Product Development Manager (17 month FTC)

Greencore; Northampton; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Holidays

Pension contributions

Life insurance

Company share save

Greencore Qualifications

Employee discount platform

Wellbeing centre access

Parental leave policies

Job summary

Greencore, Northampton site, is seeking a Product Development Manager on a 17-month FTC to drive concepts from spark to shelf and collaborate with customers and internal teams to shape the future of food.

You will own briefs, manage multiple workstreams, mentor technologists, and push for innovation and excellence across each product, with a fast-moving, changeable environment.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in product development within food manufacturing.
• Strong project management skills with ability to manage the critical path and multiple briefs.
• Confident, collaborative communicator with the ability to influence at all levels.
• Creative thinker with strong commercial awareness and passion for food.
• Natural leader who can inspire, challenge, and drive progress.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of development briefs from concept to launch, delivering on time.
• Manage the critical path and drive progress across multiple workstreams.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with customers, technologists and buyers.
• Provide strategic insight to future development plans and stay ahead of trends.
• Encourage innovation, creativity and excellence in every product.
• Lead with influence ensuring clarity and momentum across the team.
• Mentor technologists and developers to grow and succeed.

Skills

Product development

Project management

Stakeholder influence

Creative thinking

Leadership

Job description

Job: Product Development Manager (17 month FTC)

Location: Northampton

Why Greencore?

Following the combination with Bakkavor in January 2026, we're one of the UK's leading creators of convenience food, driven by a simple purpose: to make everyday taste better.

As a vibrant and fast-moving business, we're proud to employ over 28,000 talented colleagues across 36 manufacturing sites and 21 distribution depots in the UK and the US. Together, we bring delicious food to life. Our products cover every meal occasion from breakfast through to dinner and dessert, with lunch and snacking in between.

In FY25, our shared passion helped us achieve combined revenues of approximately £4bn. Our extensive direct to store (DTS) network, with 17 depots across the UK, allows us to deliver fresh and frozen food both our own and from trusted partners to thousands of stores every day, ensuring consumers enjoy the very best, whenever and wherever they shop.

We currently have a Product Development opportunity available on an FTC basis, giving you the chance to join a high-performing team at our Northampton site, managing our M&S food for now portfolio.

The Role

As Product Development Manager, you'll steer bold new ideas from spark to shelf. You'll drive multiple projects at pace, shaping concepts that excite customers and energise our teams. You'll be working closely with customers and internal teams to deliver and lead our future of food agenda.

Key responsibilities include:

• Taking ownership of development briefs from concept through to launch, ensuring each project is delivered on time and in full.
• Managing the critical path and driving progress across multiple workstreams.
• Building and maintaining a strong, collaborative relationship with our customers technologists and buyers.
• Bringing strategic insight and forward-thinking to future development plans, helping the team stay ahead of trends and customer expectations.
• Encouraging innovation, creativity, and excellence in every product we deliver.
• Leading with influence and confidence, ensuring clarity and momentum across the team.
• Supporting and mentoring technologists and developers, helping them to grow and succeed.

What We're Looking For

This is a role for someone who enjoys working in a fast-moving environment where priorities can change quickly and no two days are the same. You'll need to be comfortable balancing multiple projects, working closely with customers and cross-functional teams, and demonstrate a genuine passion for food.

• Significant experience in product development within food manufacturing.
• Strong project management skills with a proven ability to manage the critical path and multiple briefs.
• A confident, collaborative communicator with the ability to influence at all levels.
• Creative thinker with a strong commercial awareness and genuine passion for food.
• A natural leader who can inspire, challenge, and drive progress.

What you'll get in return

• Competitive salary and job-related benefits
• Holidays
• Competitive matched pension contributions
• Life insurance up to 4x salary
• Company share save scheme
• Greencore Qualifications
• Exclusive Greencore employee discount platform
• Access to a full Wellbeing Centre platform
• Enhanced parental leave and menopause policies

Throughout your time at Greencore, you will be supported with on the job training.

We reserve the right to close this advert ahead of the specified end date.