Overview:
We are seeking an experienced and commercially astute NPD Manager to lead the product development process from brief to concept delivery. In this pivotal role, you will drive innovation that aligns with commercial and category strategies, manage a high-performing team, and act as a key contact for customer relationships. If you’re a strategic thinker with a passion for food innovation and leadership, this is the role for you.
Key Responsibilities:
* Collaborate with the Controller to interpret and contribute to commercial and category strategies, translating them into actionable product development plans.
* Review customer briefs to develop product ideas that balance customer needs, market trends, commercial goals, and manufacturing capabilities.
* Create and communicate a clear delivery plan for the team, ensuring packaging and product elements are considered holistically.
* Develop and maintain a weekly workplan tracker to assign clear responsibilities and manage future planning and resource allocation.
* Oversee project critical paths, ensuring stage gates are met and any delays or changes are escalated to the Project Manager and Controller.
* Manage the development team to ensure successful delivery of product concepts in accordance with internal processes and stage gate procedures.
* Ensure timely and accurate completion of all project documentation, including feasibility reports, raw material trackers, submission forms, and handover documents.
* Foster effective communication and collaboration across cross-functional teams (e.g., Technical, Commercial, Operations, Procurement).
* Work in partnership with the Packaging Manager to ensure packaging is an integral part of the product experience, balancing quality, functionality, and consumer appeal.
* Act as the key point of contact for customer relationships, maintaining regular communication and attending customer meetings, updates, and submissions.
* Lead weekly customer update meetings, sharing progress, aligning on priorities, and capturing outputs for wider internal distribution.
* Provide clear direction and performance feedback to direct reports through regular 1:1s, managing personal development plans and identifying growth opportunities.
* Host regular team meetings to maintain alignment on goals, priorities, and resource needs.
Key Skills and Experience:
* Proven experience in a senior product development or innovation role, ideally within the food industry.
* Strong commercial awareness and understanding of category strategies, customer expectations, and manufacturing realities.
* Excellent leadership skills with experience managing and developing high-performing teams.
* Strong project management and organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
* Effective communicator with the ability to build trust and maintain professional relationships with both internal teams and external customers.
* Solid understanding of packaging development and how it complements product design.
* Proficient in using planning and documentation tools to manage workload, critical paths, and team accountability.
What We Offer:
* Leadership role with a clear impact on product strategy and innovation
* Opportunities to work closely with key retail and foodservice customers
* A dynamic, collaborative work environment
* Ongoing professional development and progression opportunities
If you are a driven, strategic, and creative leader ready to shape the next generation of products, apply now to join our team as a NPD Manager.