Senior NPD Manager / Innovation Manager

The Company

This food brand has grown massively over the last few years and with significant investment and an ambitious growth strategy in place, they are set to conquer new markets to continue their expansion. To support their future plans they need a highly talented, engaging and creative Senior NPD / Innovation Manager to join the team. 

The Role

This is a diverse and rewarding NPD role where you will be agile enough to be hands on in the kitchen creating sumptuous new products one day and the next working with marketing on the NPD strategy.

The role will report to the Head of Marketing and Innovation and you will be lead the implementation of the product innovation strategy to align with marketing objectives.  You’ll develop and deliver products with a clear product vision, using consumer insight and category data to support your concepts.

You will present ideas to customers and internal teams at all business levels and articulate initiatives that will support long term brand direction as well as meet margin targets.  You will need to be fully aware of competitors and have an insight into how this impacts the brand’s position in the market place.

You’ll work closely with the Process and Technical teams to manage the critical path for your products to ensure a successful launch whether that’s a revamp of an existing product or a new concept.  You will also manage and co-ordinate packaging changes and product photo-shoots, communicating range changes across all channels.  

The Person

We are looking for an NPD professional with exceptional culinary skills combined with a strong understanding of the NPD process from concept stage through to launch. Ideally your experience will have come from a complex chilled manufacturing company within brand or own label.  With an element of hands-on work you must be happy to roll up your sleeves and get stuck in, therefore a combination of culinary prowess and NPD project management is key to success. 

A strong leader with a flair for new flavours and curiosity for the latest trends and ingredients, you’ll have the ability to lead the innovation agenda in an entrepreneurial business. Perpetually positive you provide solutions when faced with obstacles, remaining calm and organised when under pressure, and are able to prioritise whilst paying close attention to the details. 

Compelling and persuasive, you’ll be well practiced in delivering effective presentations, working comfortably with senior stake holders, customers and internal teams alike. In addition you’ll need to have excellent communication, organisation and team management skills in order to drive business forward and make change happen. Experience working with manufacturing partners would be beneficial. 

If you are ambitious, motivated and ready for an innovations challenge in the world of branded product development, then we’d like to hear from you. Please apply or call Dhrutee for a confidential chat on 0345 2600 737. 

Ref: F6435

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Although we do our utmost to respond to all applicants, there are times when this is just not possible due to sheer volume so if you have not heard from us within 5 working days then we are sorry to say your application for this role has not been successful.
 
Also, please note that we are only able to accept and respond to applications from candidates with eligibility to work in the UK and those who hold valid work visas.