Head of New Product Development

James Fisher and Sons plc; Westhill; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Early finish on Fridays

Competitive salary and benefits

Private Medical Insurance

Life Assurance

Cycle to work scheme

Company Pension

Job summary

James Fisher and Sons plc seeks a strategic Head of New Product Development to shape and deliver a high-impact NPD portfolio. You will lead cross-functional teams, align projects with business strategy, and drive innovative solutions across our energy, defence, and maritime sectors.

This role requires strong technical leadership, chartered engineering status, and proven experience in NPD/R&D. You will ensure governance, safety, and regulatory compliance, manage budgets, and integrate emerging

Qualifications

• Proven experience delivering NPD, R&D, or innovation projects.
• Strong technical leadership with the ability to inspire high‑performing teams.
• Commercially aware with understanding of engineering decisions on business outcomes.
• Experience operating within robust governance frameworks and delivering complex programmes.

Responsibilities

• Lead and monitor delivery across the NPD portfolio, ensuring progress aligns with timelines and budgets.
• Drive accountability across project teams through oversight and governance.
• Ensure compliance with safety standards, stage-gate governance, and customer requirements.
• Develop and maintain an NPD portfolio roadmap aligned to strategy and priorities.
• Collaborate with NPD Project Managers and Integrated Project Teams for portfolio execution.

Skills

Leadership

Portfolio management

Governance

Cross-functional Collaboration

Stakeholder communication

Education

Engineering degree

Chartered Engineer

Job description

Head of New Product Development

Westhill, Aberdeen or Inchinnan, Glasgow

Full-time, Permanent

You will need to be able to pass security clearance for this role and have the right to work and reside in the UK.

The Role

This role is central to shaping and delivering JFD’s New Product Development (NPD) portfolio. It is responsible for creating a clear and compelling pipeline of innovation that will define our future capability, deliver cutting-edge solutions for our customers, and fuel sustainable business growth. By bringing new products to market that align with customer needs and strategic priorities, this role will play a key part in driving commercial success.

• Lead and monitor delivery across the NPD portfolio, ensuring progress aligns with agreed timelines and budgets.
• Drive accountability across project teams to deliver against plans through effective oversight and governance.
• Ensure consistent application of engineering processes and best practices throughout the function.
• Develop and maintain a clear NPD portfolio roadmap aligned to business strategy and priorities.
• Ensure full compliance with safety standards, stage-gate governance, and customer requirements.
• Work closely with NPD Project Managers and Integrated Project Teams to ensure effective portfolio execution.
• Ensure all NPD activities meet regulatory, export control, and cybersecurity requirements.
• Track and deliver against key portfolio KPIs, including schedule, cost performance, and capability maturity.
• Champion continuous improvement in NPD through the use of lean, agile, and systems engineering approaches.
• Support the integration of emerging technologies (e.g. AI, autonomous systems, advanced materials) into product development pipelines.

What we're looking for:

• Proven experience delivering New Product Development (NPD), R&D, or innovation projects.
• Strong technical leadership skills, with the ability to inspire, develop, and guide high-performing teams.
• Commercially astute, with an understanding of how engineering decisions impact business outcomes.
• Collaborative leadership style, with experience empowering teams and driving cross-functional working.
• Experience operating within robust governance frameworks, ensuring compliance while delivering complex programmes.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, able to engage effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Degree-qualified in Engineering (or equivalent), with Chartered Engineer status (or willingness to obtain), and experience within a technical IT environment; defence sector experience would be advantageous.

Why join us?

• Early finish on Fridays
• Competitive salary and benefits package aligned with experience (Private Medical Insurance, Life Assurance, Cycle to work scheme, Company Pension, etc.)
• Clear pathways for career development and organisational visibility
• Inclusive and supportive culture that values individual contributions
• Meaningful work with impact across safety, innovation, and global operations

James Fisher is a global engineering services company operating across Energy, Defence, and Maritime Transport. With a strong heritage in maritime operations, we now deliver innovative solutions in challenging environments. Our One James Fisher strategy is focused on building a unified, sustainable business within the Blue Economy, driving progress through technology, expertise, and collaboration.

Visit our website at: Home | James Fisher and Sons plc

For more information about our values and behaviours, follow the link: About us | James Fisher and Sons plc

James Fisher Defence (JFD), part of the James Fisher Group, is a global leader in underwater capability, delivering cutting-edge diving, submarine rescue, and hyperbaric solutions to both commercial and defence markets. Operating worldwide, JFD is the foremost provider of submarine rescue services and a trusted name in submarine escape training. We’re also at the forefront of hyperbaric rescue innovation and a leading supplier of advanced diving equipment and saturation systems across the industry. Explore more about JFD

We are committed to taking positive action on diversity and strongly encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and recognise that our success is driven by the talent and diversity of our workforce.

To support an accessible and inclusive recruitment experience in the UK, we partner with Vercida. You can learn more about our approach by visiting our company page: James Fisher and Sons diversity, inclusion, culture - VERCIDA