic training in recipe formulation, sensory evaluation and laboratory hygiene. Strong organisation, Microsoft Office skills particularly Excel, willingness to learn project and ERP systems, and excellent communication skills are expected. Experience in FMCG food, beverage, sports nutrition or supplement manufacturing and familiarity with contract manufacturing or private-label launches are desirable.