At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead innovative food product development from concept to customer approval.
- Company: Join a leading food business known for high-quality, consumer-first innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy a dynamic role with opportunities for creativity and collaboration.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a fast-paced environment while shaping meaningful food innovations.
- Qualifications: Experience in NPD or product development, especially in food manufacturing, is essential.
- Other info: This is a 14 to 18 month fixed-term contract with potential for growth.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
The Company
This well-established food business continues to set the standard in high-quality, consumer-first product innovation across a range of dynamic categories. With a strong pipeline of exciting projects, they are now looking for an experienced NPD Manager to join their talented product team on a 14 to 18 month fixed-term contract.
The Role
Reporting to the Senior Innovation Manager, you’ll play a pivotal role in bringing insight-led concepts to life, from early-stage development through to customer approval. This is a collaborative role that will see you working hands-on with products, using your expertise in flavour, ingredients, and emerging trends to drive commercially sound innovation. You’ll lead multiple development projects across the business’s growing brand portfolio, maintaining momentum across each stage of the process. That means managing timelines, engaging cross-functional teams, presenting ideas to key retail partners, and supporting the creative direction of your category. With a blend of site-based development, occasional travel to manufacturing sites and customer-facing presentations, this is a varied role with real scope to shape meaningful innovation.
The Candidate
You’ll be an experienced and commercially aware NPD Manager or Senior Product Developer, ideally with a strong grounding in food manufacturing. Confident in recipe development, ingredient sourcing, and managing projects at pace, you bring both creativity and structure to the table. Your ability to translate trends into tangible, retailer-ready concepts sets you apart, along with your natural flair for collaboration and communication. This is a fantastic opportunity to contribute to a values-led, fast-paced food business on a high-impact contract. If you’re ready to step into a dynamic role with room to make a real difference, we’d love to hear from you.
Locations
New Product Development Manager (FOOD) employer: Blue Spark Organisation Ltd
Contact Detail:
Blue Spark Organisation Ltd Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land New Product Development Manager (FOOD)
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the latest trends in food innovation and consumer preferences. This will not only help you during interviews but also demonstrate your passion for the industry and your ability to bring relevant insights to the role.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the food industry, especially those involved in product development. Attend industry events or join online forums to connect with others who can provide valuable insights and potentially refer you to opportunities.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss specific projects you've worked on that showcase your skills in recipe development and project management. Be ready to explain how you overcame challenges and what the outcomes were, as this will highlight your hands-on experience.
✨Tip Number 4
Research the company’s product portfolio and recent innovations. Being knowledgeable about their products will allow you to tailor your discussions and show how your expertise aligns with their goals, making you a more attractive candidate.
We think you need these skills to ace New Product Development Manager (FOOD)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in new product development, particularly in the food sector. Emphasise your skills in recipe development, ingredient sourcing, and project management to align with the job requirements.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that showcases your passion for food innovation and your understanding of market trends. Use specific examples from your past experiences to demonstrate how you can contribute to the company's goals.
Highlight Collaboration Skills: Since the role involves working with cross-functional teams, make sure to mention any previous experiences where you successfully collaborated with others. This could include working with marketing, sales, or production teams on product launches.
Showcase Your Creativity: In your application, provide examples of how you've translated trends into successful products. Discuss any innovative ideas you've implemented in previous roles that led to positive outcomes, as this will resonate well with the company's focus on consumer-first product innovation.
How to prepare for a job interview at Blue Spark Organisation Ltd
✨Showcase Your NPD Experience
Be prepared to discuss your previous experience in new product development, particularly in the food sector. Highlight specific projects where you successfully brought concepts to life, focusing on your role in recipe development and ingredient sourcing.
✨Demonstrate Trend Awareness
Research current trends in the food industry before the interview. Be ready to share how you've translated these trends into successful products in the past, showcasing your ability to innovate based on consumer insights.
✨Emphasise Collaboration Skills
Since this role involves working with cross-functional teams, prepare examples that demonstrate your collaborative approach. Discuss how you've engaged with different departments to drive projects forward and maintain momentum.
✨Prepare for Customer-Facing Scenarios
As the role includes presenting ideas to retail partners, practice articulating your concepts clearly and confidently. Think about how you can effectively communicate the value of your innovations to potential customers.