Head Of R&D, NPD & Innovation

TMRG; Bristol; Hybrid; GBP 68,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading sustainable personal care brand is looking for a Head of R&D and NPD to innovate and lead product development. This role involves managing the entire product lifecycle, from concept to market launch, and requires a background in Polymer Chemistry or related fields. You will be responsible for delivering comprehensive plans, preparing key documentation, and selecting strategic partners. The position offers a competitive salary and flexible working arrangements, with some office attendance required in Bristol.

Benefits

Generous Annual Leave: 25 days plus bank holidays

Wellbeing & Social Responsibility days

Performance-based Bonus scheme

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years' experience in NPD within the personal care sector.
• Experience in sustainable products is highly advantageous.
• Proven capability in financial viability modelling.

Responsibilities

• Deliver comprehensive plans across technical and commercial activities.
• Manage product lifecycle from concept to market launch.
• Prepare detailed Bill of Materials for new products.
• Create dashboards for tracking and analysis.
• Select and onboard strategic partners across the supply chain.

Skills

New Product Development (NPD)

Process design

Techno-Economic Analysis (TEA)

Comfortable with practical experiments

Sustainable product experience

Education

Qualification in Polymer Chemistry, Materials Science, or Chemical Engineering

Job description

Head of R&D and NPD

Remote, with a requirement to attend the Bristol office twice a month.

Salary: Up to £80,000

The company is a founder‑led organisation, proudly B Corp certified, operating within the high‑growth sustainable personal care market. This pioneering brand exclusively uses organic products and is actively challenging industry norms. The successful candidate will join a mission‑driven business focused on innovation and environmental responsibility.

What's on Offer? (Competitive Compensation and Benefits)

• The Head of R&D and NPD will benefit from a flexible, supportive package
• Remote Working with only 2 mandatory days a month required in Bristol.
• Generous Annual Leave: 25 days holiday plus bank holidays.
• Wellbeing & Social Responsibility: 2 dedicated well‑being days and 2 days of paid volunteering.
• Performance Incentive: Access to a Bonus scheme based on company success.

What will you do as Head of R&D and NPD

• Delivering comprehensive plans across the full range of technical, New Product Development (NPD), and commercial activities.
• Managing the entire product lifecycle, from initial concept generation through to successful market launch.
• Preparing a detailed Bill of Materials (BOM) for each new product line to ensure cost accuracy.
• Creating essential dashboards for pipeline tracking, forecast analysis, margin monitoring, and Technology Readiness Level (TRL) gates.
• Preparing data rooms, grant reporting documentation, and the compelling investor narrative.
• Selecting and onboarding strategic partners across the supply chain, negotiating Joint Development Agreements (JDAs) and capacity contracts.

What will you need to be the Head of R&D and NPD

• A qualification in Polymer Chemistry, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, or a closely related scientific field is required.
• A minimum of 3 years' proven experience in New Product Development (NPD), specifically within the personal care sector.
• The candidate must be comfortable switching seamlessly between practical benchtop experiments and high‑level boardroom strategy.
• Experience working within the sustainable products sector is highly advantageous.
• Proven capability in process design and Techno‑Economic Analysis (TEA) / Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) modelling is essential for financial viability.

Job Number: 10224