Senior Food Product Development Lead | Launch & Innovation

Finsbury Food Group; Hamilton; Híbrido; GBP 60.000 - 80.000; Jornada completa

Ventajas ofrecidas por este puesto de trabajo

Enhanced Maternity & Paternity Leave

Enhanced Pension Scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Benefits Hub discounts

Refer a Friend scheme

Descripción de la vacante

Lightbody’s of Hamilton is seeking a Development Manager to lead end-to-end product development from concept to launch at our Hamilton site, driving innovation and customer collaboration. You will manage the development plan, ensure products meet commercial and quality objectives, and lead a motivated team.

The role requires strong project management, stakeholder engagement, and a passion for food trends, with opportunities to shape product strategy and deliver high-impact results in a growing

Formación

• Degree in Food Science, Food Technology, or equivalent.
• At least five years' product development experience within food manufacturing.
• Experience leading and developing a team.
• Strong project management and cross-functional collaboration.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• Full UK driving licence.

Responsabilidades

• Lead end-to-end product development from concept to launch.
• Create and deliver site development plan aligning with customer expectations and business strategy.
• Develop and coach the team, fostering a collaborative, high-performing culture.
• Present new concepts to customers and build relationships as the site representative.
• Manage multiple projects, anticipate risks, and ensure on-time, on-budget delivery.
• Champion product quality and drive continuous improvements and innovation.

Conocimientos

NPD experience

Team leadership

Project management

Stakeholder management

Communication

Industry knowledge

Educación

Food Science degree

Descripción del empleo

This is what you’ll actually do!

As Development Manager, you'll lead the end-to-end product development process, taking accountability for projects from concept through to successful launch. You'll create and deliver the site development plan, ensuring products meet customer expectations, commercial objectives, and business strategy.

You'll manage and develop your team, providing coaching and support while fostering a collaborative, high-performing culture. Working closely with customers, you'll present new concepts, build strong relationships, and represent Finsbury throughout the development journey.

A key part of the role will be managing multiple projects simultaneously, anticipating potential risks before they arise, and ensuring critical paths are delivered on time, within budget, and to the highest quality standards. You'll work cross-functionally with Technical, Operations, Commercial, Brand, Procurement, and Manufacturing teams to ensure every product is successfully launched and commercially viable.

You'll also champion product quality across the site, benchmarking products against competitors, identifying opportunities for improvement, and driving innovation that enhances customer satisfaction and business performance.

Ideally this is you!

• Degree in Food Science, Food Technology, or equivalent industry experience
• At least five years' product development experience within food manufacturing
• Previous experience leading and developing a team
• Strong project management skills with experience delivering NPD projects from concept to launch
• Experience working with customers and managing multiple stakeholders
• Commercially aware with a passion for food, innovation, and consumer trends
• Excellent communication, presentation, and relationship-building skills
• Highly organised, proactive, and able to manage multiple priorities
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to anticipate challenges and drive solutions
• Full UK driving licence

This is a brilliant opportunity to work with leading brands, lead a team, and play a key role in delivering innovative new products within a growing business.