Product Development Manager

The Sterling Choice; England; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary & benefits

Job summary

The Sterling Choice is seeking a hands-on Product Development Manager to drive projects from concept to launch in a fast-growing food manufacturing setting. You’ll work in development kitchens and factories, coordinating with suppliers, customers and internal teams to deliver exciting new products.

You’ll apply strong formulation knowledge, project management skills, and a proactive approach across multiple departments to shape the future of a growing operation.

Qualifications

• Experience as Product Manager or Senior NPD in food & beverage manufacturing.
• Strong understanding of formulation, ingredient functionality and manufacturing processes.
• Excellent project management and organisational skills.
• Knowledge of food safety, quality systems and regulatory requirements.
• Proactive, hands-on approach across multiple departments.

Responsibilities

• Lead new product development projects from concept through to commercial launch.
• Develop formulations, create samples, coordinate factory trials and support first production runs.
• Manage multiple NPD projects with timelines, budgets and milestones.
• Collaborate with Technical, Operations, Commercial and Procurement for success.
• Build relationships with ingredient suppliers and customers.

Skills

Product management

Formulation knowledge

Project management

Food safety knowledge

Hands-on collaborator

Job description

Want to build products, not just manage them?

If you're someone who thrives on taking an idea from a sketch on a whiteboard through to a successful product launch, this could be exactly what you're looking for.

We're recruiting for a rapidly growing food manufacturer that's investing heavily in innovation. This is a hands-on Product Development Manager role where you'll have genuine influence over product development, work cross-functionally across the business, and help shape the future of an ambitious manufacturing operation.

This isn't the sort of environment where you'll spend your days buried in paperwork. You'll be in the factory, in development kitchens, working with suppliers, customers and internal teams to bring exciting new products to market.

What you'll be doing:

• Leading new product development projects from concept through to commercial launch.
• Developing formulations, creating samples, coordinating factory trials and supporting first production runs.
• Managing multiple NDP projects, ensuring timelines, budgets and key milestones are delivered.
• Working closely with Technical, Operations, Commercial and Procurement to deliver commercially successful products.
• Building strong relationships with ingredient suppliers and customers.
• Keeping up to date with emerging ingredients, market trends and consumer insights to identify future innovation opportunities.
• Supporting the introduction of new ingredients, processes and manufacturing technologies.
• Creating and maintaining technical documentation, specifications and development standards.
• Driving continuous improvement across product development processes, quality and cost.

What we're looking for:

• Previous experience in a Product Manager or Senior NPD role within food & beverage manufacturing.
• A strong understanding of formulation, ingredient functionality and manufacturing processes.
• Excellent project management and organisational skills.
• Knowledge of food safety, quality systems and regulatory requirements.
• A proactive, hands-on approach with the confidence to work across multiple departments.
• Someone who enjoys working in a fast-paced, growing business where no two days are the same.

What's in it for you:

• The opportunity to play a key role in a business with ambitious growth plans.
• A genuinely hands-on position where you'll influence products from concept to launch.
• A collaborative culture where your ideas are welcomed and your contribution is recognised.
• Career development within a business that's continuing to invest in innovation, people and manufacturing capability.
• Competitive salary and benefits package.

If you're looking for a role where you'll have real ownership, genuine variety and the opportunity to shape the future of an ambitious food manufacturer, we'd love to hear from you.