NPD Manager

The Company

An excellent opportunity for an experienced food development professional to take ownership of a development function within a successful, growing food manufacturer. This role combines hands-on product development, people leadership and continuous improvement, making it ideal for someone who still enjoys being close to the products and factory while taking the next step in their leadership career.

Our client is an established food manufacturer supplying an exciting and diverse range of products across the UK and Europe.

Operating within a collaborative, close-knit environment, the business prides itself on being agile, customer-focused and highly responsive. With broad manufacturing capabilities it works closely with customers to turn briefs into commercially viable products. The business is focused on continued growth and diversification, creating an excellent opportunity for the successful individual to influence how the development function evolves.

The Role

As Development Manager, you will lead the day-to-day development function while remaining actively involved in product development yourself.

You will manage and support the NPD team, taking new and existing products from concept through factory trial, scale-up and launch. Working closely with Production, Technical, Procurement, Sales, suppliers and customers, you will ensure products meet customer expectations while also being practical to manufacture and commercially viable.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Leading, mentoring and developing the NPD team.
• Managing NPD and EPD projects from customer brief through to launch.
• Developing recipes and translating kitchen concepts successfully into factory production.
• Managing factory trials, scale-ups and process optimisation.
• Working with ingredients and raw materials to achieve the required product functionality, quality and cost.
• Building strong relationships with factory teams and drawing on their practical manufacturing knowledge.
• Ensuring accurate development records and robust stage-gate processes.
• Reviewing existing development processes and identifying opportunities to improve efficiency, consistency and ways of working.
• Supporting customer meetings, presentations and sample development.
• Identifying emerging ingredients, technologies and opportunities for innovation.
• Maintaining commercial awareness, including ingredient and trial costs.
• Helping ensure the product portfolio remains relevant, competitive and differentiated.

This is not a desk-based management position. You will be expected to remain close to the development kitchen and factory, with occasional flexibility required around production trials.

The Candidate

We are looking for an experienced NPD, Product Development or Innovation professional from food manufacturing who can combine strong technical knowledge with credible people leadership.

You will ideally bring:

• Proven food manufacturing NPD/product development experience.
• Previous people management or supervisory experience.
• Strong knowledge of ingredients and raw materials, including how they behave and interact during manufacturing.
• Experience taking products from concept through factory trials, scale-up and launch.
• Knowledge of structured NPD/stage-gate processes and food manufacturing standards.
• A hands-on approach and willingness to get involved in the detail.
• Strong communication skills and an inclusive, collaborative leadership style.
• The ability to build effective relationships with Production and other operational teams.
• Commercial awareness and an understanding of how development decisions affect product cost and viability.
• The confidence to review established processes, challenge where appropriate and drive continuous improvement.

In return, this represents a genuine opportunity to take ownership of a development team while continuing to work hands-on with products, customers and manufacturing. You will have the scope to influence processes, develop the team and play an important role in the future growth of the business.