Senior NPD Manager

Veblen International; England; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Veblen International in the UK is seeking an experienced Senior Product Development Manager to lead innovation across colour cosmetics, reporting to the Founder & CEO. This remote, UK-based role offers the chance to shape future product strategy and deliver commercially successful launches.

You will own the end-to-end development pipeline, collaborate with internal teams and global suppliers, and mentor the product development team while navigating a fast-growing prestige beauty business.

Qualifications

• Strong experience in cosmetic product development, with colour cosmetics preferred.
• Proven track record of bringing commercially successful beauty products to market.
• Excellent understanding of cosmetic formulations and product performance.
• Ability to assess technical submissions and provide constructive feedback.
• Experience managing supplier relationships and development projects.
• Strong commercial awareness using consumer insights and market data.
• Experience negotiating costs and supporting profitability objectives.
• Knowledge of full product development lifecycle from concept to launch.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Experience leading or mentoring team members.
• Ability to thrive in fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.
• Highly organized with excellent project management skills.
• Passion for beauty innovation and consumer-led development.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end development of new beauty products from concept through to launch.
• Drive a continuous pipeline of commercially relevant innovation.
• Identify product opportunities through consumer insights, market trends, competitor activity and sales performance.
• Manage relationships with global manufacturing and supplier partners.
• Brief suppliers on formulation and packaging development requirements.
• Evaluate product submissions and provide feedback throughout the development process.
• Oversee development timelines to ensure successful and timely launches.
• Negotiate product costings and support margin optimisation initiatives.
• Present product concepts and development updates to senior stakeholders.
• Partner with Marketing, Commercial, Regulatory and Operations teams to deliver successful launches.
• Support and develop members of the product development team.
• Travel internationally when required to meet suppliers and support innovation projects.

Skills

Cosmetic product development

Colour cosmetics

Supplier management

Project management

Stakeholder communication

Commercial awareness

Mentoring / leadership

Market insights

Cost negotiation

Strategic thinking

Job description

We are currently recruiting for an experienced Senior Product Development Manager to join a fast-growing prestige beauty business. This remote UK-based opportunity offers the chance to lead innovation across colour cosmetics, working closely with senior leadership to shape future product strategy and deliver commercially successful launches.

Our client is a founder-led prestige beauty brand with a strong direct-to-consumer presence across the UK and Europe. Known for creating high-quality beauty products that balance innovation with commercial success, the business is entering an exciting period of growth and is looking to strengthen its product development function. Product excellence sits at the heart of the organisation, with a focus on building long-term category-leading products that resonate with consumers.

Reporting directly to the Founder & CEO, the Senior Product Development Manager will take ownership of the innovation pipeline and lead the end-to-end development of new products across multiple colour cosmetic categories. Working within an entrepreneurial environment, this role combines strategic thinking with hands-on execution and offers significant influence over future product direction. The successful candidate will collaborate closely with internal teams and global suppliers to develop products that drive growth and commercial performance.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the end to end development of new beauty products from concept through to launch
• Drive a continuous pipeline of commercially relevant innovation
• Identify product opportunities through consumer insights, market trends, competitor activity and sales performance
• Manage relationships with global manufacturing and supplier partners
• Brief suppliers on formulation and packaging development requirements
• Evaluate product submissions and provide feedback throughout the development process
• Oversee development timelines to ensure successful and timely launches
• Negotiate product costings and support margin optimisation initiatives
• Present product concepts and development updates to senior stakeholders
• Partner with Marketing, Commercial, Regulatory and Operations teams to deliver successful launches
• Support and develop members of the product development team
• Travel internationally when required to meet suppliers and support innovation projects

Requirements:

• Strong experience in cosmetic product development within either a brand or supplier environment (colour cosmetics experience strongly preferred)
• Proven track record of bringing commercially successful beauty products to market
• Excellent understanding of cosmetic formulations and product performance
• Ability to assess technical submissions and provide constructive feedback
• Experience managing supplier relationships and product development projects
• Strong commercial awareness and ability to use consumer insights and market data to inform decisions
• Experience negotiating product costs and supporting profitability objectives
• Knowledge of the full product development lifecycle from concept to launch
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills
• Experience leading, mentoring or managing team members
• Ability to thrive within a fast paced, entrepreneurial business environment
• Highly organised with excellent project management skills
• Passion for beauty innovation and consumer led product development