Product Formulation Manager

Prinova Europe; Ditton; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading ingredient solutions provider in Ditton, UK, is seeking a Product Formulation Manager to lead the team in creating nutritional pre-mixes and sports nutrition products. This role involves managing the entire process from design to commercialization while ensuring product compliance with regulations. The ideal candidate will have at least 5 years of experience in the food or nutrition manufacturing sector, with strong leadership skills and a background in formulation science.

Benefits

Personal growth and training opportunities

Health Cash Plan

Subsidised gym membership

Discretionary bonus

Flexible pay access

Qualifications

• 5+ years in food/nutrition manufacturing, with 3+ years in people leadership.
• Direct experience with premix formulation and sports nutrition categories.
• Demonstrated ability to design science-based formulations.

Responsibilities

• Lead and grow the formulation department.
• Manage the end-to-end value chain from concept to commercialization.
• Develop department strategy aligned with business goals.

Skills

Leadership

Formulation expertise

Communication

Analytical skills

Continuous improvement

Education

Degree (BSc / MSc) in Food Science or related field

Job description

Product Formulation Manager (Full-time, Permanent)

Hybrid; 3 days in the office – Aylesford, Kent

Unlock your potential with Prinova

We are Prinova, a leading global supplier of ingredients and premix manufacturing solutions, and trusted by the world’s best-known food, beverage, and nutrition brands.

Part of the NAGASE Group, our expertise lies in Ingredient Distribution, Manufacturing Solutions, and Customised Services. Our global network of colleagues, located in offices and manufacturing facilities around the world, delivers sustainable value-added solutions to our customers. We are recognised for our deep expertise, commitment to excellence, and bold innovation, which have earned us a strong reputation as a trusted industry leader.

Wherever your career is headed, you’ll find direction, opportunity, and belonging with us.

What does a Product Formulation Manager mean at Prinova

Lead and grow the department responsible for the design, scale‑up, and manufacture of nutritional pre‑mixes (vitamins, minerals, functional ingredients) and sports nutrition products (powders, RTM, ready‑to‑drink support). Own the end‑to‑end value chain, from concept through to commercialisation, ensuring products meet regulatory, quality, safety, and commercial targets. You’ll manage the Product Formulation team and commercial interfaces, while building robust systems and driving continuous improvement.

What’s in it for you

• Personal growth, including training and development opportunities
• Health Cash Plan
• Subsidised gym membership
• Discretionary bonus
• Access to flexible pay with Aslan

What to expect

Strategy and Leadership

Develop and execute the department strategy aligned to business goals (NPD pipeline, margin mix, category growth, customer satisfaction).

Lead, coach, and build high performing teams across formulation and product development.

Coach and mentor Junior‑level Managers within the department to strengthen leadership capability and succession planning.

Own annual budget, resource planning and capability

Assure that you and the Product Formulation team maintain a broad and sound knowledge of all products sold (premix blends and straight ingredients), to provide input to all requests for technical, nutritional and labelling information.

Product Development and Formulation

Oversee design of vitamin / mineral premixes, functional blends (pre and probiotics, botanicals, amino acids), and sports nutrition products (whey / plant proteins, creatine, BCAAs, electrolytes, pre workout / energy blends).

Ensure science‑based formulations – Efficacy, stability, bioavailability, sensory, and cost‑in‑use; Validate through pilot trials and shelf life studies.

Approve specifications

Build expertise on functional ingredients, nutrients and additives assuring that the Product Formulation team are up to date with market trends and changes in regulatory / legislative landscape to support usage of nutritional ingredients and additives.

Support raw material substitution in formulations.

Support dual sourcing of raw materials to reduce risk and optimise cost in use.

Support customer compliance projects (infant qualification, GB compliance and other regulatory requirements which orientate around raw materials and premixes).

Provide technical inputs for supplier raw material approval.

Commercial and Customer Interface

Partner with commercial teams to scope customer briefs, translate requirements to technical specs, and present technical proposals.

Deliver on‑time launch execution, support key customers with technical service and post‑launch improvements.

Assure that robust scoping of customer requirements is completed together with indicative costings prior to formulation development commencing.

Work to right first time on the development of premix formulations for customer requirements on the basis that robust scoping has been completed.

Support customer compliance projects (infant qualification, GB compliance and other regulatory requirements which orientate around raw materials and premixes).

Provide technical support to commercial, customer care, quality and production.

Assure that you are a subject matter expert in Product Vision capability understanding the interface with Access Supply Chain and FBSS.

Lead improvements in Product Vision capability for Prinova Europe RoW to improve efficiency and reduce complexity.

Data, Systems and Continuous Improvement

Establish robust documentation and SOPs.

Implement and drive KPI dashboards for the department which demonstrate ROIC.

Does this sound like you

• Degree (BSc / MSc) in Food Science, Nutrition, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, or Chemical / Process Engineering.
• 5+ years in food / nutrition manufacturing, with 3+ years in people leadership and cross functional stakeholder management.
• Direct experience with premix formulation (vitamins, minerals, amino acids, botanicals, probiotics), sports nutrition categories (whey / plant proteins, creatine / BCAA / EAA, electrolytes, pre workouts), and powder technologies (blending, flowability / segregation, hygroscopic management, encapsulation / granulation, sieving, milling).
• Demonstrated ability to design science‑based formulations.
• Sensory understanding (flavour / sweetener systems, masking, texture) in RTM / RTD formats.

Interested? We would love to hear from you!

Click apply and submit your CV