Development – Development Manager

Finsbury Food Group; Hamilton; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Enhanced family leave

Pension scheme

Death in service

Employee assistance programme

Retail discounts

Refer a Friend

Recognition awards

Learning & development

Job summary

Lightbody’s of Hamilton, part of Finsbury Food Group, is seeking a Development Manager to lead end-to-end product development from concept to launch. You’ll drive innovation across the site, working closely with customers and cross-functional teams to deliver exciting new products.

You’ll manage and develop a high-performing team, present new concepts, build strong relationships with retailers, and ensure projects meet timelines, budgets and quality standards.

Qualifications

• Degree in Food Science, Food Technology, or equivalent.
• At least five years’ product development experience within food manufacturing.
• Proven experience leading and developing a team.
• Strong project management skills delivering NPD from concept to launch.
• Experience working with customers and managing multiple stakeholders.
• Commercially aware with a passion for food, innovation, and consumer trends.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end product development from concept to launch.
• Create and deliver the site development plan aligned with customer and commercial objectives.
• Manage and develop the development team with coaching and collaboration.
• Work cross-functionally with Technical, Operations, Commercial, Brand, Procurement and Manufacturing.
• Champion product quality and drive innovation to improve customer satisfaction.

Skills

Product development

Team leadership

Project management

Stakeholder management

Communication skills

Commercial awareness

Education

Degree in Food Science/Technology

Job description

Location: Lightbody’s of Hamilton, Hamilton (on site)
Shift: Monday – Friday
Salary: Competitive + Benefits
We have an exciting opportunity for a Development Manager to join our team.
This is a fantastic opportunity to work with some of the UK’s leading retail and brand partners, taking products from concept through to launch. You’ll lead a team while driving innovation across the site, working closely with customers and cross‑functional teams to deliver exciting new products.
135 years of craft baking skills lie behind the quality of the special branded cakes, sweet snacks and slices we produce in Hamilton and 55 million products are produced each year. Lightbody’s is the UK’s largest supplier of celebration cakes to UK retailers, with Disney, Mars, Universal and Thorntons all within the portfolio of branded cakes made under licence. We also make a variety of supermarkets’ well‑loved own‑label cakes and in‑store bakery bites.
It’s an exciting time to join a growing business with continued investment in innovation, offering genuine opportunities to shape product strategy, develop your team, and make a real impact.

This is what you’ll actually do!
As Development Manager, you’ll lead the end‑to‑end product development process, taking accountability for projects from concept through to successful launch. You’ll create and deliver the site development plan, ensuring products meet customer expectations, commercial objectives, and business strategy.
You’ll manage and develop your team, providing coaching and support while fostering a collaborative, high‑performing culture. Working closely with customers, you’ll present new concepts, build strong relationships, and represent Finsbury throughout the development journey.
A key part of the role will be managing multiple projects simultaneously, anticipating potential risks before they arise, and ensuring critical paths are delivered on time, within budget, and to the highest quality standards. You’ll work cross‑functionally with Technical, Operations, Commercial, Brand, Procurement, and Manufacturing teams to ensure every product is successfully launched and commercially viable.
You’ll also champion product quality across the site, benchmarking products against competitors, identifying opportunities for improvement, and driving innovation that enhances customer satisfaction and business performance.
Ideally this is you!

• Degree in Food Science, Food Technology, or equivalent industry experience
• At least five years’ product development experience within food manufacturing
• Previous experience leading and developing a team
• Strong project management skills with experience delivering NPD projects from concept to launch
• Experience working with customers and managing multiple stakeholders
• Commercially aware with a passion for food, innovation, and consumer trends
• Excellent communication, presentation, and relationship‑building skills
• Highly organised, proactive, and able to manage multiple priorities
• Strong problem‑solving skills with the ability to anticipate challenges and drive solutions
• Full UK driving licence

This is a brilliant opportunity to work with leading brands, lead a team, and play a key role in delivering innovative new products within a growing business.

What’s in it for you?
Enhanced Maternity & Paternity Leave to allow quality time with your new arrival!
Enhanced Pension Scheme for our employees
Death in Service Benefit
Free Employee Assistance Programme (open to colleagues and their families)
Retail discounts accessible via our Benefits Hub platform!
Refer a Friend Scheme (up to £300 per referral – T&C’s dependent)
Employee Recognition Awards Extensive Learning & Development opportunities (including opportunities for sponsored professional memberships and our own in‑house development course!)
An opportunity to be part of a fantastic, growing organisation. Head over to our LinkedIn page to find out more!

Our vision is to be the leading specialty bakery group in the UK, and we want the best people in place to achieve this. Our continued success is built entirely on the talented people who work here, so employee development is important to us because everyone is a valued member of the team, and we want every individual to have the skills and capabilities to achieve both your own personal goals and our business goals. We want good people to join our company, to help our company continue to go from strength to strength. If this sounds like you, please get in contact to learn more!

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