Product Development & Quality Controller

"For People Who Live and Breathe Food"

Wild Appetite Ltd – Albany, Auckland

If you’re the kind of person who tastes something and immediately starts thinking about how to make it better, then this role is worth a look.

Wild Appetite is looking for someone who loves food, understands quality, and wants to be hands-on in both product creation and quality control. This isn’t just a clipboard-and-checklist job. You'll be in the kitchen, working alongside production, helping refine products, protect standards, and keep everything running at the level our customers expect.

About Wild Appetite

We’re a New Zealand family business who are passionate about producing premium sauces, condiment and dressings for our customers here and overseas. We move fast, we keep standards high, and we care about the details, because that’s what great food demands. Being a family-owned business, everyone’s contribution counts and good ideas don’t get buried in layers of management. You voice will be heard!

What You’ll Be Doing

This role blends quality assurance, product development support, and hands-on kitchen involvement.

You will:

• Taste, assess, and approve products before they go out the door

• Work directly with the kitchen team to maintain consistency, flavour, and presentation

• Help refine and develop new products alongside the team

• Monitor food safety, HACCP, and quality processes in day-to-day production

• Carry out quality checks, ATP testing, and ensure cleaning and sanitation standards are met

• Investigate and follow up on any quality issues

• Help train and support production staff on in-line quality control

• Keep records accurate and systems running properly

• Work closely with operations, procurement, and account managers to keep standards aligned

In short: you’ll be the person who makes sure what leaves our kitchen is something we’re proud to put our name on.

What We’re Looking For

• Experience in food manufacturing, commercial kitchens, or food production

• A genuine interest in food, flavour, and how products are made

• Strong attention to detail and high personal standards

• Someone who’s practical, organised, and comfortable in a fast-moving environment

• Confidence to speak up when something isn’t right—and help fix it

• Knowledge of food safety, HACCP, and quality systems is important

• A team player who’s willing to roll up their sleeves and help where needed

Why This Role Stands Out

• Real involvement in new product development, not just inspection

• A tight-knit team where your input actually matters

• A growing business with room to develop your skills & learn

• A hands-on environment where no two days are exactly the same

If you’re serious about food, care about standards, and want to be part of building products & not just checking them, this is a role where you can make a real impact.

Apply now and tell us why food matters to you?