Product Development Lead - Food Innovation & Launch

Pilgrim's Europe; Luxulyan; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Pilgrim's Europe is seeking a Product Development Manager to lead New Product Development and Existing Product Development across key customer accounts. You will drive innovation with cross-functional teams, ensure products are developed, scaled, and launched to meet customer expectations, commercial targets, and regulatory requirements.

You will shape the future food agenda, contribute to strategy, and coach a team across Product & Innovation, Process, Culinary, Commercial and Site functions.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a Product Development role within the food manufacturing industry.
• Demonstrated success in launching food products from concept to market.
• Product costing experience and commercial awareness.
• Understanding of budgeting processes.
• Supply chain knowledge, including ingredient and packaging sourcing.
• Strong project management and organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management capabilities.
• Strong analytical skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Passion for food innovation, consumer trends, and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Lead customer-focused NPD and EPD projects from concept through to launch with internal teams.
• Manage multiple projects and critical paths, ensuring timely delivery and documentation.
• Support product costing activities and ensure commercial viability of development projects.
• Coach and develop team members, promote cross-functional collaboration and continuous improvement.

Skills

Product Development

Project Management

Stakeholder Management

Budgeting

Excel

Education

Food industry qualification or equivalent

Tools

MS Excel

MS Word

PowerPoint

Job description

Pilgrim's Europe is seeking a Product Development Manager to lead New Product Development and Existing Product Development across key customer accounts. You will drive innovation with cross-functional teams, ensure products are developed, scaled, and launched to meet customer expectations, commercial targets, and regulatory requirements.

You will shape the future food agenda, contribute to strategy, and coach a team across Product & Innovation, Process, Culinary, Commercial and Site functions.