Overview
In this NPD Lead role, you own the innovation pipeline from concept to launch for a fast-growing supplements manufacturer. You will work cross-functionally to deliver innovative, compliant products that meet market needs and drive profitability. You’ll lead the NPD process, coach the team, and shape the strategy to accelerate time-to-market. The role offers autonomy to influence the product roadmap and sustainability initiatives.
Pay / Benefits
- competitive salary and benefits package
- autonomy to shape the innovation strategy
- career progression
- collaborative leadership environment
Responsibilities
- Lead end-to-end NPD from concept to commercial launch
- Develop innovative supplement and ingredient formulations aligned with market requirements
- Manage and prioritise the NPD pipeline to meet commercial goals
- Collaborate with Sales and Marketing to identify high-margin opportunities
- Deliver product cost optimisation and value engineering
- Provide technical support to customers during development
- Ensure regulatory and compliance requirements are met
- Assess project profitability with Finance and support pricing
- Identify emerging ingredients, technologies and market trends
- Build relationships with customers, suppliers and internal stakeholders
- Lead customer innovation meetings and factory visits
- Manage, coach and develop the NPD team
- Drive cross-functional collaboration across Technical, Operations, Supply Chain and Commercial
- Continuously improve NPD processes, governance and speed to market
- Support sustainability initiatives within product development
- Manage departmental budgets and development priorities
Key requirements
- 5+ years' experience in NPD, Product Development or Food Technology
- Experience developing formulations in supplements, functional nutrition, food ingredients or blended powders
- Degree or HND in Food Science, Food Technology, Nutrition or related discipline
- Strong formulation and recipe development experience
- Proven track record taking products from concept to launch
- Excellent project management skills with multiple projects
- Strong knowledge of regulatory and compliance requirements
- Excellent communication and presentation skills
- Commercial awareness balancing innovation, cost and feasibility
- Strong leadership with coaching experience
- Proactive, solutions-focused mindset and passion for innovation
- communication
- leadership
- cross-functional collaboration
- formulation and recipe development
- regulatory and compliance awareness
- project management
NPD Lead employer: D R Newitt & Associates
Join a dynamic and collaborative team at a leading manufacturer in Lancashire, where your sales expertise will be valued and rewarded. With a competitive salary of circa £25k plus OTE commission, you'll benefit from a supportive work culture that prioritises employee growth through training and future progression opportunities. This is an excellent opportunity for motivated individuals looking to make a meaningful impact in a thriving industry.
