Development Manager

2 Sisters Food Group; Carlisle; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Up to 33 days Annual Leave including B

Health Assured Employee Assistance and

Grocery Aid

Company Pension Scheme

Boparan Restaurant Group Discount

Cycle2Work Scheme

Job summary

2 Sisters Food Group in Carlisle is seeking an Development Manager to lead NPD projects, steer from concept to delivery and collaborate with customers and cross-functional teams. You will own timelines, coordinate technical, commercial, operations and manufacturing input, build strong customer relationships and ensure propositions meet briefs and business goals.

This is a hands-on, customer-facing role requiring project management, commercial awareness and the ability to drive multiple projects

Qualifications

• Experience in an NPD or product development role within the food industry, preferably within chilled food manufacturing.
• Experience working with food retailers and understanding their expectations and development requirements.
• Proven experience managing projects and delivering outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of NPD projects from concept through development and delivery, ensuring progress against timelines and objectives.
• Work directly with retail customers to understand requirements and develop tailored product propositions.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including technical, commercial, operations and manufacturing to ensure successful delivery.
• Build and maintain strong customer relationships as a key contact throughout the development process.
• Drive projects forward proactively, identifying challenges and working with teams to find solutions.
• Ensure product propositions align with customer briefs, market opportunities and business objectives.
• Contribute new ideas to improve products and strengthen customer partnerships.

Skills

NPD management

Cross-functional collaboration

Project management

Customer-facing

Commercial awareness

Presentation skills

Multi-stakeholder communication

Job description

Development Manager

Location: Carlisle

Working Hours: 08:30-17:00 (Monday-Friday)

About Us

Join 2 Sisters Food Group, one of the UK's largest food manufacturers, with an annual turnover exceeding £3 billion and approximately 13,000 employees across multiple sites. We have a strong presence in poultry, chilled, and bakery food categories. We are committed to delivering high-quality products to the British public and our retail and food service customers, including major retailers like Aldi, Asda, Co-op, KFC, Lidl, Marks & Spencer, Morrison's, Salisbury's, Tesco, and Waitrose.

The Role:

As Development Manager, you will take ownership of NPD projects, working collaboratively with customers and cross-functional teams to bring product concepts to life. This is a customer-facing role that requires strong project management skills, commercial awareness and the confidence to engage with stakeholders at all levels.

You will be responsible for driving projects forward, coordinating multiple functions and ensuring that products are developed in line with customer expectations, commercial objectives and business priorities.

Key Responsibilities

• Take ownership of NPD projects from initial concept through to development and delivery, ensuring progress against agreed timelines and objectives.
• Work directly with retail customers to understand their requirements and develop tailored product propositions.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including technical, commercial, operations and manufacturing, to ensure successful project delivery.
• Build and maintain strong customer relationships, acting as a key point of contact throughout the development process.
• Drive projects forward proactively, identifying potential challenges and working with relevant teams to find solutions.
• Ensure product propositions align with customer briefs, market opportunities and wider business objectives.
• Contribute new ideas and identify opportunities to improve products, develop propositions and strengthen customer partnerships.

About You

• Experience in an NPD or product development role within the food industry, preferably within chilled food manufacturing.
• Experience working with food retailers and an understanding of their expectations, processes and product development requirements.
• Proven experience managing projects and taking responsibility for delivering outcomes.
• Strong customer-facing skills, with the confidence to build relationships and communicate effectively with different stakeholders.
• Experience preparing and delivering product presentations and developing compelling product propositions.
• The ability to work across multiple functions, engaging with different teams to keep projects moving forward.

Why Join Us?

• Work for one of the UK's largest food manufacturers with a proud legacy - from launching the UK's first ready meals to driving modern innovation.
• Be part of a team that values integrity, respect, and continuous improvement.
• Work in a collaborative, values-driven environment where your voice matters.
• Enjoy a competitive salary, opportunities for real career development and a benefits package that includes:
• Up to 33 days Annual Leave including Bank Holidays
• Health Assured Employee Assistance Programme and Grocery Aid, offering confidential support services 365 days a year
• Company Pension Scheme
• Boparan Restaurant Group Discount
• Cycle2Work Scheme

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