Melbourne | Food Manufacturing

Build products. Build customer relationships. Build the next growth platform. We are partnering with an established Australian

agri-food business

that is continuing to invest in its value-added manufacturing capabilities and is looking to appoint a commercially minded

Technical & NPD Sales Manager . This is a unique opportunity for a

Food Technologist, Food Scientist or technical product development professional

who enjoys being close to both the product and the customer. This isn’t a traditional NPD role where projects are handed over to Sales once they’re developed. You’ll sit at the intersection of

technical, product development, manufacturing and commercial , helping identify what customers need, developing the solution and then working alongside the sales team to take it to market. About the Role:

The role will have an approximate

60/40 focus : 60% – New Product Development & Innovation You’ll be responsible for:

Identifying customer, category and market opportunities and translating these into a prioritised NPD pipeline Managing NPD and product renovation projects from concept through to commercial launch Developing products that are technically viable, commercially attractive and capable of being manufactured at scale Leading bench, pilot and production trials Working closely with Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, Procurement and Finance to ensure products are commercially and operationally viable Supporting product costing, margin expectations, capacity requirements and commercial feasibility Managing specifications, formulations, shelf-life, allergen, nutritional and regulatory requirements Identifying opportunities for product optimisation, cost reduction,



process improvement and new applications Managing stage-gate processes, project timelines and launch readiness Building relationships with external technical, ingredient, packaging, laboratory and research partners 40% – Technical Sales & Customer Development

Working closely with the Domestic Sales Manager, you’ll also play a hands‑on role in

bringing NPD to market . This will include:

Engaging with existing and prospective manufacturing customers to understand their technical and commercial requirements Attending customer meetings, presentations, product reviews and trials Providing technical expertise and application support throughout the sales process Translating technical product capabilities into clear commercial value propositions Supporting customer proposals, tenders, samples and specifications Identifying opportunities to introduce new products into existing customer accounts Helping the sales team identify new applications, customers and markets for the developing product portfolio Supporting customers through product trials, approvals and commercialisation Maintaining strong relationships with customers throughout the development and launch process About You:

We’re looking for someone who combines

genuine food technical expertise with strong commercial and customer-facing capability . You will ideally have:

A tertiary qualification in

Food Science, Food Technology,



Product Development, Chemistry, Nutrition or a related discipline Demonstrated experience in

NPD, technical commercialisation or applications development within food manufacturing, ingredients or FMCG Experience taking food products from

customer brief/concept through trials, scale-up and commercial launch A strong understanding of food safety, specifications, allergens, nutrition, shelf life, labelling and regulatory requirements Practical experience conducting bench, pilot or factory trials Experience working within a food manufacturing environment and understanding what makes a product commercially and operationally viable Solid customer-facing skills and the ability to confidently communicate technical information to commercial stakeholders An understanding of

costings, margins, MOQs, capacity and investment considerations Strong project management and stakeholder management skills The ability to challenge a brief where something isn’t technically, operationally or commercially achievable A pragmatic, solutions-focused approach and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously Experience across

ingredients, value-added food manufacturing, bakery, confectionery, plant-based, beverages, dairy alternatives or similar categories

would be highly regarded. Why this opportunity?

This is an opportunity to take ownership of a

genuine innovation pipeline , rather than simply managing individual NPD projects. You’ll have the opportunity to influence

what gets developed, why it gets developed and ultimately how it is commercialised , while remaining closely connected to customers and the market. You’ll work across the

📌 Technical Sales/Commercial NPD Manager (Port Phillip City)
🏢 Blackbook Executive Pty
📍 Port Phillip City