NPD Project Manager

Planet CIC; Frome; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent food manufacturing company in Frome is seeking an experienced NPD Project Manager to oversee product development and manage customer relationships. This role requires expertise in food science and a strong record of project management and communication. The ideal candidate will thrive in a fast-paced environment and contribute to developing innovative food products while ensuring training and support to production teams. The company offers a comprehensive benefits package including pension contributions and well-being initiatives.

Benefits

Company pension 6%

25 days holiday + Bank holidays

Wellbeing initiatives – Free eye tests

Qualifications

• Experience in a similar role, influencing and motivating others.
• Understanding of dairy science and food manufacturing processes.
• Ability to lead and deliver multiple projects in parallel.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate product development from concept to launch.
• Manage communication and support with the production team.
• Act as main point of contact for customer development projects.

Skills

Excellent communication skills

Project management

Food technology knowledge

Ability to work unsupervised

Commercial awareness

Flexibility and adaptability

Hands-on attitude

Education

Degree in Food science or Food technology

Job description

Our client is a global leader in food manufacturing and they are currently looking for an NPD Project Manager to be based at their Frome site. This is an excellent opportunity to join this exciting company. They are a great company to work for offering superb career progression and job satisfaction. This role supports the development and optimisation of the company’s product range.

NPD Project Manager Tasks and Responsibilities

Working with the major retailers in the UK. As an NPD Project Manager, you will play a pivotal role across customer management, product development, and factory support.

Product development

Coordinate development from concept through to final launch. Be a pivotal contact between all departments to ensure a smooth launch of the new products or changes in the factory.

Add external

Develop recipes and products, conducts hands‑on development work from initial kitchen trials to industrial trials, including organoleptic assessment (tasting).

Manage the organization of the industrial trials, communicate the results, actions / improvements to be carried out and follow up on them.

Ensure the products will be produced in the normal conditions on the current equipment, raise and communicate any concerns about possible difficulties.

Provide hands‑on training when running factory trials to production team.

Factory support

Understand and know how to use the pilot plant and development lab, suggest improvements and notify breakdowns / malfunctions.

Support production team with product and process expertise when necessary

Customer management

Be your customers main point of contact for development, optimisation and improvement projects from brief to launch and other queries about products, process and packaging.

Be the development technical expert to influence customer briefs by offering insight into feasibility and factory capabilities.

Face to face presentation to customer either at their head office, or on site to explain the business model, development capabilities and technical advantages.

Oversee costings and make price recommendation to Commercial director.

Lead and coordinate all products related projects – from initial customer brief through development, trials, artwork, factory validation, and final launch.

Manage end to end artwork development, internally and externally, with the right process and legal checks through to sign off either for development projects and design or legal updates.

NPD Project Manager Candidate Profile

The successful candidate will have experience of working in a similar role and therefore will be aware of the expectation to be professionally mature and be able to demonstrate the ability to influence, convince and motivate others.

• Degree (or equivalent experience) in Food science, Food technology or a related discipline
• Understanding of dairy science, food technology and food manufacturing processes.
• Previous experience in an industrial food manufacturing environment
• Excellent communication skills both written and oral. Good at selling ideas.
• A proven record of project management.
• Prioritisation and handling complexity : capacity and capability to lead and deliver multiple projects in parallel.
• Be commercially aware
• Flexibility through working additional hours or change of working day at short notice.
• Hands on attitude.
• Ability to work unsupervised and achieve results within tight deadlines.

The ideal candidate should display 3 essentials qualities

1. Fast learning. Ability to assimilate new information and knowledge efficiently

2. Driven and determinate to achieve results

3. Able to work in a fast‑paced environment

NPD Project Manager Company Package

• Market Leader in their products and sector
• Company pension 6%
• employer contribution ( subject to contract)
• 25 days holiday + Bank holidays
• Company sick pay
• 4 x Death in Service
• Wellbeing initiatives – Free eye tests, £90 contribution to prescription lenses
• Full training will be given

If you would like to apply for this role, please send an up to date copy of your CV Kate Evans quoting reference GP303