NPD Manager

Kepak Group; Cork; On-site; EUR 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company Pension

Maternity Leave

Education support

Refer a Friend

Bike to Work

Long Service Awards

Job summary

Kepak Group is seeking an ambitious NPD Manager to own the product development pipeline and lead the creation of new products from concept through to launch. You will drive innovation, manage a skilled NPD team and work with Commercial, Technical, Operations, Marketing and Customer teams to deliver commercially successful products.

The role requires proven leadership in food manufacturing or FMCG, with a strong ability to balance customer needs, timelines and budgets.

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading New Product Development in food manufacturing or FMCG.
• Experience managing multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a high-performing NPD team.
• Own end-to-end NPD pipeline from concept to launch.
• Drive delivery of new product, renovation and innovation projects from concept to launch and post-launch review.
• Establish governance and stage-gate controls.
• Collaborate cross-functionally to translate customer needs into winning product solutions.
• Monitor costs, ROI and post-launch performance to maximise business impact.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Cross-functional

Data analysis

Job description

Kepak is a leading food company with manufacturing sites across Ireland and the UK. The Group operates across three divisions: the Foods Division, Meat Division UK, and Meat Division Ireland. Guided by our values—Responsibility, Ambition, Passion for Food, and Teamwork we are committed to operating as a successful, sustainable, future-ready business that is a great place to work. We supply fresh and value-added meat based products to retail and foodservice through private label and our own brands, including Rustlers, Big Al's and John Stone.

Kepak Meat Division Ireland operates across multiple manufacturing sites, producing a range of quality meat and protein-based food products for retail and foodservice customers across both domestic and export markets. The division is recognised for its operational excellence, strong customer partnerships, and continuous innovation.

Are you a passionate leader with a track record of bringing innovative products to market? We're looking for an ambitious NPD Manager to take ownership of our product development pipeline and lead the creation of exciting new products from concept through to successful launch.

In this high-impact role, you'll drive innovation, lead a talented NPD team, and ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget, and aligned to customer needs and business goals. You'll be at the heart of shaping the future of our product portfolio, working closely with Commercial, Technical, Operations, Marketing and Customer teams to turn great ideas into commercial successes.

Key Responsibilities

• Leading and developing a high-performing NPD team, fostering a culture of innovation, accountability and continuous improvement.
• Owning the end-to-end NPD pipeline, ensuring projects are prioritised, governed and delivered effectively.
• Driving the successful delivery of new product, renovation and innovation projects from concept through to launch and post-launch review.
• Establishing best-in-class project management processes, governance frameworks and stage-gate controls.
• Collaborating cross-functionally to ensure customer requirements, market opportunities and commercial objectives are translated into winning product solutions.
• Monitoring project performance, resource utilisation, development costs and ROI to maximise business impact.
• Using data, KPIs and post-launch insights to continuously improve processes, team performance and launch success.

Requirements

• Proven experience leading New Product Development within a food manufacturing, FMCG or related environment.
• Experience managing multiple projects simultaneously within a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated experience leading and developing teams.
• Strong commercial awareness with an ability to balance customer, operational and financial requirements.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Experience implementing governance, reporting and performance management frameworks.
• Ability to analyse data and use insights to improve decision-making and business performance.

Benefits

What can we offer you?

• Company Pension
• Paid Maternity Leave
• Further Education support - You’ll have clear pathways for advancement, supported by continuous professional development and a range of learning opportunities
• Refer a Friend Scheme - Earn up to Get up to €500 for successfully referring a friend or family member to Kepak Group.
• Bike to Work Scheme - Purchase a bike and safety equipment through a salary sacrifice scheme which reduces your taxable income – meaning you pay less tax!
• Long Service Awards - We recognise, acknowledge and award the dedication and valuable contribution of long serving employees

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