Job title: NPD Manager
Location: Cheshire – 5 days a week on-site
Salary: £60,000 – £65,000 + Benefits
We’re partnering with a well-established ambient food manufacturer to recruit an NPD Manager.
This is a senior, high-impact role responsible for leading end-to-end product development across own label and branded ranges – from concept through to launch and lifecycle optimisation. You’ll play a key part in shaping innovation strategy while ensuring products are technically robust, commercially viable and delivered at pace.
The Role
Reporting into the Sales Director and working cross-functionally across Commercial, Technical, Operations and Procurement, you will:
- Define and deliver the product development and innovation strategy aligned to business growth objectives
- Lead a balanced innovation pipeline including renovation, line extensions and breakthrough concepts
- Manage stage-gate processes, feasibility and risk assessment
- Lead complex development projects through factory scale-up and launch
- Act as the senior technical authority on formulation and processing
- Ensure full compliance with food safety, quality and regulatory standards
- Own product costings, margin targets and value engineering initiatives
- Partner with Commercial teams on positioning, claims and launch readiness
- Influence senior stakeholders and external partners
- Develop and mentor a high-performing NPD team
About You
We’re looking for someone with:
- Extensive experience in food product development and commercialisation
- Strong food science and processing expertise, with proven scale-up capability
- Deep knowledge of food safety, quality systems and regulatory compliance
- Strong commercial acumen with ownership of cost and margin performance
- Experience leading cross-functional teams and complex projects
- A strategic, consumer-led mindset and the ability to operate at pace
Salary & Benefits
- £60,000 – £65,000 basic salary
- Generous company pension scheme
- 22 days holiday + bank holidays
For a confidential discussion, please get in touch.
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