New Product Development (NPD) Specialist

Morrisons; Meadowbank; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous holiday entitlement

Discretionary bonus scheme

15% discount in our supermarkets and 1

Additional 10% discount card for a-f"

Genuine career progression and-

Job summary

Morrisons is seeking a Product Development professional to own New Product Development (NPD) and Existing Product Development (EPD) projects, from concept to launch, ensuring timeliness and quality. You will work cross-functionally with retail teams, suppliers and internal colleagues to deliver innovative products that meet customer needs.

You will lead the development journey, coordinate factory trials, sample recipes, and manage regulatory documentation, while driving continuous improvement

Qualifications

• Excellent communication skills and stakeholder engagement.
• Strong project management experience in NPD.
• Ability to build relationships with colleagues and suppliers.
• Proactive, results-driven mindset.
• Excellent organisational and prioritisation skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development journey from concept to launch.
• Keep stakeholders updated across teams and suppliers.
• Manage timelines and tasks to stay on schedule.
• Ensure documentation for regulatory compliance and consistency.
• Collaborate with wider teams to turn briefs into reality.
• Source materials, coordinate supplier work, and paperwork.
• Formulate recipes and prepare samples for briefs.
• Coordinate factory trials and first production runs.
• Organise tastings and benchmarking for quality improvements.
• Review post-launch performance and iterate as needed.

Job description

More about the role

At Morrisons, we're proud to produce and manufacture many of our own food products, helping us stay close to our customers' needs. You'll be part of an exciting team that creates delicious food products, whether it's innovating new items or perfecting existing ones, your work will have a direct impact on our customers' tables.

As a key player in our product development team, you'll take ownership of both New Product Development (NPD) and Existing Product Development (EPD) projects. From mind-mapping fresh ideas to launching them in stores, you'll oversee the entire process, ensuring everything runs smoothly and on time.

Key Responsibilities:

• Own the Process: You'll lead the development journey from concept to launch, making sure every step is delivered with care
• Communicate Like a Pro: Keep everyone in the loop, from retail teams to suppliers, making sure all stakeholders are up to speed on the progress of each project
• Stay on Track: You'll manage timelines and tasks like a seasoned project manager, keeping everything on schedule
• Be Detail-Oriented: Ensure all documentation is spot-on for regulatory compliance and consistency
• Collaborate with wider Teams: Work closely with wider colleagues to turn their product briefs into reality, ensuring we meet and exceed customer expectations
• Work with Suppliers: Source new raw materials, collaborate with suppliers, and handle the paperwork to keep projects moving forward
• Get Creative: You'll formulate recipes and prepare samples that bring product briefs to life, showcasing your culinary flair
• Factory Involvement: Coordinate factory trials and oversee the first production runs to ensure top-notch quality and consistency
• Benchmark and Taste: Organise tasting sessions and benchmarking to assess product quality, and create action plans for improvements
• Evaluate Success: Post launch, you'll review product performance and make any tweaks to keep our products at the top of their game

More about our perks

• Generous holiday entitlement
• Discretionary bonus scheme
• 15% discount in our supermarkets and convenience stores from the day you join us
• Additional 10% discount card for a friend or family member
• Genuine career progression and development opportunities - read more about our Leadership School
• Subsidised staff canteen
• Free parking
• Competitive pension and life assurance
• Healthcare / Wellbeing benefits including Aviva Digital GP
• 'MyPerks' with discounts at high street shops, cinemas and gyms, and lots more
• Optional payroll charity donations
• A range of family-friendly policies including 26 weeks maternity and adoption leave along with neonatal and fertility leave

More about you

If you're passionate about creating innovative food products and thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment, we want to hear from you. You will also have:

• Exceptional Communication Skills: You should possess the ability to inspire and engage with stakeholders at all levels and across various functions within the organisation. Clear and persuasive communication can facilitate collaboration and project success
• Strong Project Management Experience: Demonstrated experience in New Product Development (NPD) is crucial for this role. You should have a track record of successfully managing NPD projects, from concept to launch
• Relationship Building Skills: Building and maintaining strong relationships with colleagues, suppliers, and other stakeholders is a vital part of this role. Your ability to connect with and influence others will be important for project success
• Enthusiasm and Drive: A proactive and results-oriented mind-set is necessary to drive projects forward and deliver on objectives.
• Organisational Skills: Strong organisational skills are essential for managing complex projects with multiple tasks and deadlines. Prioritisation is key to ensuring that all aspects of the product development process run smoothly