NPD Manager

Hunter Savage; Dungannon; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading private label manufacturer in Northern Ireland seeks a New Product Development Manager to oversee the entire product development process. In this role, you will collaborate with cross-functional teams to innovate and launch new snack products. The ideal candidate has a degree in Food Science and proven experience in NPD within the food industry. This position offers a competitive salary and opportunities for progression.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Progression opportunities

Qualifications

• Degree in Food Science, Food Technology, or related discipline.
• Experience in NPD within the food manufacturing industry.
• Strong project management capabilities.
• Experience leading product development teams.
• Knowledge of food safety regulations and HACCP protocols.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills.
• Creative approach to product innovation.
• Strong multitasking and organizational skills.
• Good team player who is flexible and reliable.
• Professional and passionate about the food industry.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee the entire NPD process.
• Manage product trials and sensory evaluations.
• Ensure timely completion of key development milestones.
• Collaborate with the commercial team for product launches.
• Monitor and analyze industry trends and consumer behaviour.
• Ensure audit compliance in NPD activities.

Skills

Project management

Team leadership

Food safety regulations

Product innovation

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Education

Degree in Food Science or Food Technology

Tools

Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

Job description

Job description: New Product Development Manager

Mackle Food Company is a leading-edge private label manufacturer of premium extruded snacks to markets such as baby & toddler, organic, conventional, good for you snacking and functional.

Established in 2005, we have gained a respected and trusted reputation within the snacking and extrusion industry. Still run by our founder, Joseph Mackle, our purpose-built factory, and staff continue to uphold our commitment to quality, service and innovation.

We are proud to be grade AA+ certified against the BRC Global Standard for Food Safety. We work with customers all over the world across a wide range of products.

Due to our continued growth, we are looking for an experienced and results-oriented NPD Manager to lead our team in achieving ambitious growth targets. This is an exciting role for a strategically minded individual to contribute to the creation of high-quality snack products in a dynamic and rapidly evolving industry. As the NPD Manager, you will play a pivotal role in advancing business growth by overseeing the successful development of new products and enhancing our existing product portfolio in line with the company goals.

This is an exciting opportunity to join one of the most innovative global snack manufacturers.

Main Responsibilities:

• Lead and oversee the entire NPD process to deliver the goals of the company through NPD, from initial concept development through to successful product launch, in close collaboration with cross-functional teams, including Innovation, Production, and Quality.
• Manage product trials, sensory evaluations, and provide critical feedback to ensure alignment with market expectations and organizational objectives.
• Manage comprehensive project timelines, ensuring the timely completion of all key development milestones.
• Manage resources to ensure sourcing ingredients and materials that meet defined cost, quality, and sustainability benchmarks.
• Collaborate with the commercial team to ensure seamless product launches and commercially visible products.
• Monitor and analyze industry trends, consumer behaviour, and competitor products to inform and drive innovation.
• Ensure the appropriate maintenance of records of NPD activities to ensure audit compliance in NPD & EPD activities.
• Provide management, support, and guidance to the NPD team.

Essential Criteria:

• A degree in Food Science, Food Technology, or a related discipline.
• Demonstrated experience in NPD within the food manufacturing industry, with a proven track record of successful product development.
• Strong project management capabilities, including experience leading and coordinating product development teams.
• Proven experience in team management and leadership.
• In-depth knowledge of food safety regulations, HACCP protocols, and product testing methodologies.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage effectively with internal stakeholders and external suppliers.
• A proactive, creative approach to product innovation and problem-solving.
• Strong multitasking and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously while meeting critical deadlines.
• Experience in the use of Microsoft Office Word, Excel & PowerPoint.
• Good team player who is flexible and reliable in their approach.
• Professional individual, who is passionate about the food industry.

Competitive salary with progression opportunities.