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- Tasks: Lead innovative pet food design, turning trends into market-ready products.
- Company: Join a forward-thinking company passionate about pet health and nutrition.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, creative freedom, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Shape the future of pet nutrition while working with cutting-edge technologies.
- Qualifications: 3+ years in product development, creativity, and strong project management skills.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with a focus on sustainability and innovation.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Innovation & Concept Design Lead (NPD Front-End Focus)
Are you a visionary thinker with a passion for pets, nutrition, and cutting-edge product design? We\’re looking for an Innovation & Concept Design Lead (NPD) in pet food and treats – translating insights and trends into the next generation of products for dogs, cats, and small animals.
This is a unique opportunity to combine creativity, science, and strategy – shaping a pipeline of concepts that keep us at the forefront of pet health and wellbeing.
What You\’ll Do
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Front-End Innovation: Spot market gaps, consumer needs, and whitespace opportunities through research, trend analysis, and competitor scanning.
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Concept Development: Design and present compelling product concepts (briefs, prototypes, samples) that are nutritionally aligned and market-ready.
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Ingredient & Format Innovation: Explore and validate novel ingredients (functional, sustainable, alternative proteins) and formats (extruded, baked, semi-moist, artisanal).
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Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with Marketing, NPD, Commercial, and Technical teams to bring ideas to life – from ideation through to scale-up.
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Supplier Engagement: Build relationships with ingredient suppliers and technology partners to source innovative solutions.
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Governance & Process: Own the stage-gate process from idea generation to handover, ensuring projects are feasible, compliant, and aligned with strategic goals.
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Future Technology: Identify and champion emerging technologies that keep us ahead of the curve in pet food innovation.
What We\’re Looking For
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3+ years\’ experience in product development or innovation (pet food or FMCG preferred).
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Strong grasp of regulations (FEDIAF, DEFRA, EU feed regulations).
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Creative thinker with concept storytelling and visualisation skills.
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Experience with semi-moist, baked, extruded, or multi-format technologies.
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Excellent project management and stakeholder engagement skills.
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Passion for pets and advancing pet health through nutrition.
Desirable:
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Degree in Food Science, Animal Nutrition, NPD< Product Design or related.
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Supplier or contract manufacturer experience.
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Knowledge of sustainability certifications (MSC, MarinTrust).
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Familiarity with premium/prescription or functional pet products.
For futher information, please contact Luan at MorePeople on 01780 480530
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Design Lead employer: MOrePeople
Contact Detail:
MOrePeople Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Design Lead
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to industry contacts, attend pet food expos, and join relevant online forums. The more people you know, the better your chances of landing that dream role.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your creativity! Create a portfolio that highlights your best product concepts and designs. Make it visually appealing and ensure it tells a story about your passion for pet health and innovation.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by researching the company’s latest products and innovations. Be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their goals and how you can contribute to their mission in pet nutrition.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive and engaged with our brand.
We think you need these skills to ace Design Lead
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: Let your love for pets and nutrition shine through in your application. We want to see how your passion aligns with our mission to advance pet health through innovative product design.
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight relevant experience in product development or innovation, especially in the pet food sector. We appreciate when candidates connect their skills directly to what we’re looking for.
Be Creative: Since this role is all about innovation, don’t hesitate to showcase your creative thinking. Include examples of past projects where you’ve developed compelling concepts or explored novel ingredients and formats.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity to shape the future of pet food!
How to prepare for a job interview at MOrePeople
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on the latest trends in pet food and nutrition. Familiarise yourself with regulations like FEDIAF and DEFRA, as well as any emerging technologies in the industry. This will show your passion and expertise during the interview.
✨Showcase Your Creativity
Prepare to present some of your past product concepts or ideas. Bring along visuals or prototypes if possible. This is your chance to demonstrate your concept storytelling and visualisation skills, so make it engaging!
✨Collaboration is Key
Be ready to discuss how you've worked with cross-functional teams in the past. Highlight specific examples where you partnered with marketing, technical teams, or suppliers to bring a product idea to life. This shows you can navigate the complexities of product development.
✨Passion for Pets
Let your love for pets shine through! Share personal stories or experiences that connect you to the pet industry. This will help you stand out as someone who genuinely cares about advancing pet health through innovative nutrition.
