Head of Product Development

Matchtech; Slough; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Matchtech is seeking a Head of Product Development in London with a strong strategic vision for the product portfolio in nutrition and consumer health. The role leads a high-performing team and aligns development activities with business objectives and market opportunities.

The successful candidate will drive formulation, packaging and regulatory compliance while partnering with Marketing, Quality, and Manufacturing to deliver innovative products across multiple formats.

Qualifications

• Senior leadership experience in product development within nutrition, consumer health, supplements or FMCG.
• Proven track record launching multiple products from concept to commercialisation.
• Strong understanding of formulation, manufacturing, quality and regulatory requirements.
• Excellent cross-functional leadership and stakeholder management.
• Strong commercial acumen with business-case development experience.
• Experience working with external manufacturers and ingredient suppliers.
• Relevant degree; postgraduate qualification is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end product development across vitamins, minerals, supplements and consumer health categories.
• Identify new product opportunities via consumer insights and market trends.
• Prioritise the portfolio based on strategic fit, feasibility and commercial potential.
• Drive formulation, delivery formats and packaging innovations.
• Ensure compliance with food supplement regulations and retailer requirements.
• Own stage-gate processes, governance, budgets and delivery timelines.
• Collaborate with Marketing, Brand, Commercial, Quality, Manufacturing, Supply Chain and Finance.
• Build and manage external partnerships with suppliers and manufacturers.
• Develop and mentor a high-performing product development team.
• Drive portfolio optimisation through reformulation and sustainability initiatives.

Skills

Product Strategy

Leadership

Portfolio Management

Regulatory compliance

Cross-functional leadership

Food science knowledge

Commercial acumen

Stakeholder management

Project governance

Innovation

Education

BSc in Nutrition / Food Science / Chemistry

MSc/PhD or MBA desirable

Job description

JOB TITLE:

Head of Product Development

REPORTING TO:

Executive Leadership Team Member

LOCATION:

London - Hybrid 3 days onsite a week

DEPARTMENT:

Product Development

DIRECT REPORTS:

Product Development Team Member(s)

JOB PURPOSE

The Head of Product Development provides strategic leadership over the organisation's product portfolio, setting the product vision and strategy to support long-term business growth and competitive advantage. This role is accountable for aligning product development activities with organisational objectives, customer needs, and market opportunities, while building, mentoring and leading a high-performing Product Development team.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead end-to-end product development across vitamins, minerals, supplements and broader consumer health categories.
• Identify new product opportunities through consumer insights, wellness trends, nutritional science, ingredient innovation and competitive analysis.
• Build strong business cases and prioritise the product development portfolio based on strategic fit, feasibility, speed to market and commercial potential.
• Drive formulation and delivery format innovation, including capsules, tablets, gummies and liquids.
• Lead packaging innovation with a focus on functionality, sustainability and consumer appeal.
• Ensure compliance with relevant food supplement regulations, quality standards and retailer requirements.
• Own stage-gate processes, governance, budgets and delivery timelines.
• Partner closely with Marketing, Brand, Commercial, Quality, Manufacturing, Supply Chain and Finance functions.
• Build and manage relationships with external partners, including ingredient suppliers, contract manufacturers and packaging providers.
• Build, lead, mentor and develop a high-performing product development team.
• Drive portfolio optimisation through reformulation, cost optimisation, ingredient improvements, sustainability initiatives and line extensions.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

Experience

Essential

• Senior-level experience in Product Development, NPD, R&D or Innovation within nutrition, consumer healthcare, supplements or FMCG.
• Proven success launching multiple products from concept through to commercialisation.
• Strong understanding of formulation, manufacturing, quality and relevant regulatory requirements.
• Excellent cross-functional leadership and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong commercial acumen, including experience developing and managing business cases.
• Experience working with external manufacturers and ingredient suppliers.
• Degree in a relevant scientific, nutritional, food or commercial discipline, such as Nutrition, Food Science, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Pharmacy or equivalent.
• Postgraduate qualification (MSc, PhD or MBA) desirable.
• Additional training in food safety, quality systems, project management or innovation methodologies advantageous.

Desirable

• Experience across multiple supplement formats or wellness categories.
• Knowledge of sustainability, packaging innovation and clean-label or natural ingredient trends.
• Experience supporting international or multi-market product launches.

Skills

• Product Strategy and Vision
• Leadership and People Management
• Product Development Execution
• Technical and Commercial Acumen
• Customer and Stakeholder Focus
• Communication and Influencing Skills
• Operational Planning and Governance
• End-to-End Project Management
• Market and Competitive Analysis
• Stakeholder Management
• Creativity and Problem Solving

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

Internal and external stakeholders across the business and wider supply network.

REPORTING STRUCTURE

This role reports to a member of the Executive Leadership Team and has responsibility for managing Product Development team members.

This job description is intended to provide an overview of the role and responsibilities and is not an exhaustive list of duties.