Hip Pop | Manchester | Salary Competitive, with flexibility for the right experience
To apply, send your CV to jobs@drinkhippop.com with "NPD Project Manager" in the subject line.
THE OPPORTUNITY
Hip Pop is looking for an Innovation & New Product Development Project Manager to lead drinks projects from idea through to launch.
This is a key role in our next stage of growth. You’ll work across product development, flavour, sensory, suppliers, operations, quality, marketing and founders to help bring new drinks to market.
We’re looking for someone who understands beverage development, has a strong feel for flavour and can bring structure to a fast‑moving innovation pipeline.
You’ll need to be creative and organised in equal measure. Someone who can explore product ideas, but also manage timelines, trials, testing, approvals and launch plans.
THE COMPANY
Hip Pop is a multi‑award‑winning challenger brand in soft drinks, born in Manchester and built with big ambition.
We exist to challenge the big pop brands with drinks that are better for you, made with real fruit, gut‑friendly live cultures and fibre.
Our products include award‑winning kombucha and soda. They are low in calories, never made with sweeteners and most importantly, taste great.
Since launching in 2019, Hip Pop has grown quickly and our drinks are now available through national retailers and well‑known stockists including Tesco, Sainsbury’s, M&S, Waitrose, Co‑op, Booths, Harrods and even the Manchester United first‑team bus.
THE ROLE
As Innovation & NPD Project Manager, you’ll own new product development projects from concept through to launch across Hip Pop’s drinks portfolio.
Day to day, this will include:
* Managing NPD projects through a clear stage gate process
* Supporting flavour, liquid and recipe development
* Working with flavour houses, ingredient suppliers, packaging suppliers and external partners
* Coordinating product trials, tastings, sensory testing and feedback
* Making sure products are tested, documented and ready to scale
* Working closely with brewing, quality and operations to maintain consistency and product standards
* Keeping founders, marketing, sales and operations updated throughout each project
* Taking learnings from launches and using them to improve future innovation decisions
This is a highly cross‑functional role. You’ll be joining the dots between product development, operations, quality, brand, marketing and commercial delivery.
YOUR EXPERIENCE
Direct beverage experience is essential. That could be soft drinks, kombucha, beer, alcohol, functional drinks, juice, dairy, RTD drinks or another liquid category.
You’ll need:
* A strong understanding of recipe development, flavour and sensory
* Experience managing NPD projects from concept to launch
* Good project management skills, ideally including stage gate processes
* Confidence working with suppliers and internal teams
* Strong communication and stakeholder management skills
* A practical, hands‑on approach
* Eligibility to work in the UK without sponsorship
Brewing or fermentation experience would be helpful, but it isn’t essential. A qualification in brewing, food science, food technology, nutrition, biochemistry or a related subject would also be useful.
What matters most is that you have worked with drinks and understand what it takes to get a brilliant product from idea to launch.
WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU?
* Competitive salary with flexibility for the right experience
* Your birthday off
* Pension
* Cycle to Work scheme
* Unlimited Hip Pop
* Real ownership of projects that will shape the future product pipeline
BASED IN
Manchester. This role will need regular time with the team, manufacturing HQ and key stakeholders, so you’ll need to be able to work from Manchester as required.
KEEN TO APPLY?
Send your CV to jobs@drinkhippop.com with "NPD Project Manager" in the subject line.
Please also include a short note covering:
* The beverage categories you have worked in
* Your experience with flavour, sensory, liquid development or recipe work
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