🌱 Who We Are
Mother Root is the Ginger non‑alcoholic aperitif. We harness the power of apple cider vinegar to serve up a dose of good feelings. Our mission is to redefine what it means to drink well and feel good – with drinks that are complex, delicious and rooted in nature.
Fresh from securing three offers on BBC Dragons’ Den, we’re on an exciting growth journey — scaling from a £7m brand today towards £50m+ in the years ahead, with 250% year‑on‑year growth already underway. With our small but mighty team, we’re building one of the UK’s fastest‑growing non‑alcoholic brands, both online and in retail.
We’re bold, inclusive and ambitious. We value creativity, curiosity and collaboration — and we believe work should be joyful, purposeful and full of flavour.
🚀 The Role
We’re hiring a Product Development Manager to lead the delivery of our product pipeline in NPD and EPD – from early‑stage ideas through to launch and ongoing improvement.
Reporting into the Head of Operations, you’ll be the central point of coordination across product development, working closely with Technical & Quality, Supply Chain, Packaging Development and partnering closely with the CEO, who drives much of the product vision and strategy.
This is a hands‑on role for someone who loves drinks, flavour and process – and who brings clarity, pace and discipline to complex projects.
📋 What You’ll Do
Product Development
* Lead end‑to‑end NPD and EPD across liquids, formats, gifting, serveware and ritual‑led experiences.
* Drive continual improvement of existing products – taste, consistency, quality, yield and scalability.
* Translate customer insight and feedback into clear product development briefs.
Project Leadership & Delivery
* Own and run a disciplined stage‑gate process from concept through to launch.
* Act as a central point of contact between Technical & Quality, Supply Chain, Packaging Development, Brand and leadership, keeping workstreams aligned and moving, managing critical paths and ensuring launches land on time, on spec and on brand.
* Manage external development partners and specialist suppliers where required.
Brand, Ritual & Customer Experience
* Work with the Founder, Brand and Growth teams to develop ritual‑led products and experiences.
* Partner with Brand, Marketing and Content to unearth ingredient, formulation and process stories that strengthen brand equity and product storytelling.
Supply Chain, Technical & Risk
* Lead hands‑on formulation and recipe development, scaling from bench to factory in close collaboration with our suppliers.
* Anticipate ingredient, packaging and manufacturing dependencies, working closely with the Technical & Supply Chain Manager to mitigate risk.
* Build optionality into formulations and specifications, developing alternative supply routes well ahead of need.
* Partner with the Technical & Quality Manager to embed food safety, regulatory compliance and manufacturing readiness into development.
🎓 What You’ll Bring
* Circa 5‑10 years’ experience in product development within drinks or adjacent CPG categories.
* Deep expertise in flavour development, formulation and sensory balance.
* Proven experience taking products from concept through to commercial production.
* Strong experience working with manufacturers and ingredient suppliers.
* Excellent project management skills, with the ability to run multiple workstreams in parallel.
* Strong commercial judgement – margin, complexity and feasibility are always considered.
Nice to have:
* Experience in craft drink making, whether non‑alcoholic, alcoholic, or a mix of both.
* Hands‑on experience developing liquids where balance, mouthfeel and complexity really matter.
💫 You’ll Thrive Here If You
* Are flavour‑obsessed and hold a very high‑quality bar.
* Enjoy owning complex problems end‑to‑end.
* Bring structure, clarity and calm to fast‑moving environments.
* Can work autonomously and make sound judgement calls.
* Balance creative ambition with practical delivery.
đź’› Benefits & Perks
* Share Options Programme: Equivalent to 15% of salary
* Annual Leave: 25 days per year
* Summer Hours: Early finish Fridays (June–August)
* Work From Anywhere: Up to 2 weeks per year
* Pension: 5% matched contribution
* Cycle Scheme: Bike or Lime/Forest Pass
* Personal Development: ÂŁ300 annual allowance for approved training
* Wellbeing Support: Access to Spill app & Heka allowance (ÂŁ40/month) + birthday/work anniversary boosts
* Annual Team Trip: Gastronomical & wellbeing‑focused team away trip
* Free access to Fora gym & classes
* Parental Leave: Competitive maternity/paternity package
* Lots of free Mother Root
#J-18808-Ljbffr