Love food, innovation, and the science behind great baking? Original Foods is one of New Zealand's leading and most innovative bakery manufacturers. We're looking for a passionate and organised Food Technologist to join our Product Development team and help bring new and improved bakery products to market.
This fixed-term maternity leave cover position is a fantastic opportunity for someone with a few years of experience in food technology, R&D, or innovation who is looking to take the next step in their career and play a key role in developing products from concept through to commercialisation.
What you’ll be doing:
Coordinating product development projects across formulations, trials, packaging, sourcing, and technical documentation.
Developing and refining recipes, nutrition information panels, product specifications, and compliance documentation.
Maintaining Product Information Forms (PIFs), allergen risk assessments, and technical records.
Supporting product submissions to meet customer requirements and managing technical data within customer portals (e.g. Woolworths Partner Hub and Sphere).
Supporting the wider business with technical expertise and problem-solving relating to products, standards, ingredients, and manufacturing operations.
Participating in factory trials, product evaluations, and commercial production runs.
Reporting directly to the Product Development Manager and working closely with the Food Technologist and Development Baker. Collaborating with the wider team across Quality, Marketing, Sales, Purchasing, and Production.
What you’ll bring:
A tertiary qualification in Food Science, Food Technology, or similar
1-5 years experience in food product development, R&D, innovation, or a similar role within food manufacturing.
Knowledge of food safety, HACCP, allergen management, food labelling, and FSANZ requirements.
Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and other Microsoft Office applications.
Experience managing technical data within customer portals (e.g. Woolworths Sphere) would be beneficial.
Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously.
Clear and confident communication skills.
A proactive work ethic, with a strong sense of initiative and the ability to problem-solve across multiple projects.
Results-driven mindset with a "get things done" attitude and a passion for food innovation.
We are looking to have this role start at the beginning of January 2027 until the end of February 2028
Why join us?
We’re a collaborative, fast-paced business with a strong reputation for quality and creativity in the baking industry. You'll be part of a tight-knit, hands-on development team that works closely with all parts of the business - and gets to taste the results!
This is a fantastic opportunity to expand your technical and product development expertise, take ownership of projects, and contribute to innovative bakery products from concept through to commercialisation.
This fixed-term maternity leave cover role is expected to commence in January 2027. We are open to considering both full-time and part-time applicants for the right candidate.
How to apply:
Ready to start your journey with us? Apply now with your CV and a brief cover letter telling us why you're the right fit for this role.