This is a senior, sleeves-rolled-up NPD role for someone who understands that great bakery products are born at the intersection of craft, commercial reality, and technical discipline. You’ll take ownership of the end-to-end NPD lifecycle—idea to launch—working closely with commercial, technical, operations, and supply chain teams to deliver profitable, scalable, retailer-ready bakery products. If you love bakery, thrive under pressure, and can turn a brief into a product that actually survives factory scale-up and retailer scrutiny, you’ll feel right at home Key Responsibilities Product Development & Innovation * Lead the development of new bakery products across cakes and seasonal ranges (depending on business focus). * Translate customer and retailer briefs into technically sound, commercially viable products. * Drive continuous improvement of existing products to optimise quality, cost, shelf life, and process efficiency. * Champion ingredient functionality, recipe optimisation, and process robustness. Customer & Commercial Interface * Act as the technical NPD lead on key customer accounts. * Support customer presentations, product submissions, tastings, and trials. * Balance innovation with margin—because great ideas still need to make money. Factory Trials & Scale-Up * Lead factory trials from bench to full-scale production. * Work closely with Operations and Engineering to ensure smooth handovers and repeatable processes. * Identify and mitigate risks early—no surprises on launch day. Technical & Compliance * Ensure all products meet food safety, quality, legal, and retailer standards. * Support shelf-life testing, nutritional compliance, and specifications. * Work collaboratively with Technical teams to ensure seamless sign-off. Mentorship & Leadership * Coach and support junior NPD technologists. * Set standards, share best practice, and raise the technical bar across the team. * Be a calm, credible presence when timelines tighten and pressure rises. About You You’re commercially sharp, technically credible, and bakery-obsessed—in the best possible way. You’ll bring: * Proven experience in bakery NPD within a food manufacturing environment. * Strong understanding of bakery processes, ingredients, and functionality. * Experience working with major UK retailers or branded customers. * Confidence leading trials, customer meetings, and cross-functional projects. * The ability to manage multiple projects without dropping the ball