NPD Manager – Food Manufacturing - Southeast

NPD Manager – Food Manufacturing
c. £50k DOE | Monday – Friday | On-Site

Are you a passionate and experienced NPD professional looking for a new challenge? We are recruiting on behalf of a well-established food manufacturing business in the Southeast, seeking a dynamic NPD Manager to drive innovation and develop new products from concept to launch.

About the Role

This is an exciting opportunity to join a growing food manufacturer that is investing in its NPD capabilities. As the NPD Manager, you will be instrumental in setting up and embedding processes for a business that does not currently have a dedicated NPD function. You will work closely with technical and commercial teams to create and launch innovative products while ensuring compliance and feasibility within production.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement NPD processes from scratch, creating a structured approach to innovation.
• Manage the end-to-end product development cycle, from concept creation to launch.
• Work collaboratively with the technical and commercial teams to ensure products meet both customer expectations and regulatory requirements.
• Lead recipe development, ingredient sourcing, and trials to bring new and exciting products to market.
• Stay ahead of market trends and consumer preferences to drive forward-thinking innovation.
• Ensure all NPD activities align with business objectives and operational capabilities.

About You

To be successful in this role, you will need:

• A proven background in food manufacturing with hands-on experience in NPD.
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to take ownership of the NPD function.
• Experience in setting up NPD systems and structures within a business.
• Excellent collaboration skills to work effectively across technical, commercial, and operational teams.
• A passion for innovation and product development, with a strong understanding of food trends and consumer demands.

What’s on Offer?

• A competitive salary of c.£50k DOE.
• The opportunity to shape and lead the NPD function within a growing food manufacturing business.
• A Monday – Friday, on-site role with a company that values creativity and product excellence.

This is a fantastic opportunity for an ambitious NPD professional looking to make a real impact. If you have the skills, experience, and drive to take on this role, we would love to hear from you.