A growing and innovative food manufacturing company in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia is seeking a passionate, creative, and technically skilled Bakery NPD Specialist to drive new product development across their bakery, pastry, confectionery, and dessert product portfolio. The successful candidate will lead the full NPD cycle from concept through to factory launch — developing and improving formulations, conducting production trials, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and ensuring every product meets quality, cost, and regulatory standards. A minimum of 3–5 years of NPD experience within food manufacturing — specifically in bakery, confectionery, pastry, or FMCG food production — is required. This is a high-impact role at the centre of Saudi Arabia’s fast-growing food innovation sector.
About the Role — Bakery NPD Specialist, Riyadh KSA
Industry: Food Manufacturing — Bakery, Pastry, Confectionery, Desserts, and Snack Production
NPD Scope: Full cycle from concept development and formulation through to factory scale-up and product launch
Product Range: Bakery, pastry, confectionery, dessert, and snack categories for Saudi and regional markets
Cross-Functional: Close collaboration with Production, Quality, Procurement, and Commercial sales teams
Market Alignment: Develop products aligned with Saudi consumer trends, market demands, and food safety regulations
Career Opportunity — Food NPD in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Growing Market: Saudi Arabia’s food manufacturing and bakery sector is one of the fastest-expanding in the GCC
Innovation Focus: Lead product development from scratch — recipe optimisation, cost reduction, and quality enhancement
Cross-Functional Exposure: Work with production, quality, procurement, and commercial sales teams on every project
Career Advancement: Strong pathway to NPD Manager, R&D Director, or Head of Innovation roles in KSA food industry
Position Overview
This Bakery NPD Specialist role in Riyadh is a technically demanding and commercially impactful position at the heart of a food manufacturing company’s product innovation function. The successful candidate will develop new bakery, pastry, confectionery, and dessert products from initial concept through to full production launch, improve existing products through recipe optimisation and cost reduction, conduct product trials and pilot runs, and ensure compliance with food safety and quality standards throughout the development process. The role requires a highly organised, creative, and analytically sharp food technology professional who can balance scientific rigour with commercial awareness — working effectively across multiple internal teams in a fast-paced Saudi Arabian food manufacturing environment. With 3–5 years of relevant NPD experience and a strong bakery or confectionery background, this is an exceptional career opportunity in one of the Middle East’s most vibrant and rapidly growing food markets.
Why This Role Matters: As a Bakery NPD Specialist in Riyadh, you are the creative and scientific engine behind new products that reach consumers across Saudi Arabia and the wider GCC. You develop innovative bakery and confectionery formulations, lead factory trials, drive cost efficiencies, and directly influence the market success of every product you bring to life — all within one of the most exciting food innovation markets in the entire Middle East region.
Key Responsibilities
New Product Development — Concept to Launch
- Develop new bakery, pastry, confectionery, and dessert products from initial creative concept through to successful factory launch
- Design, test, and refine formulations ensuring products meet taste, texture, appearance, shelf-life, and cost targets
- Conduct product trials and pilot runs in production environments to validate formulations and assess manufacturing feasibility
- Support factory implementation and production scale-up activities for all newly developed food products
Product Improvement & Recipe Optimisation
- Improve existing bakery and confectionery products through systematic recipe optimisation and quality enhancement initiatives
- Identify and implement cost reduction opportunities without compromising product quality, taste, or consumer appeal
- Evaluate raw materials and alternative ingredients to improve formulation performance, cost efficiency, and sourcing flexibility
- Maintain and update product specifications, formulation records, and technical documentation for all product development projects
Cross-Functional Team Collaboration
- Work closely and effectively with Production, Quality, Procurement, and Commercial Sales teams throughout the NPD process
- Communicate project progress, trial results, and development milestones clearly to all relevant internal stakeholders
- Coordinate raw material evaluation and procurement activities in partnership with the Procurement team
- Support commercial teams by providing technical expertise during customer presentations and new product pitch activities
Market Intelligence & Consumer Trend Analysis
- Monitor Saudi Arabia and GCC market trends, shifting consumer preferences, and competitor product launches continuously
- Identify innovation opportunities and whitespace in the bakery, confectionery, pastry, and dessert product categories
- Translate market insights and consumer data into practical, commercially viable, and technically sound product development briefs
- Stay current with global bakery and confectionery ingredient trends, processing technologies, and formulation innovations
Food Safety, Quality & Regulatory Compliance
- Ensure all products under development fully comply with Saudi food safety, quality, and regulatory requirements
- Prepare accurate and complete product specifications, HACCP documentation, and technical data sheets for all NPD projects
- Participate actively in continuous improvement initiatives related to product quality and production operational efficiency
- Support internal and external quality audits as required, providing technical NPD documentation and formulation expertise
Qualifications & Requirements
Educational Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Nutrition, Food Engineering, or a closely related discipline
- Additional certifications in bakery science, confectionery technology, or food safety are a valued competitive advantage
Experience Requirements
- Minimum 3–5 years of dedicated New Product Development experience within the food manufacturing industry
- Strong and demonstrable hands-on experience in bakery, pastry, confectionery, dessert, or snack product development
- Proven experience conducting product trials, production validations, and factory-level scale-up implementations
- Solid working knowledge of food ingredients, formulation science, and manufacturing processes across bakery categories
Essential Skills
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a structured, data-driven approach to product development decisions
- Good understanding of food safety standards, quality management systems, and Saudi/GCC regulatory requirements
- Excellent communication skills — able to collaborate effectively in a cross-functional food manufacturing environment
- Good command of English — both written and verbal — for technical documentation and cross-functional communication
- Ability to manage multiple development projects simultaneously while maintaining quality and meeting deadlines
About the Company — Food Manufacturing, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
This Riyadh-based food manufacturing company is committed to delivering innovative, high-quality bakery, pastry, confectionery, and dessert products to consumers across Saudi Arabia and the wider GCC region. With a strong focus on new product development, recipe excellence, and market-led food innovation, the company provides NPD professionals with a dynamic, collaborative, and technically stimulating work environment. The NPD team works at the exciting frontier of food science and consumer trend analysis — developing products that genuinely resonate with Saudi consumers while meeting the highest standards of food safety, quality, and cost efficiency. This is a rare opportunity for an experienced bakery and confectionery NPD specialist to take on a high-visibility, high-impact role in one of the Middle East’s most rapidly growing food markets.
Career Excellence: Join a forward-thinking Riyadh food manufacturer — lead bakery and confectionery NPD from concept to launch, collaborate with passionate food science teams, and build a rewarding product innovation career in Saudi Arabia’s dynamic FMCG food sector.
Who Should Apply?
- Food Science Graduates: With 3–5 years NPD experience in bakery, confectionery, or pastry manufacturing seeking Riyadh KSA roles
- Bakery Product Developers: Experienced in recipe development, formulation trials, and factory scale-up in FMCG food environments
- Confectionery NPD Specialists: With dessert, snack, or pastry product innovation backgrounds seeking high-impact Saudi Arabia opportunities
- FMCG Food Technologists: Looking for a senior NPD role in Riyadh’s fast-growing food manufacturing and innovation sector
- Cross-Functional Food Professionals: With strong collaboration skills across production, quality, and commercial teams in food industry
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