Product Development Manager

Nomad Foods; Lowestoft; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Nomad Foods invites a Product Development Manager to lead the innovation strategy for the Coated fish portfolio. Based in Lowestoft with hybrid working, you will steer projects from concept to production, align with Marketing and Supply Chain, and ensure quality, nutrition, and sustainability targets are met.

You will build a strong R&D program and mentor a small team. You will bring an FMCG development background, English fluency, and a passion for consumer-led product excellence, driving

Qualifications

• Relevant science degree or significant FMCG product development experience.
• Proficient in English with strong communication skills.
• Track record of successful innovation in food or FMCG categories.
• Ability to understand consumer behaviour and rapid prototyping.
• Experience moving concepts from concept to full-scale production.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and delivery of the innovation and renovation pipeline across the Fish portfolio.
• Build and manage an R&D programme aligned to business priorities with Marketing, Supply Chain and cross-functional teams.
• Drive projects from concept through to full-scale production across sites and co-packers.
• Lead product development, business continuity, insourcing and factory-for-growth initiatives.
• Define and champion product quality and superiority to stay competitive.
• Develop deep technical expertise in ingredients, manufacturing processes and supply chains.
• Ensure all developments meet governance, regulatory, nutrition and sustainability requirements.
• Lead, coach and develop a small team with optimal resource deployment.
• Collaborate with suppliers, agencies and internal stakeholders to deliver successful programmes.

Skills

Science degree

English proficiency

Innovation track record

Consumer insight

Concept development

IP awareness

Food science knowledge

Prototype to production experience

Education

Relevant Science Degree

Job description

Product Development Manager – Coated Fish

Lowestoft based with Hybrid working model

Competitive salary, bonus and excellent benefits package

We have an exciting opportunity for a Product Development Manager to join Nomad Foods within our R&D function. In this role, you will lead the delivery of the product strategy for the Coated fish portfolio, helping to drive innovation, renovation and product superiority across some of our most important brands and growth platforms. You will play a critical role in developing and delivering a consumer-led innovation pipeline, ensuring our products continue to delight consumers while meeting commercial, quality and sustainability objectives.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and delivery of the innovation and renovation pipeline across the Fish portfolio.
• Build and manage an R&D programme aligned to business priorities, working closely with Marketing, Supply Chain and cross-functional R&D teams.
• Drive projects from concept through to full-scale production, ensuring successful execution across internal manufacturing sites and co-packers.
• Lead product development, business continuity, insourcing and factory-for-growth initiatives.
• Define and champion product quality and superiority, ensuring products remain competitive and relevant to consumer needs.
• Develop deep technical expertise across ingredients, manufacturing processes and supply chains, acting as a subject matter expert within the business.
• Ensure all developments meet governance, regulatory, nutrition and sustainability requirements.
• Lead, coach and develop a small team while ensuring resources are deployed effectively to maximise business value.
• Collaborate with suppliers, agencies and internal stakeholders to deliver successful innovation programmes.

About you

This role requires someone who is a self-starter and can hit the ground running. Someone who is organised, a strong project manager and can navigate the complexities of a pan-European company. This person needs to have the creative ability coupled with the technical know-how to see products from concept through the manufacturing process and launch. The successful candidate should be detail orientated and competent in technical packages, comfortable with writing specifications and understand regulatory compliance. Someone who can work in a fast-paced, deadline driven environment across a wide product portfolio. A passion for food and a desire to understand our consumer needs is key. Strong people leadership skills are essential with the ability to support and develop individuals to deliver in role and a demonstration of managing key business partners across functions and markets is also required. Good business awareness and commercial understanding will be key in this role to be successful in delivering targets.

What You'll Bring

• Relevant Science Degree or significant experience in an FMCG product development/Technical role
• Proficient in English language
• Track record of successful innovation within food or other FMCG category
• Eager to understand and anticipate consumer behaviour
• Experience of concept development & rapid prototyping
• Basic understanding of the role of Intellectual property (patents, exclusivity, know-how and trade secrets) to generate competitive advantage
• Good understanding of food science and ingredient-process interactions (or packaging)
• Track record of successfully driving innovation from prototype to full production

What we can offer you:

We’re on an exceptional adventure and offer a truly purpose led career and we aim to empower each employee and promote their personal growth all the while ensuring business needs are met now and into the future.

• An ambitious employer with recognized brands and growth potential
• A culture where your part of a team, where you feel encouraged to make a difference
• The potential to progress your career across different areas of the Nomad Foods Group

Who are we:

NOMAD - Headquartered in the UK, with revenues of €3.2 billion and operations in 22 key markets, Nomad Foods is Europe's leading frozen food company. We are a young company, founded only eight years ago, and built around a number of iconic brands (including Birds Eye, Findus and iglo and more recently Ledo and Frikom) that invented the frozen category 100 years ago and continue to set the bar for great taste, nutrition, convenience and affordability. Across everything we do, we are guided by our Purpose - Serving the World with Better Food - and how we can make a positive impact on our Performance, People and the Planet. At Nomad Foods we're proud to represent the world we serve by hiring diverse talent. Our inclusive culture is all about what we can achieve together.