Job Summary
At Quality Irish Foods Ltd, we are dedicated to crafting high-quality, innovative stuffings, meals, and snacks that bring joy to consumers and set new benchmarks in the food industry. Our team works at the cutting edge of food science, developing premium holistic health ready meals alongside a diverse range of other products. Joining us means being part of a collaborative environment where you can drive product innovation, implement structured New Product Development processes, and work closely with internal teams, customers, and academic partners. If you are passionate about tackling technical challenges, applying creativity, and shaping the future of the ready meal sector, Quality Irish Foods Ltd offers the opportunity to make a real impact.
Job Description
The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in leading the company’s New Product Development (NPD) programme, overseeing the design, formulation, optimisation, and commercialisation of at least four new high-protein, nutrient-rish ready meal products from concept through to market launch. Working closely with the company’s technical, production, and commercial teams, as well as with customers, supply partners, and academic collaborators, the candidate will ensure all development activities meet defined quality, safety, and performance standards.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the end-to-end development of innovative ready meal products, from initial concept through to full-scale production.
- Interpret and apply all relevant food safety, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance requirements (including BRCGS and customer-specific standards).
- Identify, source, and evaluate new ingredients, functional components, and processing technologies to enhance product performance, flavour, and shelf life.
- Manage and document all recipe formulations, ingredient specifications, and process modifications in line with internal NPD protocols.
- Design, coordinate, and execute pilot- and factory-scale trials, analysing results to optimise product quality, sensory appeal, and production efficiency.
- Maintain comprehensive technical records, including trial reports, formulation data, and validation documentation.
- Coordinate and prepare for customer visits, technical reviews, and audits, ensuring compliance and professional presentation of project outcomes.
- Plan, facilitate, and document monthly technical meetings with the core project team, including company and academic supervisors, to monitor progress and resolve technical challenges.
- Prepare detailed quarterly progress reports summarising key milestones, experimental findings, and next steps for submission to stakeholders and funding partners.
This role is ideal for a technically driven individual with strong analytical skills, practical problem-solving ability, and a passion for innovation in ready meal product development. It offers an exciting opportunity to contribute directly to the company’s strategic goal of building in-house NPD capability and advancing its leadership in the premium ready meal sector.
The successful graduate will lead
this project, in a supportive partnership with North West Regional College as part of the InterTradeIreland Innovation Boost Programme.
Interviews will be held approximately week commencing: 16/03/2026