NPD Manager

Seven; Slough; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A global leader in ingredient solutions is looking for a highly skilled individual to lead NPD projects and drive innovation within the food, beverage, and nutrition sectors. The ideal candidate will have a degree in Food Science or a related field and experience in food manufacturing or product development. You will engage with clients, scope projects, and design formulations while ensuring all quality and regulatory requirements are met. This position offers a competitive salary, pension, and hybrid working arrangements.

Benefits

Competitive Salary

Pension

Hybrid Working – 3 days on site, 2 days work from home

Subsidised gym membership

Qualifications

• Degree-qualified in Food Science or related field.
• Experience in food manufacturing or product development is ideal.
• Strong understanding of ingredient functionality and formulation processes.

Responsibilities

• Deliver customer NPD projects and ensure compliance with requirements.
• Engage with customers to scope projects and provide costings.
• Design formulations and support implementation at manufacturing sites.

Skills

Strong problem-solving ability

Attention to detail

Collaborative approach

Understanding of ingredient functionality

Education

BSc/MSc in Food Science or related field

Job description

Our client

• A global leader in ingredient solutions, supporting innovation across food, beverage, and nutrition markets.
• Driving growth through strategic partnerships with retailers, manufacturers, and health-focused brands.
• Renowned for high-quality, functional ingredients that help brands meet evolving consumer needs.

The role

• Deliver customer NPD projects and internal innovation briefs, ensuring solutions meet technical, commercial, sensory, regulatory and quality requirements.
• Build and maintain deep expertise in functional ingredients and nutritional components, staying current with market trends.
• Engage professionally with customers to scope projects accurately, align on approval criteria and provide clear indicative costings.
• Design formulations across premixes, nutritional products (human or pet) and dairy alternatives, and support implementation at internal or external manufacturing sites.
• Conduct sensory assessments and provide guidance on stability, shelf‑life and packaging considerations.
• Offer formulation, nutrition and technical support across the business, including sales, procurement, quality and customer‑facing teams.
• Contribute to supplier approval processes and onboarding of new raw materials to meet project requirements; deliver training to internal teams and support technical preparation for customer engagements.

Ideal candidate

• Degree‑qualified: BSc/MSc in Food Science or a related scientific field, or equivalent industry experience.
• Experience in food manufacturing or product development, ideally within premixes, nutritional products, food supplements, or sports nutrition. Experience managing the NPD process end‑to‑end is advantageous.
• Strong understanding of ingredient functionality, including vitamins, minerals, flavours, colours, additives and sweeteners, and how these interact within premix or nutritional formulations.
• Knowledge of formulation and manufacturing processes for premixes, supplements or functional food products.
• Demonstrated passion for sustainability and food innovation, with a mindset focused on continuous improvement and advancing best practice.
• Strong problem‑solving ability, attention to detail, and a collaborative approach when working with cross‑functional teams.

Benefits & details

• £Competitive Salary
• Pension
• Hybrid Working – 3 days on site, 2 days work from home
• Subsidised gym membership

Please send your CV using the form on this page, quoting reference 16/17560/7 Confidentiality assured.