NPD Manager - Drinks

NPD Manager – Beverages

£50,000 - £60,000 + Bonus + Benefits

Kent

Tired of the same-old product briefs, slow decision-making, and red tape?

Here’s a rare opportunity to lead end-to-end NPD projects in the fast-moving world of RTD (Ready-to-Drink) beverages, where your ideas don’t sit in a queue, they hit the shelves.

This is a hands-on, commercially-focused NPD Manager role for someone who wants more autonomy, more visibility, and more impact. You’ll be joining a business with serious manufacturing capability, global reach, and a senior leadership team that actually listens to their technical experts.

Why This Job? Why Now?

• Own the development process from idea to launch. No handoffs, no silos, no chasing approvals from five different departments.
• Work directly with customers, not just internal stakeholders, to shape projects and pitch ideas that actually get made.
• Be part of a business that invests in innovation. Not one that talks about it on the website and forgets it at budget time.
• Enjoy stability with the freedom to shape things.
• No more being a number. You’ll be visible, valued, and part of the company’s growth story.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Leading the full NPD process from brief to commercialisation
• Developing innovative formulations in the sports, RTD, and dairy-alternative space
• Managing development trials and first production runs (in-house and with third parties)
• Working closely with procurement, production, QA, and sales to bring products to life
• Conducting sensory assessments and ensuring products meet quality and organoleptic standards
• Advising on shelf life, packaging compatibility, and regulatory compliance
• Mentoring junior team members and running internal beverage development training
• Continuously improving development processes and identifying new raw material suppliers

What You’ll Need

• BSc/MSc in Food Science, Food Chemistry, or similar
• Experience in end-to-end beverage NPD experience
• Experience working with manufacturing teams to take products from lab to line
• Solid project management skills (a PM qualification is a bonus)
• A passion for innovation, sustainability, and commercially viable science