NDP Technologist

Speedibake Limited; Bradford; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Speedibake, Bradford-based and operating hybrid, is seeking an NPD Customer Account Manager to drive new product development from brief to launch. You will manage projects, lead customer meetings, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure successful, compliant launches while growing key accounts.

The role emphasizes strong project management, stakeholder engagement, and hands-on development in a fast-paced manufacturing setting, with responsibilities spanning trials, preliminary

Qualifications

• 3-5 years' NPD experience delivering products from concept to launch.
• Experience of product development, factory trials, scale-up and launches.
• Strong project management, organisation and prioritisation skills.
• Effective communicator with excellent stakeholder relationship management.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Full UK driving licence.

Responsibilities

• Manage NPD projects from concept through to launch, ensuring delivery on time, within budget and in line with customer expectations.
• Support the delivery of the NPD strategy through customer focused, market led and trend-driven product development.
• Lead customer meetings, presentations and product reviews in accordance with NPD procedures and business objectives.
• Take ownership of product development activities, ensuring effective planning and execution of trials, pre productions and launches.
• Maintain a strong factory presence, leading and supporting trials and launches, developing an in-depth understanding of manufacturing processes, equipment capabilities and operational constraints.
• Work closely with Packaging, Procurement and Technical teams to ensure packaging solutions meet customer, operational, legal and sustainability requirements and are delivered in line with project critical paths.
• Act as the primary NPD contact for designated customer accounts, providing technical expertise and project leadership throughout the product development lifecycle.

Skills

NPD experience

Project management

Stakeholder management

Microsoft Office

Fast-paced manufacturing

Communication

Driving licence

Job description

Speedibake is a division of Associated British Foods (ABF), a diversified international food, ingredients and retail group with sales of £20.1 billion and 138,000 employees in 56 countries

At Speedibake we’re incredibly passionate about making delicious own-label baked goods. From our bakery in Bradford, we supply to a customer base across all channels; retail, foodservice wholesalers, contract catering, and export.

Overview Of Role

Company: Speedibake

Location: Bradford/Hybrid

Reporting to the NPD Controller the role is responsible for key NPD customer account management, ensuring the development of new products from initial brief to product launch.

This role ensures our products are developed and launched to meet customer expectations and food safety requirements while driving positive customer relationships and account growth.

Key Accountabilities

Accountabilities

Leadership & People Management

• Manage NPD projects from concept through to launch, ensuring delivery on time, within budget and in line with customer expectations.
• Support the delivery of the NPD strategy through customer focused, market led and trend-driven product development.
• Lead customer meetings, presentations and product reviews in accordance with NPD procedures and business objectives.
• Take ownership of product development activities, ensuring effective planning and execution of trials, pre productions and launches.
• Maintain a strong factory presence, leading and supporting trials and launches, developing an in-depth understanding of manufacturing processes, equipment capabilities and operational constraints.
• Work closely with Packaging, Procurement and Technical teams to ensure packaging solutions meet customer, operational, legal and sustainability requirements and are delivered in line with project critical paths.
• Act as the primary NPD contact for designated customer accounts, providing technical expertise and project leadership throughout the product development lifecycle.
• Develop and maintain strong partnerships with Sales colleagues to deliver a joined-up approach to customer strategy, account growth and innovation objectives.
• Generate and maintain all NPD documentation required for customer submissions, internal approval processes and successful project delivery.Build and nurture strong customer relationships, acting as a trusted development contact to support business growth.
• Facilitate innovation workshops, product presentations and customer review meetings to drive engagement and pipeline development.
• Develop and manage product costings, ensuring products are delivered in line with agreed cost targets, margin requirements and commercial objectives.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Operations, Technical, Procurement, Commercial and Supply Chain teams to ensure successful project delivery.
• Communicate project progress effectively, highlighting key milestones, risks, and critical path activities.
• Ensure all products are developed in compliance with relevant health and safety, food safety, legal requirements, customer codes of practice, BRC standards and Speedibake policies.
• Work proactively with Procurement to identify, approve and introduce new suppliers and raw materials in accordance with company procedures and NPD processes.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives to drive efficiency and deliver cost savings.
• Maintain high standards of health, safety and hygiene within the test bakery and wider development environment.
• Support factory launches and post-launch reviews to ensure products are successfully embedded into operational manufacture.

The Right Person

Functional Skills

• Passion for food innovation, consumer trends and NPD.
• 3-5 years' NPD experience delivering products from concept to launch.
• Experience of product development, factory trials, scale-up and launches.
• Strong project management, organisation and prioritisation skills.
• Effective communicator with excellent stakeholder relationship management.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Full UK driving licence.

Critical Behaviours

• To always adhere to the Company Safety First requirements.
• Takes ownership, sets standards & takes personal responsibility for performance.
• Be prepared to challenge, and to be challenged.
• Think differently, because we’ve always done it, doesn’t mean it’s right.
• Create a lasting impression.
• Willing to go the extra mile.
• Adheres to Speedibake values every day