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- Tasks: Lead innovative product development and category strategy for healthy meal solutions.
- Company: Frive, the UK's top-rated meal prep brand focused on healthy eating.
- Benefits: Private medical insurance, 25 days holiday, bonus scheme, and hybrid working.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on healthy eating while driving innovation in food products.
- Qualifications: 7+ years in NPD/category management; strong project management and strategic skills.
- Other info: Join a diverse team committed to creating a healthier society.
The predicted salary is between 48000 - 72000 £ per year.
Hybrid: 2-4 days per week across our Canary Wharf and Rainham (Essex) Offices
About us: Frive stands for Food to Thrive - we help busy people thrive not only because our meals are healthy, balanced and made with 100% whole foods/ natural ingredients, but also because they’re ready to heat and eat in minutes - saving you an hour a day, or up to 7 hours a week, for what matters most. We’re the UK’s highest-rated meal prep brand, with over 20 million meals delivered, and we’re just getting started.
We work with people from all different backgrounds and communities and recognise our own biases. We strive to create a strong sense of belonging and believe we will be better equipped to achieve our goals by building a team that approaches problems from different angles, using different perspectives and experiences to solve problems. All qualified applicants will be considered and we have no regard for age, ethnicity, ability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, nationality, race, religion, or sexual orientation. The more the merrier, and together we can achieve greatness.
Mission: To make healthy eating convenient, delicious and accessible, whilst championing locally sourced and organic ingredients.
Vision: To inspire a global shift towards a healthier society by changing eating habits and restoring food to its purest form.
Values:
- Take Ownership: We make independent decisions with confidence and ownership.
- Be Transparent: We share information openly and with intention.
- Communicate Openly: We communicate directly and honestly.
- Deliver High Performance: We foster an environment that attracts, retains, and rewards high performance.
- Be Agile: We encourage flexibility in our people by reducing blockers and prioritising their creativity and productivity.
Your Impact: Frive is entering its next phase of growth and requires a senior, commercially minded Head of Product Development & Category to own the end-to-end food proposition. This role will provide clear leadership across NPD and category management, including menu architecture, nutrition goals, margin optimisation, and innovation, ensuring Frive’s range remains market-leading while scaling efficiently.
The role reports to our CMO, but bridges customer insight, nutrition, operations, and marketing, working cross functionally to develop strategy and deliver executable, commercially-driven product roadmaps. As our first commercial NPD hire, you will drive continuous improvement across not just our meals, but also packaging, unboxing experience, and secondary categories and innovation opportunities – taking ownership of the whole of our physical product innovation roadmap.
Please note – this role owns physical product (food) innovation – our website, app and digital experiences sit elsewhere!
About You:
- 7+ years’ NPD/EPD/category management experience - food is not a prerequisite, but it is desirable;
- Strong technical skills: Confident utilising qualitative and quantitative insight and financial data to inform innovation, analyse test results, and maximise commercial impact;
- Strong cross-functional project management skills and experience: Proven track record of managing and delivering a portfolio of projects and programs within a fast-paced environment;
- Strategic development and stakeholder management: Ability to spearhead the development of our NPD & EPD strategy, communicating confidently with senior stakeholders.
You’ll be a confident line manager of a small, two-person team. You’ll be happy to work in a hybrid fashion (2-4 days/week in the office) across both Rainham, Essex and Canary Wharf, acting as a key bridge between marketing and operations.
Responsibilities:
- Product & Category Strategy: Own the overall food proposition across all meal ranges and formats. Define and execute the category strategy (core meals, premium tiers, functional/nutrition-led ranges, seasonal rotations, category expansion). Balance innovation, customer demand, nutrition, and margin. Set clear product principles aligned to Frive’s brand and growth strategy.
- New & Existing Product Development (NPD & EPD): Lead the end-to-end NPD process from insight to launch: Customer and market insight, Concept development, Nutritional and culinary validation, Factory trials and scale-up, Commercial sign-off and launch. Build a repeatable NPD pipeline with stage-gates and clear success metrics. Lead on non-food physical product NPD & EPD, including packaging, unboxing experience, and merchandise. Drive innovation that improves LTV, retention, and average order value.
