R&D Specialist – Bakery
Bedfordshire | £60,000
Are you a hands-on bakery expert who understands dough, ingredients, and process — and wants to see your ideas land on shelves across the UK and beyond?
This is a rare opportunity to step into a site expert role, owning innovation and product development across a fast-paced, commercially driven bakery environment. You’ll work at the intersection of R&D, NPD, and production, bringing new concepts to life and continuously improving existing products.
What’s in it for you?
- £60,000 salary
- Be the go-to bakery expert on site
- Work directly with major UK retailers + international customers
- High visibility role with real influence on product range
- Hands-on development — from concept to launch
- Opportunity to shape innovation and challenge the norm
The role
You’ll lead the development and optimisation of bakery products, working closely with internal teams and suppliers to deliver commercially viable, high-quality products.
Key responsibilities include:
- Developing new bakery concepts — from blue-sky ideas to launch
- Working hands-on with dough systems, ingredients, and processes
- Testing new ingredient technologies and improving existing recipes (EPD)
- Supporting NPD through trials, scale-up, and factory launch
- Driving cost optimisation and quality improvements
- Acting as the technical link between suppliers, site, and customers
- Presenting products confidently to internal teams and retail customers
- Keeping ahead of market trends and competitor activity
What we’re looking for
- Food Science / Food Technology or Bakery qualification
- Minimum 5 years hands-on bakery experience
- Strong understanding of bakery ingredients, dough behaviour, and process
- Commercial awareness — able to develop products that work in reality
- Confident communicator — able to present to customers and stakeholders
- Curious, creative, and not afraid to challenge the norm
- Strong organisation and project management skills
Why this role?
This isn’t just another NPD role.
It’s a chance to:
- Own bakery expertise on site
- Influence products seen across major retailers
- Work on both UK and international accounts
- Combine hands-on development with strategic impact
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If you’re someone who understands dough, thrives in a fast-paced environment, and wants to see your ideas make it to market — this is one worth exploring.