NPD Manager

Pod Talent; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Pod Talent is partnering with a growing personal care business in West London to recruit an NPD Manager. Hybrid pattern of 2-3 days in the office per week.

You will lead product development from brief to launch, collaborating with internal stakeholders, manufacturers and packaging suppliers to ensure timely delivery and achievement of commercial objectives. We are seeking someone with strong beauty/personal care development experience, capable of managing formulation and packaging across the

Qualifications

• Proven experience in product development within beauty, personal care, wellbeing or other consumer goods environments.
• Strong track record of managing formulation and packaging projects through the full development lifecycle.
• Sound understanding of manufacturing processes, product testing requirements and quality standards.
• Commercially minded, with experience managing budgets, evaluating costs and supporting business case development.
• Highly organised and proactive, with excellent supplier management, communication and project coordination skills, and a passion for improving ways of working.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end product development projects across new product launches, reformulations, gifting ranges, packaging updates and range extensions.
• Manage project timelines and critical paths, ensuring milestones, approvals and launch deadlines are delivered on time.
• Collaborate closely with suppliers and manufacturers, preparing clear briefs for formulation, packaging and product testing requirements.
• Develop commercial business cases, evaluating product opportunities, costs, pricing and margin potential alongside finance teams.
• Drive continuous improvement across development processes, strengthening quality controls and ensuring projects run efficiently from concept to launch.

Job description

I am partnering with a growing personal care business that is looking for an NPD Manager to join its team in West London, with a hybrid working pattern of 2-3 days in the office per week.

In this role, you will lead product development projects from initial brief through to launch, working closely with internal stakeholders, manufacturers and packaging suppliers to ensure successful delivery. You will play a key role in driving innovation across the portfolio, improving development processes, maintaining product quality standards and ensuring projects remain on track against timelines and commercial objectives.

In this role,
You will:

• Lead end-to-end product development projects across new product launches, reformulations, gifting ranges, packaging updates and range extensions.
• Manage project timelines and critical paths, ensuring milestones, approvals and launch deadlines are delivered on time.
• Collaborate closely with suppliers and manufacturers, preparing clear briefs for formulation, packaging and product testing requirements.
• Develop commercial business cases, evaluating product opportunities, costs, pricing and margin potential alongside finance teams.
• Drive continuous improvement across development processes, strengthening quality controls and ensuring projects run efficiently from concept to launch.

About you:

• Proven experience in product development within beauty, personal care, wellbeing or other consumer goods environments.
• Strong track record of managing formulation and packaging projects through the full development lifecycle.
• Sound understanding of manufacturing processes, product testing requirements and quality standards.
• Commercially minded, with experience managing budgets, evaluating costs and supporting business case development.
• Highly organised and proactive, with excellent supplier management, communication and project coordination skills, and a passion for improving ways of working.