NPD Manager

NPD Manager
Salary: c. £40,000 DOE
Location: Kent (commutable from Faversham, Canterbury, and surrounding areas)
Working Hours: Monday – Friday, on-site

We are supporting a well-established food manufacturing business in their search for an NPD Technologist to join their team at an exciting stage of growth. This is a newly created role, offering a fantastic opportunity for someone with a passion for product development to set up and shape the NPD function from the ground up.

Working closely with both the Technical and Commercial teams, you will play a key role in bringing new products to life – from concept to launch. The business has a diverse product range and a reputation for quality, making this a unique opportunity to make a significant impact.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the development of new products, ensuring they align with customer briefs and market trends
• Set up and implement NPD systems, processes, and procedures to establish a robust product development function
• Collaborate with Technical and Commercial teams to deliver projects on time and within budget
• Manage product trials, factory scale-ups, and product specifications
• Source and liaise with suppliers on ingredients and packaging
• Ensure products comply with technical and regulatory requirements
• Keep up to date with food trends and competitor activity to inform product innovation

What We're Looking For:

• Proven experience in an NPD role within the food manufacturing industry
• Strong understanding of the product development process, from concept to launch
• Experience setting up NPD systems and processes would be highly advantageous
• Excellent communication and project management skills
• Collaborative approach with the ability to work cross-functionally
• A passion for food and a keen eye for detail

This is a rare opportunity to take ownership of a newly created role in a business that’s primed for growth.

If you're excited by the challenge of building an NPD function from scratch and have the skills and experience to match, we'd love to hear from you