Product Development Manager - Buckfastleigh, Devon

Riverford; Buckfastleigh; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading organic food company in Buckfastleigh is seeking a Product Development Manager to help drive customer engagement through innovative food offerings. This 12-month maternity cover contract offers a salary between £45,000 and £50,000 per annum, based on experience. The role is crucial for developing 'Extras' ranges, collaborating across departments, and requires strong product development experience. A hybrid working model is available, allowing flexibility in office attendance.

Benefits

33 days holiday

Generous pension scheme

Annual profit share

Free organic fruit and veg

Qualifications

• Proven experience in developing and launching new food products.
• Experience managing a team and leading cross-functional project teams.
• Experience in ensuring timely delivery of products with focus on simplicity.

Responsibilities

• Develop and curate 'Extras' ranges for Riverford.
• Unlock category and customer insights for new product development.
• Collaborate with supply chain and demand planning teams.

Skills

Product Development experience in the food sector

Team management experience

Operationally driven

Strategic collaboration

Innovative & strategic

Customer-focused

Sustainability advocate

Collaborative team player

Job description

Product Development Manager – Buckfastleigh, Devon

Work with us at Riverford, and join a thriving employee‑owned business. Be part of a supportive, down‑to‑earth and solutions‑driven commercial team.

Beyond the Veg Box

At Riverford, our passion for organic vegetables is unmatched. We’re not just about delivering veg boxes; we’re dedicated to sustainable farming and community building. As part of our team, you become a co‑owner, sharing in our successes and contributing to a mission that goes beyond profit. We aim to make Riverford a fulfilling place to work, where our co‑owners feel valued.

Our HQ

• Wash Farm in Devon – a beautiful place to work surrounded by good people, good food, and plenty of fresh air.
• Benefits: 33 days holiday (pro rata, including bank holidays), ethical & generous company pension scheme, and an annual profit share where 10% of all profits are split equally among co‑owners.
• We also offer heavily discounted organic breakfasts and lunches, free organic fruit and veg to take home, and free parking.

Grow with Riverford

• Take the next step in your personal and professional journey with training tailored to help you grow and achieve your goals.
• As our Product Development Manager, you’ll help shape Riverford’s future.

Role overview

Our “Extras” ranges are key to keeping the Riverford food offering fresh and relevant, driving customer engagement, and increasing average order value (AOV). You will carefully develop and curate these ranges to complement the core fruit and veg range, helping more families to Live Life on the Veg, whilst providing newness, foodie inspiration and customer joy. This is a fast‑paced NPD‑heavy role which will require the capability to unlock category and customer insights to develop and launch exciting new products that meet our different customer needs.

Salary and Location

Salary: £45,000 – £50,000 per annum, depending on experience.

Location: Wash Farm, Buckfastleigh, Devon, TQ11 0JU, with hybrid working possible.

Hours

This is a 12‑month fixed‑term maternity cover contract, 32 or 40 hours per week. We would ideally like the successful candidate to be able to work from the office 40% of the time but can be flexible on how this looks.

What You’ll Bring

• Product Development experience in the food sector: Proven experience in developing and launching new food products, managing complex critical paths across multiple business functions and external stakeholders / suppliers.
• Team management experience: Proven experience managing a team, and in leading cross‑functional project teams.
• Operationally driven: Experience in ensuring the timely delivery of products with a focus on operational simplicity and profitability improvements.
• Strategic collaboration: Ability to work cross‑functionally, especially with supply chain and demand planning teams, to optimise forecasting, product availability, and sustainable practices.
• Innovative & strategic: A creative thinker who balances innovation with data‑driven decision‑making to refine product offerings.

What We’re Looking For

• Customer‑focused: Strong understanding of diverse customer needs, from budget‑conscious families to adventurous food lovers.
• Sustainability advocate: A commitment to organic food, ethical sourcing, and supporting small‑scale producers.
• Collaborative team player: Strong ability to work across departments, ensuring seamless product delivery from procurement to marketing.
• Application process: We’re reviewing applications on a rolling basis and may close the advert early, so we encourage you to apply soon.