Yvette Harrison Recruitment Looking for Food Technologist at Palmerston North, Wanganui-Manawatu, New Zealand Full Time

Moana New Zealand is the largest Māori owned fisheries company in New Zealand. The company fishes and harvests solely from the pristine coastal waters of Aotearoa New Zealand, maintaining their deep sense of responsibility to the community and respect for the environment.

Wild Abalone and Ready to Eat Meals is a division of Moana New Zealand, based in Palmerston North. It is a multi-faceted operation specialising in the manufacture of canned abalone (paua) and shelf stable RTE meals for both local and export markets. The business has invested heavily in its production facility and well-resourced pilot plant, ensuring the right equipment is available to create great product. With the business continuing to experience growth in both volume and product diversity, here is a new role that will add strength to its already talented New Product Development Team.

What will you be doing?

This is a diverse role covering all aspects of development:

• New product development or improvement: creating product from idea generation through prototype, renovating existing products, conducting production trials and launch. Contributing towards risk assessments, feasibility studies and cost analysis.
• Manage NPD projects through the formal Stage-gate process, coordinating cross functional project teams to deliver NPD projects in line with business targets.
• Process improvement – with the introduction of greater automation, you will work on projects to improve production methods and lead process change initiatives.
• Packaging & Ingredients – lead the investigation and commercialisation of new and innovative ingredient and packaging formats and solutions. Your focus: what’s available, what’s safe and compliant, what’s affordable and what does the customer want.

This is a full time (40 hour per week) permanent role based in Palmerston North. This is a mid-level role with an anticipated salary within the $80 – 90,000 range, plus free medical insurance.

Who are we looking for?

• You have several years’ of product development experience under your belt so will be able to hit the ground running.
• Your experience is backed by a degree in Food Technology or similar. Completion of Retort Supervisor and Operator Training, and Thermal Processing of Low Acid Foods courses would also be highly advantageous, however full training will be provided for those who have a sound understanding of the science and mathematics required to design and validate thermally processed food products.
• You are in your element when coming up with new ideas and developing new products, but equally you are comfortable within a factory setting identifying opportunities for improvement and finding solutions to technical issues.
• You are fully conversant with current food technology regulations (nutritional, product and packaging information), have knowledge of best practice quality improvement, and ideally have exposure to lean manufacturing and an automated processing environment.
• You possess excellent communications skills which will allow you to build strong relationships internally, externally and at all levels.
• You are a passionate Foodie. Food is more than fuel…it has to taste great!

Want to apply or find out more?

Please apply online by clicking the Apply button, attaching your CV and cover letter. For more details about this exciting role contact Yvette Harrison on 0220611909.

As a Technical Recruitment Consultant with 25 years’ experience providing assistance to the food manufacturing sector I am always happy to share my knowledge. For a confidential discussion about your next career move, feel free to visit my website: www.yhr.co.nz or contact me on 0220611909.