Senior NPD Product Manager in London

Facetheory is at a pivotal point in its growth journey and brilliant product is at the heart of our brand. You will be responsible for developing all NPD/EPD projects, leading the end-end product development process and working cross-functionally with the wider team to bring these products to life to the consumer. This role is critical in nurturing and implementing the NPD strategy and pipeline, working closely with contract manufacturing partners to create and deliver our science-first, “no fluff” formulations to market. Reporting to the CMO, you will work closely with external suppliers and our Supply Chain to drive the critical paths and collaborate with the inhouse Creative, Marketing and Social team to launch the NPDs and bring to life the benefits and storytelling of the existing products. As we look to scale and expand the distribution of the brand, this role will be pivotal in supporting this area of business growth from a product perspective.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Product Strategy and Pipeline
• Ownership of ideation and concept development of all innovation/NPD, in addition to new and improved EPD initiatives.
• Own and deliver the NPD roadmap for all NPD and EPD projects on time, within budget and to fulfil the margin goals and expectations of the business.
• Continuously monitor market trends, competitors, consumer behaviour and make recommendations for adaptations or additions to the NPD pipeline and strategy as appropriate.
• Ensure alignment of product goals/briefs with the wider business objectives and marketing plans, adapting existing plans as appropriate or required.
• Formulation and Development
• Own and drive the relationship with our contract manufacturing partner, including creating best in class briefs, working with the labs on formulation development, the packaging team to find new sustainable pack innovations and working with the project managers to see those through all the key CPA milestones to warehouse.
• Create and oversee any required user trials to support claims validation and marketing launch support.
• Responsible for product copy writing, creation of artwork briefs, managing the artwork process and working with the internal design team on the creation and approval of all product artworks on time to CPAs.
• Work with our external regulatory consultant to register products on all relevant current regulatory portals and in time, new market registrations as distribution extends.
• Deliver product which meets our quality standards. Be the first line of contact from customer care team on any quality enquiries, answering any questions which may arise and investigating route cause with our contract manufacturer. Implement and drive any process, formulation or packaging change required as a result of any quality issues.
• Cross-functional leadership and collaboration
• Be the product champion for the business, working with marketing, creative, supply chain, e-commerce, and social; being the connective tissue between teams for all things product related.
• Provide the internal teams with all launch materials and product information required for any NPD/EPD project.
• Support the social team with regular information on new/existing products and be comfortable in filming occasional content to discuss or present products to our online community.
• Assist the customer care team in supporting them with any questions or queries which they receive or might have about our assortment.
• Provide product training decks (internal and external) for any new NPD or EPD products.
• Ensure the wider teams and business are kept up to date with any change management projects and implications for respective departments, our consumer or our retailers/distribution partners.
• Consumer & Market Insight
• Utilise review data, AI insights, customer feedback, trends, and retailer feedback to inform briefs and drive forward excellence in our product portfolio.
• Keep up to date with all competitor launches and communicate these to the wider team as appropriate to help ensure they are all aware of the latest innovations on the market.
• Attend relevant webinars, tradeshows and events to gain insights, network and prompt inspiration for innovation.
• Commercial Ownership and Portfolio Health Management
• Create RRP recommendations for NPDs/EPDs based on market analysis and insight.
• Ensure clear and realistic COGs targets are set for new briefs and that all product developments meet margin expectations.
• Work with supply chain and e-commerce to create forecasts for NPD/EPD briefs.
• Continuously monitor the health of the product portfolio and make recommendations for discontinuations, VRE opportunities, portfolio improvements as required.
• Work with the e-com team to understand the commercial performance of existing products, alongside any NPD launches.
• Regulatory and Compliance
• Ensure all of our products are compliant within all markets of sale, working with the contract manufacturer and external regulatory consultant to understand and implement the impact and implication of any new regulations which are published.
• Work with the contract manufacturer and external regulatory consultant on the scope of work and route to market for any new market distribution expansion.
• Budget Management
• Responsible for tracking and keeping within the assigned annual budget for NPD.
• Create proposals for where savings can be made if required.
• Work with the CMO to create the budget every new financial year.
• Retailer / New Distribution Support
• Support CMO in the creation of pitch decks and presentations for retailers.
• Create and deliver any product training materials as required.
• Support in the creation of any new line forms/new product information set up for any retailers as requested.
• Work with CMO to create product assortment recommendations for any new distribution or retail opportunities using sales, market and retailer insights to inform your recommendation.
• Work with contract manufacturer/external regulatory consultant on any new market registration requirements which might arise as the business continues to develop.

SOCIAL & ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE

At Facetheory, social and environmental performance is at the heart of everything we do and we want everyone in the business to ensure they take this key business value forward into their role and daily decision making. As Global Senior Product Manager, the responsibilities which you will hold to ensure that our business decisions align with our commitment to people and the planet will include:

• Embedding Sustainability in Daily Work: Continuously seek ways to integrate environmentally and socially responsible practices into your role, ensuring alignment with our brand and company values.
• Sustainable Decision-Making: Prioritise ethical sourcing, waste reduction, carbon footprint minimisation, and circular economy principles when making decisions related to product development, operations, and business strategy.
• Measuring & Reporting Impact: Contribute to tracking key sustainability metrics relevant to your role, ensuring transparency and accountability in our progress toward sustainability goals.

Authority to Drive Change

Every team member at Facetheory has the power to make a difference. As part of your role, you are encouraged and expected to:

• Proactively identify and suggest opportunities to refine our processes, improve our environmental footprint, ethical sourcing, and social impact to align with our commitment to responsible beauty.
• Speak up and lead by example, ensuring that sustainability is not just a goal but an integral part of everyday decision-making.

Skills & Experience

• Essential:
• At least 5 years proven experience in creating and managing end-to-end NPD projects in skincare or bodycare.
• Excellent understanding of the entire end-end process of NPD.
• Strong project management and organisational skills.
• Solid understanding of the global skincare industry and consumer.
• Passionate about innovation, beauty and delivering products of excellence to market.
• Strong understanding of cosmetic formulation, ingredients, and regulatory landscape (EU/UK/US Cosmetics Regulation).
• Track record of effectively and successfully managing external suppliers and contract manufacturers.
• Strong commercial acumen - comfortable with margins, COGS, and forecasting.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
• DTC or e-commerce brand experience would be advantageous.
• Proven experience in claims validation process and a solid understanding of the regulatory guidelines on cosmetic claims.
• Who You Are:
• You enjoy working with autonomy in a small team, driving product development forward with real action.
• You will be comfortable adapting to change and thinking outside of the box to find creative solutions when challenges arise.
• You will be proactive and pragmatic and not afraid to make recommendations.
• A good base knowledge and respect for skin science (our brand operates on scientific truths, not tiktok fads!).
• Strong passion for beauty, marketing trends and innovation.
• Proven commercial sensitivity and business acumen.
• Operates with a “can-do” approach to challenges, problem solving and everyday tasks.
• A strong team player – we are a small team and support each other accordingly.
• Collaborative and good at building relationships cross-functionally with excellent communication skills.
• Creative thinker and problem solver with an entrepreneurial spirit and an ability to work in a start-up/boot-strap style culture.
• Proven success in managing external suppliers.
• Operates with professionalism and integrity.
• An ability to think innovatively and work within budget is crucial for the effectiveness of the role.