NPD Manager

NPD Manager (3rd Party Development)

The Role

As an NPD Manager at Jason’s Sourdough, you will play a crucial role in expanding the Jason’s brand into new product categories and markets. Your main focus will be driving New Product Development (NPD) through third-party manufacturers. You’ll work closely with internal teams and external suppliers to ensure the brand’s high standards are maintained across all products. This is a key position that allows you to shape the future of Jason’s Sourdough, building a three-year product pipeline while maintaining strong relationships with suppliers and ensuring commercial success.

The main responsibilities include:

• Develop a three-year NPD pipeline for Jason’s products, working with third-party manufacturers to ensure the brand’s standards and values are maintained.
• Build relationships with key suppliers, monitor their performance and drive innovation to expand Jason\’s product range.
• Take ownership of the NPD process, both internally and with third-party suppliers, ensuring projects stay on track, on time and on-brand.
• Select the right third-party manufacturers for each product, ensuring they have the necessary equipment, capacity and capabilities to meet our specifications.
• Collaborate with the technical team to ensure product quality control, consistency and compliance with all technical requirements.
• Challenge third-party suppliers to improve production efficiencies, packaging, and manufacturing capabilities.
• Work alongside the category manager to identify the right product areas and trends for Jason\’s to explore and develop.
• Work with the NPD and Sales & Marketing Directors to explore opportunities with international partners and expand Jason\’s products into new markets.
• Partner with the sales and marketing team to ensure that newly developed products meet the commercial and pricing expectations, delivering on margin goals and retailer requirements.

About Us

At Jason\’s Sourdough, we are dedicated to crafting exceptional sourdough bread with a passion for quality and innovation. As we continue to grow, we’re looking for talented individuals to help us extend our brand into new categories and markets. Our team is dynamic, collaborative, and committed to delivering the best products to our customers. If you’re excited about working with a forward-thinking brand and driving innovation in the food industry, we’d love to hear from you.

#wearejasons

About You

We’re looking for someone who has a passion for product development and a deep understanding of the NPD process, especially in working with third-party manufacturers. You should have a proactive approach to driving innovation, building strong supplier relationships, and ensuring product quality. Strong communication, organisational skills, and the ability to juggle multiple projects are key in this role, as is an ability to think strategically about product trends and market opportunities.

What We’re Looking For:

• Proven experience in NPD and working with third-party manufacturers, preferably in the food or bakery industry.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple NPD projects at once.
• Experience in supplier relationship management, with a focus on developing new product ideas and monitoring supplier performance.
• A solid understanding of product quality, technical compliance and food safety standards.
• Ability to challenge suppliers to improve production efficiencies and meet product specifications.
• Strong communication skills to work effectively with internal teams, suppliers and external partners.
• A keen eye for emerging product trends and the ability to identify profitable product categories to develop.
• Commercial awareness and understanding of pricing strategies to ensure products meet margin and retailer expectations.

Desirable:

• Experience working with international third-party manufacturers or expanding products into global markets.
• Previous experience in the bakery or food industry, particularly with a branded product range.

Additional Information:

All applicants must have the right to work in the UK, at the point of interview and for the duration of the employment contract. As part of the recruitment process, you will be asked to provide documented evidence of your eligibility to work in the UK.

If you haven’t heard from us within seven days, unfortunately, you have not been successful on this occasion. However, we wish you every success in your search for a new position.

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