1 day ago Be among the first 25 applicants
Get AI-powered advice on this job and more exclusive features.
This range is provided by Advocate Group. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.
Base pay range
Direct message the job poster from Advocate Group
Executive Talent Partner & Career Coach | FMCG Recruitment Specialists | Brand Advocate Representation ???? | Experts In Unbiased Recruitment …
New Product Development Manager
Do you want to lead exciting food innovation projects for one of the UK’s most recognisable names in chilled and frozen food manufacturing space?
We’re hiring an NPD Manager to take charge of end-to-end product development, bringing both new and improved products to market. This is a fantastic opportunity for a proactive and commercially minded food professional to shape product strategy within a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
About the Company
Our client is a long established UK food manufacturer, known for its heritage, trusted quality, and presence across major supermarkets. With deep roots in the North West, the business has a loyal consumer base and a strong commitment to innovation within savoury chilled and frozen food categories.
Operating with a lean structure and minimal red tape, they combine speed and autonomy with strong cross-functional collaboration, the perfect environment for a hands-on NPD expert ready to make an impact.
The Role
Reporting to the Head of Commercial, you’ll own the full NPD/EPD process, from kitchen concept and factory trials through to product launch. You’ll work cross functionally with Technical, Engineering, Category, and Operations, managing timelines, documentation, packaging, and internal approvals.
This is a brilliant role for someone who enjoys working independently, thrives in a practical environment, and wants to deliver tangible results across branded and own-label portfolios.
Key Responsibilities
* Lead the end-to-end delivery of NPD and EPD projects
* Chair weekly NPD meetings and manage project timelines
* Develop and trial kitchen concepts based on trend insights and customer briefs
* Manage costings, packaging approvals, and reheating/cooking validations
* Collaborate with Technical on specs, QUID, HACCP and documentation
* Coordinate internal tasting sessions and benchmarking
* Support Capex project delivery with Engineering where applicable
* Ensure all internal systems and stakeholders are aligned pre-launch
What We’re Looking For
* Experience in food NPD, ideally within chilled/frozen manufacturing.
* Strong project management and cross-functional communication skills
* Confident working independently with minimal supervision
* Hands-on mindset with attention to detail and commercial awareness
* Excellent documentation and organisation capabilities
* Proficiency in Microsoft Office; MS Project experience a plus
* Experience with both own-label and branded ranges welcome
Why Join?
* Product Autonomy – Own the full NPD process from idea to launch
* Cross-Functional Exposure – Collaborate across Technical, Commercial, Ops, and Engineering
* Fast-Paced – Agile environment with minimal bureaucracy
* Make an Impact – High visibility in a lean, innovation-focused team
Interested? 'Apply' below or email your CV to: kieran.tudsbury@advocate-group.co.uk
The Advocate Group is a leading recruitment partner to the FMCG and consumer product sectors. We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation, or age.
By applying for this role, you are agreeing to our Privacy Policy, which can be found on our website. The Advocate Group is acting as an employment agency in relation to this vacancy.
Seniority level
* Seniority level
Mid-Senior level
Employment type
* Employment type
Full-time
Job function
* Job function
Manufacturing, Product Management, and Production
* Industries
Staffing and Recruiting, Food and Beverage Manufacturing, and Manufacturing
Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at Advocate Group by 2x
Get notified about new New Product Development Manager jobs in Accrington, England, United Kingdom.
Engineering Manager (Remote - Multiple locations)
Swinton, England, United Kingdom 3 weeks ago
Lancashire, England, United Kingdom 4 days ago
Manchester Area, United Kingdom 3 days ago
Engineering Manager, Cloud Platform - (Remote - Northern Ireland)
Manchester, England, United Kingdom 1 month ago
Wigan, England, United Kingdom 3 weeks ago
Manchester, England, United Kingdom 3 days ago
Blackburn, England, United Kingdom 1 week ago
Manchester, England, United Kingdom 1 month ago
Engineering Manager - Search and Recommendations
Manchester, England, United Kingdom 2 weeks ago
Warrington, England, United Kingdom 1 week ago
Manchester, England, United Kingdom 3 weeks ago
Engineering Manager - Visualization Team
Manchester, England, United Kingdom 4 months ago
Assessment Manager – Engineering Inspection Bodies
We’re unlocking community knowledge in a new way. Experts add insights directly into each article, started with the help of AI.
#J-18808-Ljbffr