Multi-Site Product Development Lead (Chilled Foods)

Greencore Group; Leeds; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary and job-related ben

Life insurance up to 4x salary

Company share save scheme

Exclusive Greencore employee discount

Wellbeing Centre platform

Enhanced parental leave and menopause

Job summary

Greencore Group is seeking a Product Development Controller for its M&S account, leading product development across Meals and Desserts. The role requires regular travel across Greencore sites and strong leadership across multiple locations.

You will drive customer category strategies, review briefs, and develop market-leading concepts while maintaining quality, cost and sustainability goals. Previous M&S experience and robust stakeholder management are essential.

Qualifications

• Previous experience working with M&S is essential.
• Proven success leading Product Development teams within a chilled food manufacturing environment.
• Experience developing innovative chilled food products, ideally across complex and fast-paced categories.
• Strong understanding of customer strategy, category management and commercial product development.
• Exceptional stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence and build credibility at all levels.
• Passion for food, innovation and emerging consumer trends.
• Strong leadership and people management capability, with experience managing teams across multiple locations.
• Excellent organisational and project management skills.
• Full UK Driving Licence
• Flexibility to travel regularly on a weekly basis across multiple Greencore sites.

Responsibilities

• Lead the product development team, driving the customer category food strategy to ensure profitable growth for both Greencore and our clients.
• Lead and inspire Product Development teams across multiple sites, ensuring alignment with customer, category and business priorities.
• Review all customer product development briefs to ensure they align with strategic objectives, challenging where appropriate.
• Drive the development of market-leading product and packaging concepts that deliver against quality, commercial and sustainability goals.
• Build strong partnerships with key M&S stakeholders and internal senior leaders across both Meals and Desserts categories.
• Champion our 'Great Food' agenda, ensuring food quality, innovation and consumer insight remain at the heart of everything we do.
• Utilise food trends, consumer insights and market intelligence to shape future product concepts and category direction.
• Maintain high standards of food quality, customer engagement and operational excellence across the Product Development function.
• Take accountability for margin delivery by ensuring robust product costing from concept through to launch.
• Lead, coach and develop your team, creating a safe, engaged and high-performing culture.
• Ensure all Product Development processes, procedures and governance requirements are fully adhered to.

Skills

Product development leadership

Chilled food manufacturing

M&S experience

Stakeholder management

Project management

Driving licence

Travel flexibility

Leadership across locations

Job description

Greencore Group is seeking a Product Development Controller for its M&S account, leading product development across Meals and Desserts. The role requires regular travel across Greencore sites and strong leadership across multiple locations.

You will drive customer category strategies, review briefs, and develop market-leading concepts while maintaining quality, cost and sustainability goals. Previous M&S experience and robust stakeholder management are essential.