NPD Manager

Sigmar Recruitment; Cork; Hybrid; EUR 70,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Service-related annual leave

Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)

Company laptop and phone

Mileage reimbursement

Educational support and development

Job summary

Sigmar Recruitment is assisting a family-owned Irish food manufacturer in recruiting an NPD Manager to own the complete new product development pipeline from concept through trials to a successful commercial launch.

You will lead cross-functional projects with Production, Quality, Commercial, Finance and Operations to ensure delivery on time while balancing innovation with manufacturing realities and cost considerations.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years NPD experience within food manufacturing.
• Experience taking new food products from concept through to commercial launch/production.
• Experience leading cross-functional NPD or project teams.
• Strong commercial understanding and the ability to balance product innovation with manufacturing capability, cost and commercial viability.
• Experience working with retailers, foodservice or branded food products.
• Experience managing multiple NPD projects simultaneously.
• Strong understanding of food legislation and labeling requirements.

Responsibilities

• Own the full NPD pipeline from concept to commercial launch.
• Lead cross-functional NPD projects with Production, Quality, Commercial, Finance and Operations.
• Coordinate product and factory trials, shelf-life testing, and first production runs.
• Translate briefs into commercially viable products with customers.
• Drive continuous improvement across product quality, manufacturing efficiency, waste reduction, yields, cost and sustainability.

Skills

NPD experience

Cross-functional leadership

Commercial awareness

Food legislation knowledge

Job description

About Your New Employer

Join an award-winning, family-owned Irish food manufacturer with a strong reputation for producing premium products using locally sourced ingredients. Work with a growing business that is investing significantly in its innovation and NPD capability, giving you the opportunity to take real ownership of the innovation pipeline. Become part of a collaborative environment where you will work closely with Commercial, Production, Quality, Finance and Operations, with the autonomy to influence how new products are developed and brought to market.

About Your New Job

As the NPD Manager, you will take ownership of the full new product development pipeline, leading projects from initial concept through trials and successful commercial launch. You will lead the development of new products, customer-specific projects, product improvements, recipe optimisation and packaging innovation. You will manage cross-functional NPD projects, working closely with Production, Quality, Commercial, Finance and Operations to ensure projects remain on track and are delivered successfully. You will coordinate product and factory trials, shelf-life testing, product validation and first production runs. You will work with the Commercial team and customers to translate briefs and ideas into commercially viable products. You will drive continuous improvement across areas such as product quality, manufacturing efficiency, waste reduction, yields, cost, shelf life and sustainability.

What Skills You Need

Minimum 3 years NPD experience within food manufacturing. Proven experience successfully taking new food products from concept through to commercial launch/production. Experience leading cross-functional NPD or project teams. Strong commercial understanding and the ability to balance product innovation with manufacturing capability, cost and commercial viability. Experience working with retailers, foodservice or branded food products. Experience managing multiple NPD projects simultaneously. Strong understanding of food legislation and labelling requirements.

Whats on Offer

€70,000€75,000 salary, depending on experience. Negotiable working hours, with the opportunity for a four-day working week for the right candidate.

• Service-related annual leave.
• Access to an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP).
• Company laptop and phone.
• Mileage reimbursement.
• Educational support and opportunities for continued professional development.

A key management position within a successful family-owned business, where you can take ownership of NPD and have a genuine impact on the companys future innovation and growth.

Skills: NPD food leadership Benefits: See Description TPBN1_IJ