HEAD OF NPD
Role Purpose
This is a Head of NPD/ Innovation role
You will Lead the NPD and Process Development function, ensuring projects align with customer needs and business priorities. You will turn innovative concepts into factory-ready products, delivering to agreed standards, on time, and with smooth handover into operations.
This role combines strategic leadership, technical expertise, and project delivery, driving innovation, efficiency, and successful launches across the business.
Key Responsibilities
Leadership
- Lead, mentor, and develop the Development Team.
- Foster collaboration, innovation, and high performance.
Product Development
- Oversee projects from concept to launch.
- Ensure stakeholder alignment and visibility throughout the process.
- Deliver strategic short- and long-term innovation plans.
Project Management
- Create and manage effective critical paths.
- Act as key contact for customers, suppliers, and internal teams.
- Ensure timely, compliant launches.
Cross-Functional Working
- Partner with Technical, Operations, Supply Chain, Sourcing, and Commercial teams.
- Support development of products, ingredients, packaging, and processes.
Commercial Focus
- Manage costings from concept to post-launch review.
- Track labour and yield efficiencies to validate margins.
- Drive design-for-manufacture improvements.
Customer & Market Insight
- Build strong retailer relationships.
- Present concepts and market-led ideas confidently.
- Apply food trends and formulation expertise to innovation.
Continuous Improvement
- Lead process improvement initiatives.
- Deliver operational efficiencies across new and existing products.
Experience & Qualifications
- Degree in Food Science, Food Technology, or related field.
- 10+ years in product development or similar.
- 5+ years in an NPD leadership role.
- Experience in chilled, short shelf-life food manufacturing.
- Strong knowledge of UK retail environment.
Skills & Attributes
- Excellent project and people management skills.
- Strong commercial and technical understanding.
- Influential communicator and relationship builder.
- Passion for food innovation and manufacturing.
- Confident presenter with strong IT skills.
- Flexible, UK travel required, full driving licence essential.