NPD Project Manager

JR United Kingdom; Ashford; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a dynamic supplement manufacturing company as an NPD Project Manager in Ashford. You'll lead innovative product development projects, working closely with clients and technical teams from concept to market. Ideal candidates have 5+ years in the food supplement industry and a strong background in project management. Contribute to our mission of delivering quality products while enjoying a supportive workplace culture focused on innovation.

Benefits

Performance bonus

Opportunities for career development

Collaborative team culture

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years' experience in NPD within the food supplement industry.
• Strong project management skills with relevant methodologies preferred.
• Proven experience managing projects from concept through to launch.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the end-to-end NPD project lifecycle from concept to manufacturing handover.
• Engage with clients to provide technical support ensuring commercially viable formulations.
• Lead sourcing and evaluation of new ingredients and suppliers.

Skills

Project Management

Communication

Commercial Awareness

Innovation

Technical Oversight

Education

BSc degree in Food Science, Chemistry, Nutrition

Job description

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Location:Ashford, Kent (Full-time, In-person)

Salary:Up to £38,000 per year + Bonus Structure

At Supplement Factory, we are passionate about creating top-tier supplements for brands around the world. Our success is built on innovation, operational excellence, and a commitment to exceptional client service. We champion an inclusive and supportive workplace, encouraging our people to grow and contribute to our dynamic journey in supplement manufacturing.

About the Role

We are seeking a driven and experienced NPD Project Manager to join our thriving team in Ashford. This is a pivotal role where you will lead the development of innovative food supplement products, guiding projects from initial concept through to manufacturing readiness. You will work closely with our remote NPD technicians, clients, and internal teams to bring commercially viable, high-quality supplements to market across various formats including capsules, tablets, powders, and liquid gels.

Reporting directly to the CRO and CEO, you will play a key role in our continued success by managing the NPD pipeline and ensuring projects align with client briefs and commercial targets.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee and guide remote NPD technicians in developing draft formulas into working product samples that meet client briefs across capsule, tablet, powder, and liquid gel formats.
• Manage the end-to-end NPD project lifecycle, taking client briefs and overseeing projects from concept ideation through sampling and successful handover to manufacturing.
• Engage directly with clients from the sampling stage onwards, providing technical support and guidance to ensure formulations are commercially viable and ready for production.
• Oversee the work of NPD technologists, ensuring high standards and efficient project progression.
• Collaborate closely with the formulation sales team to align development activities with commercial opportunities.
• Lead the sourcing and evaluation of new ingredients and suppliers, working in conjunction with our supply chain team to expand our capabilities and ensure quality.
• Ensure all NPD projects meet technical specifications, quality standards, regulatory requirements, and commercial price points.
• Maintain accurate project documentation and contribute to the continuous improvement of NPD processes.

About YouWe are looking for a proactive and commercially astute NPD professional with a strong background in the food supplement industry. You should be a skilled project manager with excellent communication abilities and a passion for innovation.

Key Skills and Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in New Product Development (NPD) specifically within the food supplement industry.
• BSc degree (or equivalent/higher) in Food Science, Chemistry, Nutrition, or a closely related field is essential.
• Proven experience managing NPD projects from concept through to launch/manufacturing handover.
• Strong understanding and practical experience with key regulatory frameworks, particularly EFSA (EU/UK) and FDA (US), is required.
• Demonstrable experience working with various supplement formats (capsules, tablets, powders, liquid gels).
• Excellent project management skills, with an understanding of relevant methodologies (e.g., stage-gate) being preferable.
• Strong commercial awareness, including experience formulating to specific price points and understanding ingredient cost implications.
• Experience working with laboratory teams on organoleptic and sensory development is preferable.
• Ability to effectively oversee and guide technical staff.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, comfortable liaising with clients and internal stakeholders at all levels.
• Proficient in managing multiple projects, prioritising effectively, and working to deadlines.

Why Join Us?

• Make an Impact:Play a pivotal role in driving innovation and shaping the future product portfolio for leading brands.
• Collaborative Culture:Work within a supportive team environment that values innovation, excellence, and customer success.
• Career Development:Opportunities to grow your skills and advance within a fast-moving, dynamic organisation.
• Direct Influence:Report directly to senior leadership (CRO & CEO) with visibility across the business.
• Performance Rewarded:Benefit from a bonus structure linked to formulation output and commercial success.

Practicalities

• Job Type:Full-time, Permanent
• Schedule:Monday to Friday (standard business hours)
• Location:Ashford, Kent. This is an in-person role requiring a reliable commute.

If you are an experienced NPD professional looking for an exciting opportunity to lead supplement innovation in a fast-growing company, we would love to hear from you!

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: Up to £38,000.00 per year

Additional pay:

• Performance bonus

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Ashford: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)