Product Developer – Food & Drink Innovation

Role Overview

Are you a hands-on foodie who loves turning concepts into commercially successful products? We’re working with a dynamic and growing food business that’s looking for a confident, customer-facing Product Developer to take ownership of exciting NPD projects from brief through to launch. If you thrive in a fast-paced environment where creativity, collaboration and commercial thinking all come together, this is a fantastic opportunity to make a real impact.

Key Accountabilities

• Lead product development from customer brief to factory implementation
• Manage critical paths, ensuring on-time, in-budget product launches
• Contribute to brainstorming sessions and present ideas to stakeholders and customers
• Input and manage recipes within internal systems, ensuring alignment with cost targets
• Complete all required product and development submission documentation
• Source and evaluate new raw materials in line with quality, cost and approval standards
• Manage NPD processes including spec sign-off, artwork approval, and label compliance
• Handle technical queries and product specifications
• Manage raw material and finished product samples, ensuring consistency and timely distribution
• Lead weekly NPD meetings and support new business enquiries
• Deliver engaging customer presentations both on-site and externally
• Act as the main point of contact for customers on development and improvement projects
• Oversee end-to-end artwork development, ensuring legal compliance and accuracy
• Collaborate cross-functionally with NPD, manufacturing, quality and supply chain teams
• Support customer visits and follow up on actions
• Organise product samples for reviews, submissions and photography

People Profile

• Minimum 3 years’ experience within food manufacturing across NPD, project management or similar
• Experience in a customer-facing role within a food or beverage environment
• Strong knowledge of food legislation, labelling, artwork and food safety standards
• Degree (or equivalent experience) in Food Science, Food Technology or related field preferred
• Passion for food, innovation and emerging trends
• Creative thinker with the ability to deliver commercially viable solutions
• Proven project management skills with experience managing critical paths from concept to launch
• Strong commercial awareness with the ability to balance cost and creativity
• Highly organised with excellent time management skills
• Confident communicator, comfortable presenting to customers and stakeholders
• Strong relationship-building skills across internal and external teams
• Detail-oriented with a proactive, solutions-focused approach
• Systems literate with good knowledge of Microsoft Office, particularly Excel
• Experience working with brands or retailers is advantageous

We regret we can not offer visa sponsorship and can only consider candidates who hold right to work in the UK.

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