The Role
- Lead and protect the active NPD roadmap, ensuring key launch milestones, critical paths and project deadlines remain firmly on track.
- Partner closely with Founder Trinny Woodall and senior leadership to ensure product concepts and execution remain aligned with our brand vision and product standards.
- Provide expert direction across formulation development, performance, testing and claims across active skincare and makeup projects.
- Identify risks quickly, unblock challenges and drive clear decision-making across priority projects.
- Review and streamline NPD workflows, lifecycle governance and stage-gate processes to improve efficiency, accountability and speed to market.
- Assess current ways of working and identify practical opportunities to strengthen project ownership and cross-functional delivery.
- Oversee regulatory strategy, technical safety assessments and global compliance in partnership with relevant internal and external experts.
- Review our external innovation and manufacturing network, including formulators, laboratories, suppliers and contract manufacturers, ensuring the right balance of quality, capability, pace and commercial effectiveness.
- Establish clear documentation, processes and practical playbooks to strengthen the ongoing operation of the Innovation and NPD function.
- Capture recommendations and opportunities for longer-term improvements across structure, process, capability and external partnerships.
- Ensure a seamless handover to permanent leadership at the end of the assignment.
Requirements
- Significant senior level experience across Innovation, NPD or Product Development within beauty, skincare and cosmetics
- Experience stepping into complex environments quickly, assessing priorities and delivering impact within a short timeframe.
- Strong technical understanding of skincare and/or cosmetic formulation, product development, testing and commercialisation.
- Proven ability to manage complex product pipelines, identify risks and move projects through development to launch.
- Strong knowledge of global cosmetics regulations, claims testing, product cost considerations and scaling formulations from concept through to commercial production.
- Confidence working directly with Founders, senior leadership teams and cross-functional stakeholders.
- Hands-on, pragmatic and highly collaborative, with the ability to bring clarity and momentum in fast-moving environments.
Previous experience as an Innovation Director, NPD Director, Product Development Director, VP Innovation, Chief Innovation Officer or senior Innovation/NPD Consultant would be highly relevant.
Location: On-site, London, England, United Kingdom Duration: 3-6 months (Interim Consultant)
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Interim Innovation & NPD Director employer: Go Fractional
At Cambridge Spark, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that values autonomy and expertise. As a Fractional CISO, you will enjoy the flexibility of remote work while contributing to a dynamic security strategy for our clients. Our culture fosters professional growth through independent advisory roles, ensuring you have the opportunity to make a significant impact in a supportive environment focused on delivering high-quality outcomes.
