Development - Development Manager

Finsbury Food Group; Hamilton; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Enhanced Maternity & Paternity Leave

Enhanced Pension Scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Benefits Hub discounts

Refer a Friend scheme

Job summary

Lightbody’s of Hamilton is seeking a Development Manager to lead end-to-end product development from concept to launch at our Hamilton site, driving innovation and customer collaboration. You will manage the development plan, ensure products meet commercial and quality objectives, and lead a motivated team.

The role requires strong project management, stakeholder engagement, and a passion for food trends, with opportunities to shape product strategy and deliver high-impact results in a growing

Qualifications

• Degree in Food Science, Food Technology, or equivalent.
• At least five years' product development experience within food manufacturing.
• Experience leading and developing a team.
• Strong project management and cross-functional collaboration.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• Full UK driving licence.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end product development from concept to launch.
• Create and deliver site development plan aligning with customer expectations and business strategy.
• Develop and coach the team, fostering a collaborative, high-performing culture.
• Present new concepts to customers and build relationships as the site representative.
• Manage multiple projects, anticipate risks, and ensure on-time, on-budget delivery.
• Champion product quality and drive continuous improvements and innovation.

Skills

NPD experience

Team leadership

Project management

Stakeholder management

Communication

Industry knowledge

Education

Food Science degree

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
• 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.