About
Food Concepts Plc is one of West Africa’s leading food and restaurant companies established in 2001 with a mission to revolutionize the food sector through innovation, operational excellence, and customer satisfaction. The company is the parent organization of Chicken Republic, one of Nigeria’s fastest-growing quick service restaurant brands with operations across Nigeria and Ghana.
Food Concepts Plc continues to drive growth through product innovation, quality assurance, and the development of exceptional food experiences for consumers across the region.
Job Description
The New Product Development (NPD) Officer will support the NPD team in the research, development, testing, documentation, and commercialization of new food products. The role involves assisting with product trials, recipe development, sensory evaluations, process documentation, and cross-functional collaboration to ensure products meet quality, safety, and brand standards.
The ideal candidate should be passionate about food innovation, quality assurance, and product development within the food manufacturing and quick service restaurant industry.
Key Responsibilities
Product Development, Testing & Process Support
- Assist in conducting bench, kitchen, and pilot production trials for new and improved products
- Prepare and maintain standardized recipe cards, technical sheets, and development logs
- Monitor local and international food trends and contribute to brainstorming sessions
- Conduct sensory evaluations including taste, aroma, texture, and appearance assessments
- Record and analyze trial results accurately
- Support shelf-life and product stability testing activities
- Assist in translating kitchen recipes into production-scale processes
- Draft SOPs, process flow documents, and work instructions
- Support production teams during trial runs and document process observations
- Liaise with QA/QC teams to ensure compliance with quality and food safety standards
Quality Assurance, Compliance & Raw Material Management
- Assist in evaluating ingredients against technical and cost specifications
- Maintain updated raw material and specification databases
- Ensure accurate documentation and traceability of all development activities
- Prepare product specifications, Bills of Materials (BOMs), and labeling drafts
- Support compliance with HACCP, GMP, and GHP standards
- Assist in gathering post-launch feedback and product performance data
Cross-Functional Collaboration & Continuous Improvement
- Coordinate with Production, Procurement, QA, and Marketing teams during trials and launches
- Support Marketing with product fact sheets and tasting sessions
- Participate in project meetings and progress reporting
- Assist with cost tracking, yield analysis, and recipe optimization
- Identify process gaps and suggest operational improvements
Qualifications & Requirements
Educational Requirements
- Bachelor’s Degree in:
- Food Science
- Pure or Applied Chemistry
- Culinary Arts
- Nutrition
- Or other related disciplines
Experience Requirements
- 0–2 years relevant experience
- Academic projects, internships, and industrial training experience are accepted
- Fresh graduates with practical laboratory or kitchen experience are encouraged to apply
Functional Competencies
- Basic knowledge of food science and recipe development
- Understanding of sensory evaluation principles
- Basic understanding of HACCP, GMP, and GHP food safety systems
- Familiarity with food costing and yield calculations
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and data recording tools
General Competencies
- Strong organizational and documentation skills
- Excellent attention to detail
- Ability to work in fast-paced environments
- Strong teamwork and collaboration skills
- Good written and verbal communication abilities
- Willingness to learn and accept feedback
Key Performance Indicators
- Timely completion of assigned trials and projects
- Accuracy and completeness of technical documentation
- Effective cross-functional collaboration and communication
- Compliance with safety, hygiene, and quality standards
- Contribution to successful product launches and trial runs
- Completion of assigned food safety and product development training
How to Apply
Interested applicants should apply by clicking the APPLY NOW button