Technical Development Manager

A bit about us…

At Pure, we're passionate about transforming dogs' lives through better nutrition. Born from a friendship between two dog-loving friends and a shared vision, we've grown into something truly special - a UK-based company that's leading the pack in healthy, tailored dog nutrition.

We're not just another pet food company – we put paws and people first with dogs and their owners driving our decisions. We craft healthy, perfectly portioned meals that delight dogs and keep bowls sparkling clean. But what really makes us different is how we support our pet families every step of the way. Through expert advice and personalised communication, we're right there beside them on their journey of giving their four-legged family members the best possible life.

What’s in it for you...

• A great salary range - Up to £60,000 DPE.
• Enrolment in our discretionary overall company performance bonus scheme.
• Contracted to 38.75 hours per week. Working Monday to Friday.
• Hybrid working - 3 days (across of 3 sites when required) 2 days from home.
• 33 days holiday (including Bank Holidays). Our full 12-month entitlement.
• Free Pure dog food for your dog up to £100 per month.
• Small business with a family feel!
• Salary Exchange Company Pension.
• Team social events and the opportunity to support local charities.
• Free on-site Parking.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• EV SS Car scheme.
• Bring your dog into work.
• Group Life Assurance & Critical illness.
• EAP & Virtual GP Service.

The role…

Reporting to the Head of CX & Physical Product, the Technical Development Manager will play a key role in ensuring Pure continues to deliver high-quality, nutritious and great-tasting products that support our ambition to help dogs live long, happy and healthy lives.

Acting as Pure’s technical development expert, you’ll use your expertise alongside customer insight and product performance data to continually improve our UK and EU ranges, with a particular focus on nutrition, palatability and digestibility. Working collaboratively across Product, Compliance, Operations, Procurement, Finance and Customer Service, you’ll help ensure our existing products consistently meet our high standards while providing technical and nutritional leadership in the development of exciting new products for the Pure pack.

Duties and responsibilities of the role are:

• Technical & Nutritional leadership: Act as Pure’s internal technical and nutritional expert working alongside our consultant nutritionist, providing evidence-based guidance and recommendations across our existing range, new product development and wider customer proposition.
• Product quality & consistency: Work closely with the Compliance Manager and relevant suppliers to establish and maintain a robust program of recipe and product testing, ensuring we consistently deliver products that meet our agreed nutritional and quality standards.
• Nutritional & Technical compliance: Work alongside Compliance to ensure recipes meet relevant FEDIAF nutritional guidelines, with appropriate consideration given to different life stages, breeds and nutritional requirements across our customer base.
• New Product Development: Provide product and nutritional expertise throughout the NPD 5 gate-process, from initial concept and formulation through to trials and launch, ensuring new products support our vision of happy, healthy dogs and add meaningful value to our range.
• Recipe development & optimisation: Consult on recipe enhancements across our UK and EU ranges, identifying opportunities to improve palatability, digestibility and nutritional quality while considering customer needs, product performance and commercial requirements. Help define appropriate testing for existing and new products, identifying any trending changes and using the findings to make evidence-led recommendations for improvement.
• Cross-functional collaboration: Partner closely with Compliance, Operations, Finance, Procurement, Customer Service and the wider CX & Product team to ensure nutritional considerations are embedded throughout product development and decision-making.
• Supplier collaboration: Work with suppliers and manufacturing partners on NPD and recipe development, ingredient selection, nutritional specifications and opportunities for continuous product improvement.
• Range development: Support broader range reviews by assessing market trends, propositional fit, and the nutritional role and value of products within the portfolio and identifying opportunities to strengthen or expand our proposition.
• Customer education: Support Customer Service, CRM and wider teams with clear, accurate and accessible technical and nutritional guidance, helping customers understand our products and feel confident about feeding Pure.
• Keeping Pure ‘Ahead of the Pack’: Stay up to date with developments in canine nutrition, scientific research, ingredients, feeding practices and industry innovation, translating relevant developments into opportunities for Pure.

We hope you’ll demonstrate behaviours and a mindset that aligns with our Pure Pack Promises, these are:

• Ahead of the pack: You’ll lead cross-functional teams towards shared goals that grow the business and help it run more efficiently. You use data, market trends and financials to guide decisions, and you’re confident weighing up cost and value for both new ideas and existing products.
• Paws & people first : You care about what customers need and turn those insights into new products that make mealtimes better for dogs and easier for owners. You build strong, trusting relationships with colleagues and partners through clear communication and integrity.
• Best in show: You’re driven by results and love beating targets in a fast-growing business. You’re well organised, juggle competing priorities without dropping the ball, and stay calm and focused when things move quickly.
• New tricks: You bring fresh ideas, keep learning and help build a culture where others do the same. Change doesn’t faze you, so you adapt fast to new opportunities and keep looking for ways to improve our processes and products.

It's essential that you have:

• Experience as a qualified nutritionist: Requires minimum BSc (Hons) in Animal Nutrition and experience within the pet retail sector.
• Technical competency & interpretation: Confidently review and interpret nutritional, analytical and product testing results, understanding the potential implications for product quality, nutritional compliance, palatability and dog health. Translating findings into clear recommendations and actions.
• Crisis Management experience: Experience leading complex product and nutritional challenges providing clear, evidence-based resolutions. Ability to proactively assess risks, resolve issues and coordinate cross-functional responses to quality, safety and nutritional concerns. Remain calm under pressure, balancing customer wellbeing, regulatory requirements and commercial priorities to deliver effective solutions and prevent recurrence.
• Analytical Thinking: Ability to critically evaluate technical data, market data, financial implications, and operational constraints to drive sound decision-making.
• Organisational Skills: Strong attention to detail, capable of juggling multiple projects and deadlines while maintaining high-quality standards.
• Collaboration & Communication: Exceptional interpersonal skills to work effectively with cross-functional teams and senior stakeholders. Adept at presenting complex information clearly.
• Strategic Mindset: A forward-looking perspective to anticipate market trends, challenges and proactively shape project approaches that align with business objectives.

At Pure Pet Food, our promises put Paws & People First. We’re committed to building a workplace where everyone feels valued, included, and able to thrive. By celebrating diversity, promoting equity, and embracing new ideas, we aim to be Best in Show for our people as well as their pets. If you’re passionate, curious, and want to be part of a team that’s Ahead of the Pack, we’d love to hear from you.

Recruitment agencies – we are managing recruitment for this role directly and not currently engaging with recruitment agencies. Any unsolicited CV’s sent to Pure or members of the team will be treated as direct applicants unless agreement has been made in writing to work directly with the agency on this role.