A leading food manufacturing business in Shropshire is seeking an experienced NPD Manager to join their team. This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in the development and delivery of innovative, high-quality food products for one of the UK’s most recognisable retail brands. The site is well-established, fast-paced, and part of a wider group with strong growth and investment plans.
The ideal candidate will have strong commercial awareness, a passion for food innovation, and a proven track record in managing retailer-focused NPD pipelines from concept through to launch.
Overview
The NPD Manager will be responsible for leading the end-to-end New Product Development process, ensuring projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to customer expectations.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the end-to-end New Product Development (NPD) process, ensuring projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to customer expectations.
- Develop and maintain close working relationships with the retailer’s technical and buying teams.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with technical, production, procurement, and commercial teams.
- Translate category insights, market trends, and consumer data into commercially viable product concepts.
- Oversee and support kitchen trials, factory trials, and pre-launch evaluations.
- Ensure all product development complies with customer and legislative standards.
- Support continuous improvement and drive innovation across product ranges.
The Ideal Candidate
- Proven experience in a similar NPD or Product Development role within chilled or meat food manufacturing.
- Strong understanding of UK retailer expectations, ideally with experience managing one of the major supermarket accounts.
- Excellent project management skills with a hands-on and collaborative approach.
- Confident communicator able to influence at all levels.
- Passionate about food quality, innovation, and delivering customer satisfaction.
- Degree or equivalent qualification in Food Science, Food Technology or related field is desirable
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all qualified candidates.
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