NPD Manager - Maternity Cover

The Collective Network; England; Hybrid; GBP 39,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading food manufacturer in Kent is seeking an NPD Manager for a 12-month FTC. You will manage product development from concept to market, collaborating with cross-functional teams. Ideal candidates have experience in food manufacturing, a solid grasp of retailer needs, and strong stakeholder management skills. The role offers hybrid working, health cover, and a bonus scheme.

Benefits

Hybrid working

Access to learning and development programmes

Health cover

Bonus scheme

On-site parking

Subsidised meals

Qualifications

• Experience in product development within food manufacturing (non-negotiable).
• Good grasp of retailer requirements.
• Confidence to back ideas with data.

Responsibilities

• Build out the NPD pipeline from concept to launch.
• Spot gaps in the market and develop commercially viable products.
• Partner closely with Category, Commercial, and Technical teams.

Skills

Product development experience

Retailer requirements navigation

Data and commercial reasoning

Creative mindset

Stakeholder management

Job description

NPD Manager (12 Month FTC)

Kent

Upto £47,000 (depending on experience)

Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm

Hybrid options available

You know that feeling when you walk into a supermarket, see a new food product on the shelf, and think, "I bet I could've done that better"? Here's your chance to prove it. We're working with a food manufacturer in Kent who are looking for an NPD Manager to cover a 12 months (possibly longer) FTC. You'll be joining a genuinely collaborative team who live and breathe food. This isn't one of those "watch from the sidelines" roles. You'll be hands-on from concept to launch - building out the NPD pipeline, spotting gaps in the market, and using insight to turn bright ideas into commercially viable products. You'll partner closely with the Category, Commercial and Technical teams to make sure what looks good on paper actually works in the factory - and on the balance sheet. There's also an Innovation Day once a year, which is as much about creativity as it is about showing the business what's possible. If you're the type who likes a tidy brief and predictable projects… this probably isn't for you. Things move fast, priorities shift, and you'll often be juggling short-term launches with longer-term blue-sky ideas.

What you'll need:

• Experience in product development within food manufacturing (non-negotiable)
• A good grasp of retailer requirements and how to navigate them
• The confidence to back your ideas with data and commercial reasoning
• A creative, practical mindset - you'll need both
• Solid stakeholder management skills (you'll be working cross-functionally every day)

In return, you'll get:

• Hybrid working (once you're settled)
• Access to learning and development programmes
• Health cover
• Bonus scheme (non-contractual)
• On-site parking and subsidised meals

It's a great gig for someone who loves developing products that actually make it to market - not just another PowerPoint deck of ideas. Interested? Hit apply or drop The Collective Network a line. We'll talk you through the business, the people, and whether this one's worth your time.