Product Technologist, Own Brand

We’ve been proudly serving Australian communities since 1914 and have grown to become a top 30-listed company on the ASX with a portfolio of iconic homegrown brands. At the heart of our continued success is over 115,000 team members working across the country, all contributing to bringing our customers smiles. You’ll not only get to see your work make a difference, you’ll be part of a team working together to help Australians eat and live better every day.

About the team

From baby food to coffee blends, our team members use their passion and innovative thinking to develop and deliver Coles’ own brands of quality products and best value solutions for our customers.

About the role

Join one of Australia’s most trusted retailers and help shape the future of our Own Brand portfolio. As a Product Technologist, you’ll play a pivotal role in delivering products our customers love, driving quality, safety, innovation, and value across diverse food or non‑food categories.

In this specialist role, you’ll partner closely with suppliers, internal teams, and external stakeholders to ensure our product range not only meets but exceeds customer expectations. This is an exciting opportunity for a technically strong, commercially aware product champion who thrives in a fast‑paced environment.

You’ll also:

• Develop strategic product plans aligned to category and Own Brand goals, covering taste, quality, range, and price
• Ensure Own Brand initiatives are embedded in broader commercial planning, delivering food or non‑food product plans that meet or exceed business case expectations
• Manage supplier relationships and collaborate to deliver product launches, value‑driven innovation, and continuous improvement in quality and safety
• Act as the key interface for waste, loss, and availability considerations across Own Brand
• Ensure full compliance with relevant legislation, standards, codes, and internal policies
• Trend, escalate, and manage product quality and food safety issues as needed

About you and your skills

You’re a technically skilled, commercially astute professional who brings both deep product knowledge and a passion for delivering customer‑focused outcomes. You thrive in ambiguity, enjoy working at pace, build strong partnerships, and aren’t afraid to challenge the status quo to deliver step‑change innovation. Experience working across Grocery, Meat, Produce, Ready to Eat, Agronomy or Agriculture highly advantageous.

You’ll also ideally have:

• Tertiary qualification in Food Science, Microbiology, Chemistry, or a related field
• High level expertise in processing technologies and traceability systems
• Significant industry experience in food, FMCG, manufacturing, retail, or compliance
• Strong technical expertise and working knowledge of product development
• Proven success managing suppliers, audits, investigations, and technical data
• Experience writing and delivering strategic product plans
• Experience working with legislation, internal policy, and safety controls
• A track record managing both international and small suppliers to deliver safe, innovative products
• A current driver’s license

What’s in it for you?

• Flexible working options: We know that work is only one part of your life, so we actively encourage a positive work-life balance and provide hybrid working options to help you achieve it.
• Office perks: Take advantage of our gym facility and fitness classes, free parking, BBQ area, mini-Coles supermarket, fooderie hub where you can sample new products before they hit the shelves, school holiday program and so much more when you come in.
• Discounts: Eligible team members receive 5% discount all year round on your Supermarket and Liquor online and in-store purchases. We also offer additional periods of double discount (10%) at various times throughout the year. As well as hotdeals exclusive to team members that translate into additional savings.
• Reward through recognition: Give and receive recognition, linked to our Coles values, through our digital recognition platform ‘mythanks’. You can accumulate points to redeem in the online shop for exciting gifts and electronic gift cards from an extensive range of retailers.
• Opportunities for learning and development: No matter where you start within our diverse business, you’ll have experiences, exposure, and education to satisfy you. Discover and explore a variety of career development programs and job-specific training.
• Paid parental leave: We understand how important your life outside work is and offer permanent team members paid parental leave to support you in balancing work and family.
• Investment in your future: Our annual team member share plan offer allows eligible team members to make regular pre-tax salary sacrifice deductions to purchase Coles Group shares.

About the recruitment process

We’re continuing to build a gender equitable team, and a culture that is just as diverse, inclusive and welcoming as the communities we serve. We are committed to creating a workplace that is safe and respectful for our team. We encourage applications from people of all ages, cultures (including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples), abilities, sexual orientation and gender identities.

We’re happy to adjust our recruitment process to support candidates with disability. For further information and additional contact details visit the ‘Our Recruitment Process’ section of our careers site or email inclusionrecruitment@coles.com.au

Job ID: 178321

Employment Type: Full time

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