New Product Development Manager

Focus Management Consultants; England; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading food innovation company in Somerset is seeking an experienced NPD Manager to shape and lead product development. You will translate customer briefs into viable products, oversee projects from trial to launch, and support production. Ideal candidates will have food manufacturing experience and strong project management skills. The job offers a competitive salary and the opportunity to join a fast-growing team.

Qualifications

• Experience in food manufacturing and developing new products in a fast-moving environment.
• Hands-on in recipe development and factory trials.
• Knowledge of food safety legislation and trends.

Responsibilities

• Translate customer briefs into consumer-ready products.
• Create new concepts and evolve existing lines.
• Own projects from kitchen trial to factory launch.
• Support production during product launches.
• Drive best practices and compliance across the business.

Skills

Food manufacturing experience

Recipe development

Project management skills

Knowledge of food trends

Presentation skills

Job description

Overview

NPD Manager – Food Innovation – Somerset. From £40k depending on experience. This role lets you shape, lead, and influence in a fast-growing food business with a close-knit team. You freedom to innovate, a platform to deliver, and the impact to see your ideas through from concept to launch.

Base pay range: From £40k depending on experience. This range is provided by Focus Management Consultants. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

Responsibilities

• Take customer briefs and translate them into commercially viable, consumer-ready products.
• Create new concepts and evolve existing lines in response to trends, feedback, and technical challenges.
• Own projects from kitchen trial to factory launch, ensuring products hit the mark for safety, quality, legality, and efficiency.
• Be hands-on during launches, supporting production through first runs and making sure everything scales smoothly.
• Drive best practice across the business, ensuring compliance and continuous improvement at every stage.

About you / Qualifications

• Experience in food manufacturing and understand what it takes to bring new products to life in a fast-moving environment.
• Hands-on recipe development, presenting to customers and running factory trials in production.
• Food safety and legislation will be part of your toolkit, with creativity, detail, and commercial awareness that makes a great NPD Manager.
• Site-based, right in the heart of production. Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel to customers, suppliers, or other sites.
• Proven experience developing products for retail customers, with strong project management skills to take concepts through to launch. Knowledge of food trends and confident presenting to inspire customers.
• Hold the permanent right to work in the UK; visa sponsorship is not available for this role.

Why Apply?

Join a fast-growing, ambitious business with a close-knit leadership team. Your work will be seen, valued, and enjoyed by customers across the UK, offering the creativity, influence, and excitement of getting ideas to shelves.

How to Apply

Click apply to send over your CV or contact Rachel Sutton for further info.

Ref RLS59224

Job details

• Seniority level: Mid-Senior level
• Employment type: Full-time
• Job function: Product Management, Management, and Research
• Industries: Food and Beverage Manufacturing, Dairy Product Manufacturing, and Baked Goods Manufacturing

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