- Menu Architecture & Range Management: Own menu structure, SKU count, and rotation cadence. Work closely with the digital product team to optimise our meal selection algorithm, building a menu to drive meal variety and customer retention. Ensure optimal balance between variety vs. operational complexity; innovation vs. best-sellers. Lead SKU rationalisation where needed to improve throughput and margin. Be a key stakeholder in the development of range and SKU-level pricing proposals. Manage end-of-life decisions for underperforming products.
- Food Claims, Nutrition & Compliance: Lead and help to define Frive’s food strategy, balancing customer desires with margin impact to develop the correct marketing claims hierarchy. Ensure all products meet Frive’s nutritional standards and claims. Oversee macro accuracy, labelling, allergen compliance, and regulatory requirements. Partner with nutritionists to evolve ranges based on emerging health trends.
- Commercial Ownership: Own product-level P&L inputs: Recipe costing and margin targets, Ingredient inflation mitigation, Portion and spec optimisation. Work closely with Finance to ensure NPD decisions are commercially robust. Balance customer value with sustainable unit economics.
- Operations & Supply Chain Collaboration: Work closely with Factory, Supply Chain, and Ops to ensure products are: Scalable, Repeatable, Efficient to manufacture. Lead factory trials and ensure smooth handover from NPD to BAU. Drive continuous improvement on yield, waste, and labour efficiency through product design. Act as the key point of contact between marketing and operations.
Staff Benefits:
- Private Medical Insurance
- 25 days Holiday + Public
- Bonus Scheme
- A discount on our amazing food
- Hybrid working pattern
- Enhanced parental leave
What’s next? If you are interested in learning more about the role and think this could be for you, then don’t hesitate and apply now. We look forward to hearing from you and love hearing from people who are passionate about our purpose and vision.
Head of NPD, Innovation & Category Development in London employer: Frive
Contact Detail:
Frive Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of NPD, Innovation & Category Development in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect with potential colleagues on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its products. Understand Frive's mission and values, and think about how your experience aligns with their goals. This will help you stand out as a candidate who truly gets what they're about.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your skills in NPD and category management can drive innovation at Frive. Keep it concise and focus on how you can contribute to their mission of making healthy eating convenient and delicious.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining the Frive team and contributing to our exciting growth journey.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of NPD, Innovation & Category Development in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When you're writing your application, let your enthusiasm for healthy eating and innovation shine through. We want to see how your values align with ours at Frive, so don’t hold back on sharing why you’re excited about this role!
Tailor Your Experience: Make sure to highlight your relevant experience in NPD and category management. We’re looking for someone who can own the food proposition, so be specific about your past successes and how they relate to what we do at Frive.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so avoid jargon and make it easy for us to see your qualifications and how you can contribute to our mission of making healthy eating accessible.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity. Plus, it shows you’re keen to join our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Frive
✨Know Your NPD Inside Out
Before the interview, dive deep into Frive's current product offerings and their innovation strategies. Familiarise yourself with their menu architecture and any recent launches. This will not only show your genuine interest but also allow you to discuss how your experience aligns with their goals.
✨Showcase Your Cross-Functional Skills
Since this role bridges various departments, prepare examples that highlight your experience in cross-functional project management. Be ready to discuss how you've successfully collaborated with marketing, operations, and finance in past roles to drive product development.
✨Bring Data to the Table
Frive values data-driven decisions, so come prepared with examples of how you've used qualitative and quantitative insights to inform product innovation. Discuss specific metrics or outcomes from previous projects that demonstrate your ability to maximise commercial impact.
✨Emphasise Agility and Ownership
Frive is looking for someone who can take ownership and be agile in a fast-paced environment. Share stories that illustrate your ability to adapt quickly to changes and make independent decisions confidently. Highlight how you've driven continuous improvement in your previous roles.