NPD Manager (12 Month FTC) Kent Upto £47,000 (depending on experience) Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm Hybrid options available
You know that feeling when you walk into a supermarket, see a new food product on the shelf, and think, “I bet I could’ve done that better”? Here’s your chance to prove it.
We're working with a food manufacturer in Kent who are looking for an NPD Manager to cover a 12 months (possibly longer) FTC. You'll be joining a genuinely collaborative team who live and breathe food.
Responsibilities
* Hands‑on from concept to launch – building out the NPD pipeline, spotting gaps in the market, and using insight to turn bright ideas into commercially viable products.
* Partner closely with the Category, Commercial and Technical teams to make sure what looks good on paper actually works in the factory – and on the balance sheet.
* Participate in an Innovation Day once a year, which is as much about creativity as it is about showing the business what’s possible.
* Manage juggling short‑term launches with longer‑term blue‑sky ideas in a fast‑moving environment where priorities shift.
Qualifications
* Experience in product development within food manufacturing (non‑negotiable)
* A good grasp of retailer requirements and how to navigate them
* The confidence to back your ideas with data and commercial reasoning
* A creative, practical mindset – you’ll need both
* Solid stakeholder management skills (you’ll be working cross‑functionally every day)
Benefits
* Hybrid working (once you’re settled)
* Access to learning and development programmes
* Health cover
* Bonus scheme (non‑contractual)
* On‑site parking and subsidised meals
It's a great gig for someone who loves developing products that actually make it to market – not just another PowerPoint deck of ideas.
Interested? Hit apply or drop The Collective Network a line. We'll talk you through the business, the people, and whether this one’s worth your time.
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