Dessert NPD Manager: Lead Concepts & Client Partnerships

The Oval Partnership; Nottingham; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

The Oval Partnership is recruiting an NPD Manager to lead dessert-focused product development in a fast-paced food manufacturing environment. This hands-on role centers on translating briefs into creative, commercially viable concepts while guiding a small team through development to handover.

You will own the concept development process, stay ahead of trends, present to retail customers, and collaborate with process, technical, commercial and operations teams to deliver brilliant products.

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading NPD or product development projects in food manufacturing.
• Strong experience managing NPD critical paths.
• A hands-on developer who stays close to the product.
• Background in bakery/desserts or sweet categories preferred.
• Experience mentoring or line-management is advantageous.
• Confident with retail customers and presenting concepts.
• Energetic, nurturing leadership style balancing creativity with commercial delivery.

Responsibilities

• Lead customer NPD projects from brief to concept handover.
• Manage project critical paths and keep on track.
• Develop creative, commercially viable dessert concepts.
• Present concepts to retail customers.
• Collaborate with process, technical, commercial and operations teams.
• Coach and mentor one direct report.
• Foster a positive, collaborative team environment.
• Stay ahead of consumer trends and market activity.

Skills

NPD leadership

Project management

Creative development

Retail customer communication

Line management

Desserts experience

Cross-functional collaboration

Trend spotting

Stakeholder management

Job description

The Oval Partnership is recruiting an NPD Manager to lead dessert-focused product development in a fast-paced food manufacturing environment. This hands-on role centers on translating briefs into creative, commercially viable concepts while guiding a small team through development to handover.

You will own the concept development process, stay ahead of trends, present to retail customers, and collaborate with process, technical, commercial and operations teams to deliver brilliant products.