Baked Product Development Manager

KP Snacks; North East; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading snack company in the UK is seeking a Baked Product Development Manager to develop and commercialize new baked snacks. The ideal candidate will have expertise in FMCG baked products, a relevant STEM degree, and experience in managing projects within a fast-paced environment. This role offers an annual bonus scheme, car allowance, comprehensive healthcare support, and opportunities for career development.

Benefits

Annual bonus scheme

£6000 car cash allowance

Comprehensive healthcare support

Pension Plan with contribution matching

25 days holiday plus buy scheme

Benefits platform with discounts and wellbeing tools

Qualifications

• Several years experience in developing baked goods with strong understanding of ingredients.
• Confident in designing and running experiments, analyzing data.
• Proven track record of managing and delivering projects in fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Develop and commercialize new baked snacks across UK brands.
• Design and lead experimental plans from bench to scale.
• Collaborate across KP and Intersnack network.

Skills

FMCG Baked expertise

Strong technical skills

Leadership/collaborative mindset

Education

Degree in Food Science, Chemistry, Engineering, or related STEM discipline

Job description

You'll be responsible for developing and commercialising new baked snacks across our UK brands. This will include recipe formulation, benchtop development, scale-up planning, and overseeing trials at factory level, ensuring every product meets our quality, safety, and brand standards.

• Deliver projects with technical excellence and agility
• Design and lead robust experimental plans, from bench to scale, with a strong focus on data-led decision-making, and help embed R&D best practices via enhanced tools and processes. Ensure product designs are factory-ready and transitioned smoothly into production using our P2M and MoPD stage gate processes.
• Collaborate across KP and the wider Intersnack network
• Partner closely with colleagues in manufacturing, marketing, procurement, and our Intersnack flavour team to ensure projects are technically sound and commercially viable. Contribute to the Baked Community of Practice, sharing insights and championing technical innovation.
• Develop yourself and others
• As a member of the UK R&D Leadership team, influence the overall UK R&D agenda and champion R&D talent development across the organisation.

This role is ideal for someone with solid R&D experience within a reputable FMCG organisation, passionate about baked categories, with a desire to develop and influence R&D capabilities.

• FMCG Baked expertise: Several years experience in developing baked goods (e.g., crackers, biscuits) with a strong understanding of ingredients, processes, and functionality.
• STEM qualification: A degree in Food Science, Chemistry, Engineering, or another STEM discipline; relevant certifications or project management training are a plus.
• Strong technical skills: Confident designing and running experiments, analysing data, and writing reports to support R&D decision-making.
• Project delivery in FMCG: Proven track record of managing and delivering a portfolio of projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Leadership/collaborative mindset: Ability to lead, engage, and coach others, sharing best practices, and fostering a positive, continuous improvement culture.

Join our snack-loving team! We're looking for a Baked Product Development Manager at KP Snacks. Be part of a group where your ideas matter and your growth is celebrated. This role reflects our focus on innovation in baked snacks as part of KP Snacks' growth ambitions. You will bring specialist knowledge of baked goods/crackers/biscuits and lead product development from concept to commercialisation. You will also play a key role in our UK R&D leadership team, enhancing R&D tools and processes, and driving technical excellence and agility. Reporting to the Head of R&D, you will partner with cross-functional teams across KP and Intersnack, including marketing, supply chain, procurement, and academia, being a vital member of our One R&D Intersnack Community.

About KP Snacks: We are part of the Intersnack family, with over 15,000 colleagues across 30+ countries. In the UK, we're about 2,400 strong, with seven factories and a HQ in Slough. We celebrate diversity, encourage open communication, and aim to create an inclusive workplace where everyone belongs. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and perspectives.

We offer:

• Annual bonus scheme with a strong track record of overachievement
• £6000 car cash allowance
• Comprehensive healthcare support including private healthcare and mental wellbeing resources
• KP Pension Plan with up to 7% contribution matching
• 25 days holiday plus buy scheme
• KP4ME benefits platform with discounts, prizes, and wellbeing tools