At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead product development from concept to launch, shaping innovative pet care products.
- Company: Join a market-leading manufacturer in the pet care sector with a collaborative culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, hybrid working, employee discounts, and career growth opportunities.
- Other info: Supportive environment with genuine ownership and autonomy in your role.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on product strategy and innovation in a growing business.
- Qualifications: Experience in product development and strong project management skills required.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
Location: Ely, Cambridgeshire
Job Type: Permanent, Full-Time
Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience
The Opportunity
Interaction Recruitment is delighted to be supporting a market-leading specialist manufacturer and distributor within the pet care sector in the search for an experienced Product Development Manager. This is an exciting opportunity for a commercially minded product professional to take ownership of the full product development lifecycle, bringing innovative products to market across a diverse range of categories. Working closely with internal stakeholders and global manufacturing partners, you will play a key role in shaping future product ranges and driving innovation within a well-established international business.
Key Responsibilities
- Product Development & Roadmap Management: Take ownership of an agreed product development roadmap, managing projects from concept through to launch. Develop and maintain project timelines, milestones, and delivery schedules. Monitor progress across multiple concurrent projects and proactively manage risks and delays. Provide regular updates and progress reports to senior management.
- Supplier Sourcing & Relationship Management: Work collaboratively with purchasing and procurement teams to identify and engage suitable suppliers. Source and evaluate new manufacturing partners, including international suppliers. Build and maintain strong supplier relationships throughout the product development process. Manage supplier communications, expectations, and project deliverables from briefing through to final approval.
- Product Development: Create detailed product specifications, technical briefs, and costing models. Coordinate sampling, prototyping, testing, and product refinement activities. Ensure products meet quality standards, commercial objectives, and brand requirements. Manage development across both hard goods and consumable product categories.
- Compliance & Quality Assurance: Work closely with technical and compliance teams to ensure products meet relevant regulatory and certification requirements. Support product testing and certification processes for UK, EU, and international markets.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with marketing, sales, operations, and purchasing teams to support successful product launches. Contribute to packaging development, product positioning, and launch planning. Gather market intelligence, customer feedback, and competitor insights to support future product strategies. Monitor industry trends and emerging innovations to identify new product opportunities.
About You
The successful candidate will demonstrate:
- Proven experience managing end-to-end product development or new product development (NPD) projects.
- Experience working with suppliers and manufacturers, including international sourcing.
- Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
- Commercial awareness with an understanding of costing, pricing, and margin management.
- Knowledge of product compliance and certification processes.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
- Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
- A proactive and solution-focused approach to problem-solving.
- A relevant degree or equivalent professional experience in product development, engineering, design, business, or a related discipline.
- Full UK driving licence.
Desirable
- Experience with UKCA, CE, FCC, UL, ETL, or equivalent compliance standards.
- Knowledge or interest in the pet care, specialist animal care, or related consumer goods sectors.
What's on Offer?
- Competitive salary based on experience.
- Company pension scheme.
- Employee discount.
- Hybrid working opportunities.
- On-site parking.
- Genuine ownership and autonomy within the role.
- Opportunity to influence product strategy and innovation.
- Supportive and collaborative working environment.
- Long-term career development within a growing and successful business.
If you have a passion for product development and are looking for an opportunity to make a real impact within an innovative and growing organisation, we'd love to hear from you. Please submit your CV together with details of your current notice period and salary expectations here or submit them to or call (phone number removed) for a confidential chat.
Product Development Manager employer: Interaction Recruitment
Join a market-leading specialist manufacturer and distributor in the pet care sector, where you will enjoy a competitive salary and a supportive, collaborative work environment in Ely, Cambridgeshire. With opportunities for hybrid working, employee discounts, and genuine ownership of your role, this company fosters long-term career development and innovation, making it an excellent employer for those passionate about product development.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Product Development Manager
✨Join Product Management Meetups
Get involved in local product management meetups or workshops. These events are perfect for meeting industry folks, sharing ideas, and staying updated on trends. Plus, you never know who might be hiring—it's a fantastic way to make connections that could lead to a job at places like Interaction Recruitment!
✨Show Off Your Product Sense
Create case studies or mini-projects showcasing your product management skills, and share them on platforms like Medium or LinkedIn. This not only puts your skills on display but also boosts your visibility in the product community. Imagine how impressed the hiring team at Interaction Recruitment would be by your initiative!
✨Utilise Online Communities
Dive into online product management communities like Product Coalition or Mind the Product. Engage in discussions, ask questions, and share your insights. These platforms are goldmines for networking and finding hidden job opportunities—many companies often scout talent from within these circles.
✨Leverage Your University Network
If you’ve recently graduated or are still in uni, tap into your alumni network for connections in product management. Many universities have their own job boards and affinity resources to help graduates land roles. Don't forget to keep an eye out for job openings at Interaction Recruitment through your school's career services!
We think you need these skills to ace Product Development Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Product Passion:When applying for a product management role like Product Development Manager, let your passion for developing products shine through in your cover letter. Share specific examples of products you've managed, how you solved user needs, and any successful outcomes you've achieved. This is your chance to showcase your understanding of the product lifecycle!
Highlight Your Cross-Functional Skills:Product management isn't just about understanding the product; it’s about collaborating with different teams! Make sure to emphasise your experience working with developers, designers, and marketers. Use your CV to showcase your ability to bridge gaps between these areas, and include relevant experiences that demonstrate your communication and leadership skills!
Include Your Metrics and Achievements:In a full-time product management application, data speaks volumes! Quantify your achievements wherever possible. Did you increase user retention by a certain percentage? Launch a product ahead of schedule? Include these metrics in your CV to paint a picture of your impact and effectiveness in previous roles.
Tailor Your CV to the Role:Make sure your CV is tailored for the Product Development Manager position at Interaction Recruitment. Use keywords from the job description and ensure your relevant experiences are front and centre. Highlight any certifications or relevant training you’ve completed that will make you stand out as a strong candidate for the role. And remember, we’re excited to see your application on our website!
How to prepare for a job interview at Interaction Recruitment
✨Understand the Product Life Cycle
As a product management candidate, we need to get our head around the complete product life cycle. Be prepared to discuss real-world examples of how you’ve managed product development from ideation to launch. Bring specific insights on tools like JIRA or Trello that can help streamline these processes.
✨Showcase Your Cross-Functional Skills
Product management is all about collaboration. We should be ready to highlight how we’ve worked across teams—think marketing, engineering, and design. Prepare to discuss scenarios where you had to mediate differing opinions and how you got everyone on board with a shared vision.
✨Prepare for Case Studies
In a full-time role, we can expect to encounter case study questions during our interviews. Practise solving hypothetical product problems on the spot, such as prioritising features for a new app or improving user engagement metrics. This will show our analytical thinking and decision-making skills.
✨Know Your Metrics
Let’s face it, numbers are our best friends in product management. We should prepare to discuss key performance indicators (KPIs) and how we've used analytics to inform product decisions. Dive into examples where data has driven our strategy for improvements or justified product changes.
