NPD Manager

Are you a chocolate expert with technical mastery in tempering, enrobing, and complex confectionery processes? Join our fast-paced, seasonal business partnering with top global chocolate brands to deliver innovative, high-quality products. We’re looking for a hands-on NPD Manager to lead end-to-end product development at our Sherburn site. You’ll manage two technologists, oversee kitchen setup, and collaborate with cross-site teams, retailers and brands to turn great ideas into reality.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain a strong network of contacts and relationships with suppliers of confectionery materials, using these to enhance and optimise product development and give the business a competitive edge.
• Ensure effective cross-functional collaboration with Process, Operations, and Technical teams to deliver factory-ready products on cost and right first time, in line with defined briefs and agreed capabilities.
• Lead the development, coaching, and training of the NPD team through regular one-to-one meetings, documented actions, goal-setting, performance reviews, and addressing training needs.
• Ensure NPD concepts comply with company policies, food safety and shelf life requirements, statutory hygiene legislation, and customer Codes of Practice.
• Manage the Sherburn NPD delivery process from concept to factory launch and PLR, ensuring all steps are completed on time and documented accurately.
• Identify the best recipe and recommend the most cost-effective process for new product concepts, using existing equipment where possible.
• Own, drive, and deliver Gate 4 within the NPD process.
• Ensure all new products have fully developed, trialed, and proven manufacturing processes before launch.
• Implement and hand over new product processes to the Operations team at launch, achieving the agreed manufacturing cost.
• Manage NPD team tasks for new product launches, maintain critical path timelines, communicate delays, and take corrective action to keep projects on track.

Qualifications

• Deep technical understanding of chocolate – tempering, viscosity, flow rates, coatings.
• Background in confectionery or chocolate-based NPD (cakes, biscuits, patisserie also considered).
• Experience in managing delivery within a busy factory-led manufacturing environment.
• Leadership experience with the ability to coach and grow a team.
• Highly organised, methodical, creative, and resilient.
• Experience working with leading UK retailers is an advantage.
• Familiarity with Recipe Management Systems.

Rewards Benefits

• 25 days of annual leave plus bank holidays.
• Pension (4% Employer Contributions).
• Life Assurance Scheme at x4 basic salary.
• Health Care Cash Plan via Paycare (Dental, Optical, Chiropody, Professional Therapy, Counselling cover), along with access to Paycare Perks for exclusive high street and retailer discounts.
• Holiday Purchase Salary Sacrifice Scheme – buy up to one extra week per year (subject to meeting minimum criteria).
• Cycle to Work Salary Sacrifice Scheme (subject to meeting minimum criteria).
• Electric Car Salary Sacrifice Scheme (subject to meeting minimum criteria).
• Family friendly policies including hybrid working opportunities and Maternity and Paternity leave above the statutory minimum.
• Annual engagement calendar covering an array of activities and educational events promoting diversity and inclusion.
• Participate in supporting your local community with opportunities to spend one day per year volunteering or fundraising and gain company-matched sponsorship.
• Company Wellbeing agenda including annual Wellbeing Week, Menopause Support Group and Mental Health First Aid programme.
• Access to staff shops with exclusive discounts.
• Monthly employee recognition scheme via the ‘Zertus Values Awards’.
• Recruitment Refer a Friend rewards.
• Training and Development Opportunities (Leadership courses, External qualifications, Professional memberships).
• Engagement with GroceryAid.

About Us

At Humdinger, we transform coco, nuts, seeds, fruit, and pulses into delectable snacks and chocolates for both our in-house label and renowned branded ranges. With a robust and continually growing portfolio, we've earned compliments for our commitment to quality and continuous product innovation. You might have enjoyed our products before, perhaps without even realising it! Situated in Heckington (Sleaford), Sherburn in Elmet and Bromborough, we are an integral part of the Zertus UK & Ireland Snacking & Chocolate Market Unit, collaborating with other esteemed food manufacturers nationwide. Join us on a flavourful journey where innovation, quality, and a passion for snacking come together. Our talented teams have created a growing portfolio of our own famous brands including NOMO, Sun Valley Nuts, Kinnerton Kids, The Fruit Factory, Yum & Yay, Humzingers, as well as collaborations with Bailey's, Guinness and Budweiser!

Application & Interview Process

Humdinger is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Your application will be reviewed as part of our selection process. If you’re shortlisted, a member of our Recruitment team will contact you by phone or email (please check your junk mail). From there, if you advance, your application will be shared with the hiring manager for further review. If selected, you will be invited to a two-stage interview process, which may be one or two stages and could include a factory tour. Please let us know if you require any special arrangements or adjustments to be made for your interview by speaking with the Talent Acquisition team at the application stage. The provision of this information is likely to include special category data and is therefore covered by data protection laws. We ask for this information so that we are fully aware of any adjustments needed and we will use the information provided to inform our decisions about making those changes.