New Product Development Manager

Company profile: A bespoke Flexographic printing and Flexible Packaging Manufacturer who supply packaging solutions to a wide range of industries.

Salary: £40 - £50k DOE. Working hours are Monday to Friday 08.45 - 5pm and you can work from home 1 day a week.

Location: West Yorkshire

Main Purpose: Responsible for delivering a packaging innovation pipeline that produces a constant stream of revenue for the business. Collaborating with internal and external stakeholders to ensure products are developed efficiently and meet quality standards.

• Develop business opportunities: Identify and pursue commercially viable new business opportunities utilising core capabilities and know-how.
• Ensure the maintenance of an innovation pipeline to keep the company ahead of competition, and at the forefront of packaging innovation.
• Implement an NPD strategy in line with the Business Growth Strategy.
• Maintain awareness of market, consumer trends and competitor activity to identify business opportunities.
• Stay abreast of global packaging and design trends through trade press, exhibitions, trade shows etc.
• Manage and present future trends in packaging to customers / retailers as required.
• Where appropriate support in the development of agencies in countries outside of Europe.

Research: Drive research into all substrate materials (including adhesives and coatings) and print technologies.

• Work closely with the Technical Team to ensure new opportunities are not only commercially viable but feasible at scale up and can be commercialised.
• Align future packaging trends with core capabilities to generate new business opportunities.
• Ensure establishment and maintenance of a database of all packaging equipment in use by our present and future clients and identify opportunities for new packaging.
• Maintain an awareness of our competitors IP and capabilities.
• Create regular review forums with supply base to discuss new opportunities.
• Deliver accurate, relevant and timely information based on solid research and analysis.
• Liaise, collaborate and develop relationships and programs of work with universities, research institutes, suppliers, customers and other commercial entities as appropriate.

Manage Idea Generation and New Product Development: Drive a technical roadmap to continuously assess options to drive profitability and business continuity.

• Management of the day to day NPD from concept through to launch.
• Continually analyse and respond to business needs and plan short, medium and long term objectives.
• Ensure all project work is compliant with company technical processes and that the company complies with all legal / market requirements in relation to print / packaging.
• Ensure ideas are legally protected: Ensure Non-disclosure Agreements are in place prior to discussions with any external body.
• Where possible ensure that the company is not in breach of current or pending IP.
• Where feasible protect ideas through IP whether that is patent, design, trademark or other.
• Ensure that all food packaging is safe for use and documentation raised is completed by a competent person.

Team Management and Development: Mentor and guide team members, fostering a culture of innovation and continuous improvement.

• Set clear goals, and provide regular feedback to ensure team members are aligned with project and organisational objectives.
• Ensure appropriate training and development opportunities to enhance team capabilities and knowledge.

Person Specification: Attributes required to perform the above Job Description:

• Experience of working in the Flexible Packaging Industry is desirable.
• Experience of managing and developing a team.
• Innovative and independent thinker.
• Exceptional communication skills with the ability to collaborate effectively across departments.
• Able to lead and motivate a team to deliver outstanding results.
• Project Management skills.
• Innovative and creative mindset.