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- Tasks: Lead the development of innovative food products from concept to launch.
- Company: Join a leading food manufacturer with strong growth and investment plans.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career growth opportunities, and a dynamic work environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in food innovation for a top UK retail brand.
- Qualifications: Experience in NPD within food manufacturing and strong project management skills.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with a focus on quality and customer satisfaction.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
A leading food manufacturing business in Shropshire is seeking an experienced NPD Manager to join their team. This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in the development and delivery of innovative, high-quality food products for one of the UK’s most recognisable retail brands. The site is well-established, fast-paced, and part of a wider group with strong growth and investment plans.
The ideal candidate will have strong commercial awareness, a passion for food innovation, and a proven track record in managing retailer-focused NPD pipelines from concept through to launch.
Overview
The NPD Manager will be responsible for leading the end-to-end New Product Development process, ensuring projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to customer expectations.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the end-to-end New Product Development (NPD) process, ensuring projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to customer expectations.
- Develop and maintain close working relationships with the retailer’s technical and buying teams.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with technical, production, procurement, and commercial teams.
- Translate category insights, market trends, and consumer data into commercially viable product concepts.
- Oversee and support kitchen trials, factory trials, and pre-launch evaluations.
- Ensure all product development complies with customer and legislative standards.
- Support continuous improvement and drive innovation across product ranges.
The Ideal Candidate
- Proven experience in a similar NPD or Product Development role within chilled or meat food manufacturing.
- Strong understanding of UK retailer expectations, ideally with experience managing one of the major supermarket accounts.
- Excellent project management skills with a hands-on and collaborative approach.
- Confident communicator able to influence at all levels.
- Passionate about food quality, innovation, and delivering customer satisfaction.
- Degree or equivalent qualification in Food Science, Food Technology or related field is desirable
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all qualified candidates.
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New Product Development Manager employer: Gregory Walker
Contact Detail:
Gregory Walker Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land New Product Development Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to industry contacts on LinkedIn or attend local food innovation events. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can get your foot in the door.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its products. We want you to be able to discuss how your experience aligns with their goals. Show them you’re not just another candidate; you’re the one they need!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain your NPD successes and how you’ve managed projects from concept to launch. We suggest rehearsing with a friend or in front of a mirror to boost your confidence.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search.
We think you need these skills to ace New Product Development Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the NPD Manager role. Highlight your experience in food innovation and managing NPD pipelines, as this will show us you understand what we're looking for.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter should tell us why you're passionate about food and how your skills align with our needs. Use specific examples from your past roles to demonstrate your commercial awareness and project management skills.
Showcase Your Achievements: Don’t just list your responsibilities; showcase your achievements in previous roles. We want to see how you've successfully delivered projects on time and within budget, so be sure to include metrics where possible.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates!
How to prepare for a job interview at Gregory Walker
✨Know Your NPD Process
Make sure you can clearly articulate the end-to-end New Product Development process. Be ready to discuss specific examples from your past experience where you successfully managed projects from concept to launch, highlighting how you met deadlines and budget constraints.
✨Understand Retailer Expectations
Familiarise yourself with the expectations of UK retailers, especially if you've worked with major supermarket accounts before. Prepare to discuss how you’ve built relationships with technical and buying teams, and how you’ve translated market insights into successful product concepts.
✨Showcase Your Collaboration Skills
Since this role involves working cross-functionally, be prepared to share examples of how you’ve collaborated with different teams like technical, production, and procurement. Highlight any challenges you faced and how you overcame them to ensure smooth project delivery.
✨Passion for Food Innovation
Let your passion for food quality and innovation shine through during the interview. Share your thoughts on current trends in the food industry and how you would drive continuous improvement in product ranges. This will show that you’re not just qualified, but genuinely excited about the role.