R&D Support Technologist (FTC)

JobsCloseBy Editorial Insights

Valeo Foods UK is seeking an R&D Support Technologist for a 6-month fixed term contract at the York site, working five days a week in a hands-on role that supports confectionery development and the Valeo Confectionery Academy pilot plant. You’ll help with trials and sample prep, manage ingredients and stock, maintain recipes and specifications, run sensory evaluation and shelf-life testing, coordinate with suppliers and internal teams, support customer and internal visits, and assist with factory trials and reporting. To apply, tailor your CV to show practical food science or product development experience, especially pilot plant work, meticulous documentation, cross-functional collaboration, and a track record of turning insights into action; emphasize onsite availability and a genuine interest in quality and continuous improvement.

Company Description

At Valeo Foods UK we bring together a family of much-loved UK food brands supported by the scale and ambition of a global investment partner. From Kettle’s bold crunch to Rowse’s natural sweetness, through to Matthew Walker and Barratt Sweets, our portfolio blends heritage, craft and category-leading innovation.

Alongside our branded portfolio, we are also one of the UK’s largest suppliers of private label products, partnering with major retailers to deliver quality and category expertise that meets the needs of millions of households every week.

As a business, we’re on a journey of transformation. We’re strengthening our operations, driving quality and investing in our people. It’s an exciting, fast-moving environment where heritage meets new thinking, and where every colleague contributes to shaping the future of food across the UK.

Join us and play your part in building the next chapter of some of Britain’s most loved brands.

Job Description

6 month fixed term contract

📍 York (site-based, 5 days a week)

At Valeo Foods UK, we’re looking for an R&D Support Technologist to join our confectionery team on a 6-month fixed-term contract.

This is a practical, hands-on role based at our York site, working closely with the R&D Manager and wider teams to support the delivery of product development projects across our UK confectionery sites.

You’ll play a key role in supporting R&D activity, particularly within our Valeo Confectionery Academy (pilot plant), helping to turn concepts into scalable products.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Supporting product trials and sample preparation in the pilot plant and factory
• Managing ingredients, materials and stock for development and trials
• Maintaining accurate documentation, including recipes and specifications
• Running and supporting sensory evaluation and shelf-life testing, and turning results into clear insights
• Coordinating with suppliers and internal teams to ensure materials are available for trials
• Supporting customer and internal visits, including set-up and sample preparation
• Assisting with factory trials, reporting results and keeping stakeholders updated

You’ll work closely with teams across product development, operations, procurement, technical and marketing, so strong communication and organisation will be important.

Qualifications

We’re looking for someone who is:

• Experienced or qualified in food science, product development, or a related area
• Comfortable in a hands-on, site-based environment
• Organised and detail-focused, particularly with documentation and processes
• Collaborative, with the ability to work across different teams
• Interested in product quality, sensory testing and continuous improvement

Additional Information

This is a good opportunity to gain broad exposure to R&D in a busy, commercially focused environment, with involvement across the full development lifecycle.