NPD Manager

Due to Prepworld's growth, we are looking for an NPD Manager! - reporting into the Senior Insights, NPD and Marketing Manager, as part of the Category, Product Development & Marketing Team within the Sales department.

As NPD Manager you will identify & develop NPD, EPD & Blue Sky/Innovation opportunities for current and potential new customers of PrepWorld. You will be responsible for building relationships with key customers and internal stakeholders.

Take a proactive approach to develop NPD, EPD & Innovation plans working with the Category Insight Team to cover short-term (6 to 12 months) and longer-term visions that include potential new fruits, added value products, packaging, and different technology (if required).

Working together with the current NPD Manager, you will drive and deliver the Innovation pipeline. Develop and share best practice NPD Guidelines for launching NPD, EPD & Innovation alongside the commercial team and wider PrepWorld functions, ensuring all required personnel are clear on what is required. Be responsible for relevant sign-off from required departments throughout the whole process to launch.

In conjunction with the relevant commercial lead, ensure that products are commercially viable for PrepWorld and achieve agreed minimum margin targets. Undertake reviews of current products to identify improvements that can drive better margins for PrepWorld and potentially our customers.

Set up a formal regular benchmarking process to improve understanding of both our products and the competition.

Be recognized as an NPD champion. This will require creative and innovative thinking using relevant market insight to maximize the potential NPD growth opportunities for PrepWorld and our customers.

Other main duties include:

1. Collaborative approach towards customer tenders working with Commercial Managers, Category, Procurement, and Technical, ensuring all stakeholders are informed, all briefs are time managed, and all stakeholders have been provided sufficient time to complete their tasks.
2. Work across PrepWorld functions (including Customer Technical Manager, Customer Technologist, Factory Technical Manager, Account Managers, Category Insights & Packaging Manager) to develop new offerings and support necessary trials when and where appropriate.
3. Maintain awareness of market news, modern technology, and current legislation and industry standards.
4. Responsible for NPD sampling and specifications or coordination with the relevant customer technologist.
5. Train and inform relevant parties on new products.
6. Work with the NPD technologist in developing new methods of production for any new products.
7. Trial new processing methods including new machinery, hand processing, and packing.
8. Ensure the smooth flow of a new product through the facility through trialing and identifying areas for development.
9. Launch products to agreed timelines.
10. Identify best practices in production for new products.
11. Communicate best practices to the wider teams through the development of suitable methods (i.e., photo guides, specifications, meetings) agreed with Senior Technologist / NPD Technologist.
12. Regular benchmarking of both PW and competitor products.
13. Run at least 1 Product Innovation Day per year working alongside category insights, packaging & procurement team.

Who we are looking for:

1. Demonstrable experience in a Product Development role, ideally in Food Manufacturing (essential).
2. Commercial awareness (essential).
3. Creative and strategic thinking (essential).
4. Working knowledge of retailer requirements (highly desirable).
5. Able to use fact-based sales and market data to justify NPD (essential).
6. Supervisory / line management skills and experience (highly desirable).
7. Goal-oriented/driven and well organized (essential).
8. Good interpersonal and communication skills, comfortable working cross-functionally at all levels (essential).
9. Project and stakeholder management (highly desirable).
10. Managing Value Add / allergenic product ranges (highly desirable).

What we provide in return:

1. Hybrid working (initial period full time in office for training, then typically 1 day per week WFH, more can be discussed and approved on a case-by-case basis).
2. Internal Learning and Development programme including Management essential skills.
3. Medicash (allowances to cover costs such as dental and optical bills, physiotherapy, alternative therapies, and even consultancy charges, available for employees and their families. A taxable benefit).
4. Wagestream (track your earnings and instantly access up to 50% of your money as you earn it, without waiting for payday).
5. Annual bonus (non-contractual).
6. Free, on-site parking with electric charge points.
7. Staff events.
8. Staff restaurant serving heavily subsidized hot and cold food.
9. Fruit pots on Wednesdays.
10. Modern offices and facilities.
11. A supportive team.

Days and hours of work: Monday to Friday, 08:00am - 17:00pm.

Salary: £36,000 - £45,000 DOE.

Location: Prepworld, Northfleet, DA118HH.