NPD Manager - Food

Found Food & Drink; Bradford-on-Avon; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company bonus

Employee benefits package

Job summary

Found Food & Drink, located in Bradford-on-Avon, is seeking an NPD Manager to lead product development projects from concept to launch. The ideal candidate will have experience in food product development and managing multiple NPD projects simultaneously. This role involves close collaboration with technical, production, and commercial teams to ensure product viability and market fit. A creative, organized, and practical approach is required, along with good communication skills. The company offers a supportive culture, opportunities for personal development, and a strong employee benefits package.

Qualifications

• Experience within food product development in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong understanding of how products move from kitchen concept to factory production.
• Experience managing critical paths and product launches.
• Comfortable managing multiple projects at once.

Responsibilities

• Lead NPD projects from concept through to launch.
• Manage critical paths and deadlines across multiple projects.
• Collaborate with technical, production, and commercial teams to align products.
• Review existing products to improve quality and efficiency.

Skills

Food product development experience

Managing NPD projects

Strong communication skills

Commercial awareness

Creativity and practicality

Education

Food science or related qualification

Job description

Are you an NPD Manager who enjoys turning ideas into finished products that work commercially, technically and operationally?

A growing food manufacturing business is looking for an NPD Manager to lead one of its development streams, managing a Development Technologist and taking ownership of key NPD projects from concept through to successful launch.

This is a role for someone who enjoys balancing creativity with pace and delivery. You will work closely with category, factory, technical and commercial teams to ensure products are not only exciting and relevant, but also achievable at scale.

If you are looking for a position where you can lead projects, support others and see your work make a real impact, this is a strong opportunity to do so.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Take the lead on NPD projects, managing the full lifecycle from concept through to launch
• Lead one of the development streams, supporting and guiding Development Technologists
• Translate ideas and briefs into viable products that meet operational, quality and cost requirements
• Work closely with category teams to understand opportunities, trends and future range direction
• Plan and execute kitchen work, factory trials and product scale up activity
• Manage critical paths, deadlines and launch requirements across multiple projects
• Work closely with factory teams to ensure smooth scale up and successful product delivery
• Collaborate with Technical, Production and Commercial teams to align product and process
• Review and refine existing products to improve quality, efficiency and customer appeal
• Identify gaps and opportunities within the range, contributing to future product direction
• Present concepts, progress and outcomes clearly to stakeholders across the business
• Support continuous improvement within the development function

What’s In It for You

• Opportunity to take ownership of meaningful product development projects
• A senior role leading a development stream and managing a direct report
• Strong cross functional exposure across NPD, category, technical, factory and commercial teams
• Involvement in shaping product range, future launches and wider innovation pipeline
• A business investing in its products, people and manufacturing capability
• Exposure to a growing operation with ongoing site investment and future capacity plans
• Clear opportunity to develop and progress within a stable, long-term environment
• Supportive and collaborative team culture with a strong mix of experienced people and new talent
• Company bonus and a wider employee benefits package

Your Background

• Experience within food product development in a manufacturing environment
• Strong understanding of how products move from kitchen concept to factory production
• Experience managing NPD projects, critical paths, deadlines and launches
• Comfortable working at pace and managing multiple projects at once
• Experience running or supporting factory trials and product scale up
• Commercially aware, with the ability to work closely with category and wider stakeholders
• Strong communication skills with the ability to influence different teams
• Creative and foodie, but practical enough to deliver products that work operationally
• Food science or related qualification would be beneficial, but hands-on development experience is more important
• Organised, proactive and able to manage competing priorities
• Genuine interest in food, product quality and innovation

Join a Business That Invests in You

You will be joining a business that is focused on developing its product offering, improving capability and continuing to invest in its future.

This is an opportunity to lead meaningful projects, work closely with multiple teams and play a key role in delivering products that meet both customer and business expectations.

With continued growth across its core markets, ongoing investment into manufacturing capability and a team that combines long-standing knowledge with fresh thinking, this is an environment where you can build a strong long-term career.

If you are looking for a role where you can influence product direction, develop your career and be part of a business that values innovation and delivery, we would love to hear from you.