Senior Product Development Technologist

About the Role

We invite experienced professionals eager for a challenging position in product development within the early life nutrition sector to join our innovative R&I team in Auckland as a Senior Product Development Technologist. This critical role involves leading end-to-end product development projects by optimizing manufacturing processes and nutritional powder formulations, while ensuring their successful interaction.

Reporting directly to the Product Development Manager, you will be responsible for delivering product development outputs and managing cross-functional projects with strict adherence to high-quality standards. You will act as a key interface between the R&I team and other business units both locally and internationally, guiding the scale-up and commercialization stages of powder formulations. A core responsibility includes drafting clear operational and process specifications that align with plant manufacturing KPIs.

Key Responsibilities

• Enhance product and process designs to develop cost-efficient recipes using optimal materials, scalable innovations, and zero-base thinking tools.
• Provide technical support to operations teams at Auckland and Balclutha plants by maintaining and troubleshooting existing product lines.
• Contribute to product development projects involving formulation designs, ingredient sourcing, trial execution, testing, and maintaining technical documentation.
• Identify and communicate opportunities to innovate and improve productivity, adding tangible value to the business.
• Continuously monitor, gather data, and analyze product and plant process performance metrics.
• Partner effectively with cross-functional and global teams to ensure smooth project execution.

Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate is an inventive and experienced product development technologist, demonstrating outstanding collaborative skills, technical expertise, and a flexible, inclusive mindset. You thrive in dynamic environments, particularly with exposure to dairy or infant formula manufacturing sectors, and bring a positive outlook and strong interpersonal skills to the team.

Essential Qualifications and Experience

• A tertiary degree in Chemical Engineering, Food Science, Dairy Science, Life Science, Human Nutrition, or a related discipline.
• Proven experience in a comparable role within the dairy, infant formula, or fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) industries.
• Solid understanding and hands-on experience with dry-blending and spray-drying techniques.
• Experience with regulatory compliance such as China registration and nGB is beneficial.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and the broader MS Office suite.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent planning and organizational abilities to juggle shifting priorities efficiently.

About Danone ANZ

Danone is dedicated to fostering healthier and more sustainable nutrition, embodying our vision: "Danone, One Planet. One Health." Operating in 55 countries with products available in over 120 markets, we specialize in dairy and specialized nutrition for different life stages. Our proud brands include YoPro, Activia, Aptamil, and Karicare. Danone ANZ has been recognized as a Great Place to Work for three consecutive years: 2022, 2023, and 2024.

Diversity and Inclusion

We are an Equal Employment Opportunity employer committed to cultivating an inclusive and diverse work environment where every individual can contribute uniquely to business success. Our hiring practices provide equal opportunity regardless of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, nationality, or disability.