New Product Development Manager in Belfast

Dale Farm Cooperative is a UK dairy farmer co-operative owned by over 1200 dairy farmers who supply us with fresh milk. Dale Farm has operations throughout the UK and Ireland producing and distributing a wide range of dairy products which it sells across the UK and Ireland as well as exporting to over 45 countries worldwide.

At Dale Farm, virtually every career discipline is represented in our workforce, from production, engineering and distribution, to sales & marketing and food technology/quality assurance, to Finance, HR and IT through to general management. Our standards are high and when we recruit we are looking for those with energy and drive, who are keen for responsibility and motivated to succeed with a record of achievement and with the potential to develop as the company grows.

Culture

Our culture is based on setting best in class standards, working toward and delivering on committed objectives, striving for constant improvement and involving everyone in the company. We strive to develop our people and harness everyone's contribution to deliver a winning team. The company is an Equal Opportunities employer and is committed to a safe, inclusive and relationship-based workspace. In return, we offer a high degree of responsibility, plenty of challenge, good opportunities for learning and personal development and rewarding benefit packages, all within a fast-moving and results-oriented environment.

Role Summary

Reporting to the Senior Innovation Manager, the New Product Development Manager (Emerging technologies) will play a key role in driving new product development activity for emerging dairy products, particularly speciality milk proteins for clinical nutrition and food ingredient customers. The postholder will focus on executing projects that develop new products and demonstrate how they can be applied in commercial end-use settings for customers and consumers. The role requires strong technical knowledge of dairy products, hands-on experience in pilot and laboratory environments, and the project management capability to work confidently with key stakeholders and customers. Travel across the UK and EU will be required.

Main Responsibilities

• Support the Senior Innovation Manager in developing new products across the Dale Farm Group.
• Manage internal and external activity to develop new products across a range of applications, particularly in speciality protein nutrition.
• Build, maintain, and utilise credible R&D capability, including pilot facilities and laboratory environments, to support development activity.
• Keep abreast of global dairy trends and competitor activity to support informed decision-making and innovation planning.
• Work closely with the NPD team to ensure smooth handover of projects to site teams and provide ongoing technical support as required.
• Develop relationships with key customers to help create new commercial opportunities.
• Liaise with technical service providers, ingredient suppliers, and equipment manufacturers to deliver commercially successful projects.
• Deliver R&D activities on time, within budget, and to agreed quality, nutritional, and food safety specifications.
• Secure appropriate funding support for innovation activities where available.
• Attend trade events and industry forums, representing Dale Farm within the clinical nutrition and food ingredient sectors.
• Work closely with operations, supply chain, production, technical, quality, and finance teams to ensure projects are aligned and delivered effectively.
• Track and report key innovation metrics, contributing to wider innovation planning, budgeting, and performance delivery.

Qualifications

• Strong dairy processing and technical knowledge, with a proven track record in product and process introductions.
• At least 10 years’ technical, R&D, laboratory, or NPD experience within the dairy industry.
• Significant experience across proteins, cheese, powders, whey, milk powder products, and associated dairy applications.
• Demonstrable track record in R&D and new product development, including managing key projects and product introductions.
• Strong technical understanding of dairy products, with hands-on experience in pilot facilities and laboratory environments.
• Excellent project management skills and the ability to deliver work on time, within budget, and to agreed specifications.
• Strong relationship-building, presentation, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to communicate technical ideas clearly and concisely.
• PhD or MSc in Food Science or a related discipline, with a minimum of a BSc qualification.
• A proactive, technically curious, and commercially aware approach, with the ability to identify and act on market opportunities.
• Willingness and ability to travel across the UK and EU as required.
• Experience working with international dairy markets and within the clinical nutrition sector.
• Additional commercial or business qualifications.
• Experience of securing funding support for innovation activities.
• Experience representing a business at trade events, industry forums, or customer-facing technical engagements.

Why Dale Farm?

Dale Farm offers a competitive salary commensurate with the responsibilities of the role, together with a comprehensive benefits package. This includes 25 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays, a contributory company pension, Life Assurance, access to wellbeing support through our Employee Assistance Programme, and enhanced maternity and paternity leave. We are also committed to supporting the learning and development of our employees throughout their careers. We are proud to promote an open and supportive culture which is based on our core values: Teamwork | Positivity | Resolve | Ambition | Curiosity | Accountability.