NPD Manager - Food Innovation & Scale-Up Leader

Found Recruitment Solutions Ltd; England; On-site; GBP 59,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

Found Recruitment Solutions Ltd is partnering with a UK food manufacturer in Wiltshire to appoint an NPD Manager who will drive end-to-end product development from concept to launch. The role involves strong cross-functional collaboration with Commercial, Technical and Operations teams to deliver scalable, compliant products.

You will lead trials, support scale-up, and manage multiple development projects while mentoring junior technologists. Relocation may be available.

Qualifications

• Proven NPD or product development experience within food manufacturing.
• Experience within high-care and/or chilled food manufacturing.
• Degree or equivalent qualification in Food Science, Food Technology or related discipline.
• Experience developing products for major UK retailers and/or foodservice customers.
• Experience managing projects from concept through to commercial launch.
• Hands-on experience leading factory trials and manufacturing scale-up.
• Strong understanding of food safety, HACCP, legislation and customer standards.
• Strong project management, communication and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead NPD projects from concept through development, validation, scale-up and launch.
• Manage multiple projects against agreed timelines and budgets.
• Develop products aligned with customer requirements, market trends and business strategy.
• Support customer presentations, innovation sessions and product pitches.
• Lead factory trials across high-care and low-care manufacturing environments.
• Maintain accurate project documentation, specifications and development records.
• Mentor and develop members of the NPD team.

Skills

NPD experience

Project management

Stakeholder management

Communication

Education

Food Science degree

Job description

Found Recruitment Solutions Ltd is partnering with a UK food manufacturer in Wiltshire to appoint an NPD Manager who will drive end-to-end product development from concept to launch. The role involves strong cross-functional collaboration with Commercial, Technical and Operations teams to deliver scalable, compliant products.

You will lead trials, support scale-up, and manage multiple development projects while mentoring junior technologists. Relocation may be available.