New Product Development Manager

Advocate Group; Accrington; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK food manufacturer is seeking a New Product Development Manager to lead food innovation projects. The successful candidate will be responsible for the entire NPD process, collaborating closely with various departments. This role offers the chance to work in a fast-paced environment and make a tangible impact on product strategy and development.

Benefits

Product Autonomy

Cross-Functional Exposure

Fast-Paced Environment

High Visibility

Qualifications

• Experience in food NPD within chilled/frozen manufacturing.
• Confident working independently with minimal supervision.
• Excellent documentation and organization capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end delivery of NPD and EPD projects.
• Manage project timelines and coordinate internal tasting sessions.
• Collaborate with Technical on specifications and documentation.

Skills

Project Management

Cross-Functional Communication

Attention to Detail

Microsoft Office

Commercial Awareness

Tools

MS Project

Job description

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Executive Talent Partner & Career Coach | FMCG Recruitment Specialists | Brand Advocate Representation ???? | Experts In Unbiased Recruitment …

New Product Development Manager

Do you want to lead exciting food innovation projects for one of the UK’s most recognisable names in chilled and frozen food manufacturing space?

We’re hiring an NPD Manager to take charge of end-to-end product development, bringing both new and improved products to market. This is a fantastic opportunity for a proactive and commercially minded food professional to shape product strategy within a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

About the Company

Our client is a long established UK food manufacturer, known for its heritage, trusted quality, and presence across major supermarkets. With deep roots in the North West, the business has a loyal consumer base and a strong commitment to innovation within savoury chilled and frozen food categories.

Operating with a lean structure and minimal red tape, they combine speed and autonomy with strong cross-functional collaboration, the perfect environment for a hands-on NPD expert ready to make an impact.

The Role

Reporting to the Head of Commercial, you’ll own the full NPD/EPD process, from kitchen concept and factory trials through to product launch. You’ll work cross functionally with Technical, Engineering, Category, and Operations, managing timelines, documentation, packaging, and internal approvals.

This is a brilliant role for someone who enjoys working independently, thrives in a practical environment, and wants to deliver tangible results across branded and own-label portfolios.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end delivery of NPD and EPD projects
• Chair weekly NPD meetings and manage project timelines
• Develop and trial kitchen concepts based on trend insights and customer briefs
• Manage costings, packaging approvals, and reheating/cooking validations
• Collaborate with Technical on specs, QUID, HACCP and documentation
• Coordinate internal tasting sessions and benchmarking
• Support Capex project delivery with Engineering where applicable
• Ensure all internal systems and stakeholders are aligned pre-launch

What We’re Looking For

• Experience in food NPD, ideally within chilled/frozen manufacturing.
• Strong project management and cross-functional communication skills
• Confident working independently with minimal supervision
• Hands-on mindset with attention to detail and commercial awareness
• Excellent documentation and organisation capabilities
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office; MS Project experience a plus
• Experience with both own-label and branded ranges welcome

Why Join?

• Product Autonomy – Own the full NPD process from idea to launch
• Cross-Functional Exposure – Collaborate across Technical, Commercial, Ops, and Engineering
• Fast-Paced – Agile environment with minimal bureaucracy
• Make an Impact – High visibility in a lean, innovation-focused team

Interested? 'Apply' below or email your CV to: [e-mail]

The Advocate Group is a leading recruitment partner to the FMCG and consumer product sectors. We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation, or age.

By applying for this role, you are agreeing to our Privacy Policy, which can be found on our website. The Advocate Group is acting as an employment agency in relation to this vacancy.

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Job function

  Manufacturing, Product Management, and Production

• Industries

  Staffing and Recruiting, Food and Beverage Manufacturing, and Manufacturing

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