Npd Manager

Are you passionate about driving innovation and launching exciting new food products? A dynamic role as an NPD Manager has opened at one of the UK's Food Manufacturers. This role offers a chance to collaborate across disciplines, manage product development processes, and make a significant impact on business growth in the UK and Ireland.

The Role

As a key member of the New Product Development team, you will:

1. Act as the bridge between customers and internal teams to build strong, positive relationships.
2. Collaborate with Development Chefs and the Commercial Team to ensure product concepts meet briefs and are executed seamlessly.
3. Oversee the scale-up of product concepts to factory production, ensuring they are presented to customers with precision.
4. Work across site disciplines to guarantee the safety, quality, and legality of all new and modified products.
5. Stay ahead of food trends, working with the team to drive innovation and improve processes.
6. Liaise with suppliers, third parties, and internal stakeholders to deliver exceptional results.
7. Maintain thorough records of NPD activities to ensure compliance with audits and customer requirements.

What We're Looking For

To succeed in this role, you will need:

1. Experience: Minimum 2 years in the food industry, ideally in Product Development.
2. Qualifications: A higher education qualification in Food Science or a related discipline, or equivalent industry experience.
3. Customer Knowledge: Exposure to working with major UK foodservice or retail customers, including experience with some of the 'Big 4' retailers.
4. Skills: Strong organizational skills to handle multiple projects, excellent communication abilities, and a proactive approach to building knowledge.
5. Technical Understanding: Knowledge of food science, manufacturing processes, and trends.
6. Flexibility: A full UK driving licence and the ability to travel across the UK as needed.