NPD Manager

NPD Manager West Yorkshire Full-time, Permanent Reports to: General Manager Are you a commercially savvy NPD professional with a passion for great-tasting, high-performing products? Do you thrive in fast-paced environments where process, precision, and pragmatism are key? If so, we want to hear from you. We’re recruiting on behalf of a well-established manufacturer in West Yorkshire for a New Product Development Manager specialising in gravy and savoury sauces, with a strong focus on Private Label. About the Role This is a critical position within the business, responsible for leading the EPD (Existing Product Development) function and continuously enhancing a core product portfolio that customers know and love. You’ll drive improvements in quality, efficiency, and cost, while ensuring compliance with evolving legislation. Key Responsibilities * Own the EPD pipeline: respond to customer briefs, drive recipe upgrades, and lead cost reduction projects * Collaborate with leading flavour houses to source and trial ingredients * Lead recipe reformulation and updates in line with business continuity, technical compliance, and customer requirements * Manage artwork changes, internal systems, and product set-ups * Conduct kitchen trials and support factory scale-ups with a hands-on approach * Act as the key technical liaison across internal departments and with customers * Work closely with the Commercial and Category teams to ensure product development aligns with strategy Who We’re Looking For * A background in NPD within sauces, dry mixes, or savoury categories * Solid experience in Private Label product development * Detail-oriented with excellent project and change management skills * Confident in managing technical documentation and working with flavour houses * Process-driven and focused on execution, not blue-sky innovation