Head of NPD

Finnebrogue; Downpatrick; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free onsite parking

Subsidised meals and breakfast options

Access to Food Shack with free product

Insula Wellbeing on-site support

Perks Discount card

Gym membership

Cashback healthcare plan

Cycle-to-work scheme

Electric car scheme

Birthday paid holiday

Job summary

Finnebrogue is seeking a Head of Food Product Development to lead the function and deliver the product and innovation agenda across major customers and categories. You will ensure outstanding food quality, strong customer partnerships and disciplined execution from concept to launch.

Working cross-functionally with Commercial, Culinary, Technical and Operations, you will translate insights and trends into robust 1–3 year pipelines and build a high-performing team in a supportive, inclusive

Responsibilities

• Lead Finnebrogue’s Food Product Development function and set the 1–3 year innovation plan across key customers and categories.
• Translate customer strategy, consumer insight and food trends into differentiated, commercially successful products.
• Develop a high-performing development team and ensure quality, partnership and disciplined delivery from concept through scale-up and launch.

Job description

Be part of something big

Finnebrogue is a leading UK-based food producer within the globalSofinaFoods Group. We look at what is wrong with food to figure out how to make it the best it can be. Operating from four facilities in Downpatrick, Northern Ireland, Finnebrogue supplies major supermarkets with own-label bacon, sausages, burgers, and vegetarian products, as well as its pioneering Naked range made without nitrites.

We have been recognised as the UK’s Employer of the Year by Grocer Gold and the Best Place to Work in Northern Ireland by the Irish News Workplace & Employment Awards. Our robust People Strategy offers career pathways and development opportunities for all employees, emphasising talent growth and wellbeing with generous benefits for all. We are proud to be the first food producer in the UK and Ireland to achieve the Diversity Mark accreditation and are committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive workplace.

Globally,SofinaFoods and its wholly owned subsidiaries operate more than 40 sites and have over 14,000 employees in Canada, UK, Island of Ireland, Germany and France.

Job Role

To lead Finnebrogue’s Food Product Development function, setting and delivering the product and innovation agenda across key customers and categories.

The role will translate customer strategy, consumer insight, food trends and business opportunities into differentiated, commercially successful products and robust 1–3 year innovation pipelines. Working cross-functionally with Commercial, Culinary, Technical, Process, Operations, Procurement and Finance.

The Head of Food Product Development will ensure outstanding food quality, customer partnership and disciplined delivery from concept through scale-up and launch, while developing a high-performing and future-focused development team.

Benefits

• At Finnebrogue, we offer more than just a job – we provide a comprehensive benefits package designed to support and reward our employees. Working in one of our state-of-the-art facilities, you’llenjoy free onsite parking and access to electric charging points and access a restaurant-standard canteen with all meals subsidised, includingfree breakfastoptions.
• You'll enjoy access to our award-winning Food Shack, where you can receive up to 5 free food products per week. You'll also have confidential support through Insula Wellbeing, our on-site counsellors.
• We offer a full calendar of wellbeing, social, and sports events, helping you stay balanced and connected. As you settle into the business, your benefits will continue to grow, with the Perks Discount card, gym membership, cashback healthcare plan, cycle-to-work scheme, electric car scheme, and even your birthday as a paid holiday.