Product Development Baker

The Role As Product Development Baker, you will lead the creation and development of exciting bakery products that drive growth across the business. The successful candidate will be responsible for introducing and developing premium breads, artisan bakery products and innovative traybakes that delight consumers and win new business across high street coffee chains, wholesalers, independent cafés and foodservice customers. They will also play a key role in enhancing and modernising our existing bakery range, bringing new skills, techniques and ideas into the business. This is a hands-on role that combines bakery craftsmanship, product innovation in line with commercial awareness and people development. The successful candidate will work closely with the Innovation, Sales, Production, Technical and Purchasing teams to deliver quality products that meet customer expectations, stretch operational capabilities and commercial targets. This role supports DELI LITES values by contributing to growth through a passion for people, food, service excellence and continuous improvement. Key Responsibilities New Product Development Create and develop innovative traybakes, cakes, sweet bakery products and artisan breads for existing and prospective customers.Generate new concepts inspired by emerging consumer trends, market opportunities and customer briefs.Develop products that deliver against agreed cost, margin and operational requirements.Benchmark products against competitors and identify opportunities for improvement and differentiation.Present innovative concepts and samples to internal stakeholders and customers.Develop seasonal and limited-edition bakery ranges to support customer growth opportunities.Assist in building a pipeline of innovative bakery products that strengthen Deli Lites' position in the marketplace. Artisan Bread Development Lead the development and introduction of artisan bread recipes, formats and production methods.Research and implement traditional and modern bread-making techniques.Develop breads suitable for retail, foodservice and café channels.Evaluate opportunities to expand Deli Lites' artisan bakery offering while maintaining consistency and scalability.Work with Production to ensure recipes can be successfully transferred into commercial manufacture. Commercial & Customer Support Support the Sales and Commercial teams in securing new business opportunities.Translate customer briefs into commercially viable products.Create compelling product concepts that meet customer requirements while protecting company margins.Participate in customer presentations, product showcases and sampling sessions as required.Monitor food trends, bakery innovations and competitor activity to identify future opportunities. Product Trials & Launches Conduct kitchen trials, factory trials and first production runs.Ensure products are developed in line with company procedures and food safety requirements.Support the creation of recipes, manufacturing instructions and product specifications.Assist with product handovers to Production and ensure launches are completed successfully.Monitor product performance post-launch and drive continuous improvement. Training & Bakery Capability Development Be the technical bakery expert within the business.Train and mentor bakery operatives in artisan bread production, bakery techniques and best practice.Develop structured training programmes to upskill the current bakery workforce.Support succession planning by developing skills and bakery knowledge across the team.Promote a culture of continuous improvement, quality and craftsmanship within the bakery. Quality & Compliance Ensure all products meet food safety, quality and customer requirements.Work closely with Technical and Quality teams to support product approvals and launches.Adhere to high standards of hygiene, housekeeping and food safety.Support shelf-life assessments, product evaluations and quality reviews.Ensure all development activities comply with relevant legislation and customer codes of practice. This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of duties and responsibilities. The Company reserves the right to amend this document to meet changing business needs. Essential Criteria: Professional qualification in Bakery, Artisan Bread Making, Patisserie, Confectionery or a related discipline.Minimum 3 years' experience in a bakery development, artisan bakery or senior bakery production role.Strong practical knowledge of bread fermentation, dough handling and artisan bakery processes.Experience developing cakes, traybakes, sweet bakery and dessert products.Proven ability to create innovative products within cost and margin targets.Excellent organisational and project management skills.Strong communication and presentation skills.Passion for innovation, food trends and continuous improvement. Ability to coach, train and develop others. Desirable Criteria Experience working with high street coffee chains, café groups or foodservice customers.Cake decorating and finishing experience.Understanding of commercial food manufacturing environments.Experience in factory scale-up and product commercialisation.Knowledge of frozen bakery production. Skills and Competencies: Creative and passionate about bakery innovation.Commercially aware and customer focused.Hands-on and willing to lead by example.Highly organised with strong attention to detail.Influential and capable of developing others.Positive, energetic and proactive.Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment. What We Offer: Competitive salary that reflects your skills and contribution Generous annual leave: 28 days, including public and statutory holidays, increasing with service up to 33 daysWorkplace pension schemeCareer development: ongoing training and supportEmployee Assistance Programme and wellbeing support when you need itFree onsite parking for added convenienceEmployee discounts on our award-winning sandwiches, salads, wraps and traybakesCycle to Work Scheme to support a healthierTech Scheme to help make eligible technology purchases more affordable At DELI LITES IRELAND, we are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in all that we do and welcome applications from all sections of the community. DELI LITES IRELAND is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability or age.