NPD Manager

Jonathan Lee Recruitment; North East, Dudley; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job description

An exciting role working for a leading food manufacturing company, who are looking for a dynamic and ambitious NPD Manager. As the NPD Manager you will be responsible for managing key client accounts, acting as the first point of contact for customers for development of new products and updating them on market trends.

What You Will Do:

1. Act as the primary liaison with customers, developing strong, positive relationships and managing the end-to-end product development process from concept to launch.
2. Conduct market research to identify consumer trends, assess market opportunities, and analyze competitor products to inform new product strategies.
3. Ensure products are developed creatively and financially deliver against business requirements while maintaining records for audit compliance.
4. Collaborate with all internal stakeholders to develop and deliver food-safe, legally compliant new and modified product lines.
5. Work closely with suppliers to develop new product concepts in line with customer briefs and manage internal and external benchmarking sessions.
6. Generate and manage project critical paths, ensuring all stakeholders are on schedule to meet launch dates and manage the NPD approval and sign-off for all artwork.

What You Will Bring:

1. An HND/Degree qualification in Food Science or a related subject.
2. Proven experience in developing and launching new products with retail customers.
3. Strong project management skills with the ability to influence internal departments for successful product launches.
4. Knowledge of food ingredient legislation and labelling regulations.
5. Desirable experience in NPD within the meat and poultry industry and working knowledge of HACCP systems.

This NPD Manager role is not just a job; it's a career that contributes significantly to the company's goals of delivering excellence and innovation in the food industry. With an agricultural network of over 350 farms and state-of-the-art processing sites, your work will have a direct impact on the quality and sustainability of food consumption in the UK.

Location: The role is primarily based at the company's Dudley or Hereford sites, offering a blend of office and factory-based work in some of the most picturesque parts of England.

Interested?: If you're ready to step into a role that challenges and rewards in equal measure, offering a secure path for long-term career development, we want to hear from you. Apply today to become the driving force behind the next wave of food innovation!