At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the New Product Development process and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
- Company: Join Little Treats Bakery, a dynamic and innovative company in the food industry.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career growth opportunities, and a collaborative work environment.
- Other info: Work with cross-functional teams and enhance your leadership skills.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by launching exciting new products that delight customers.
- Qualifications: Bachelor's degree and experience in product development or project management required.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
The NPD Process Manager is responsible for the governance, implementation, and continuous improvement of the New Product Development (NPD) process. The role ensures that projects progress efficiently through the product development lifecycle, comply with company standards, and deliver successful product launches on time, within budget, and to agreed quality standards. Working across multiple business functions, the NPD Process Manager provides leadership on process excellence, stage-gate governance, portfolio reporting, and continuous improvement initiatives.
Key Responsibilities
- Process Ownership
- Own and maintain the company's NPD process framework.
- Develop, implement, and improve Stage-Gate and product development methodologies.
- Ensure process documentation, templates, and governance standards remain current.
- Promote best practice across all product development activities.
- Governance and Compliance
- Coordinate Stage-Gate reviews and approval meetings.
- Monitor adherence to governance requirements.
- Ensure project documentation is complete and accurate.
- Maintain audit-ready records where applicable.
- Project and Portfolio Support
- Monitor project schedules and milestone achievement.
- Support portfolio prioritisation and capacity planning.
- Identify project risks, dependencies, and resource constraints.
- Escalate issues requiring senior management decisions.
- Cross-functional Collaboration
- Work closely with Research & Development, Engineering, Marketing, Sales, Manufacturing, Operations, Supply Chain, Procurement, Quality Assurance, Regulatory Affairs, and Finance to ensure alignment throughout the product development lifecycle.
- Reporting and Performance Management
- Develop and maintain portfolio dashboards.
- Produce regular management reports.
- Track KPIs including Time-to-market, Project delivery performance, Budget adherence, Gate compliance, Resource utilisation, and Launch success.
- Continuous Improvement
- Analyse NPD process performance.
- Identify opportunities to reduce development cycle time.
- Lead process improvement initiatives using Lean and continuous improvement techniques.
- Support implementation of digital project management tools and workflow automation.
Knowledge, Skills and Experience
Essential
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, Product Development, Manufacturing, or related discipline.
- Significant experience in product development, project management, or PMO.
- Experience managing Stage-Gate or structured NPD processes.
- Strong understanding of project governance.
- Excellent stakeholder management skills.
- Strong analytical and reporting capability.
- Experience using project management software.
- Advanced Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint skills.
- Excellent written and verbal communication.
Desirable
- Experience in manufacturing or engineering environments.
- Knowledge of Lean, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement methodologies.
- Experience with Agile product development.
- Familiarity with portfolio management tools such as Microsoft Project, Jira, Smartsheet, or Planview.
- Professional project management certification.
Key Competencies
- Leadership and influence
- Process improvement
- Strategic thinking
- Planning and organisation
- Stakeholder engagement
- Problem solving
- Risk management
- Decision making
- Communication and presentation
- Attention to detail
- Change management
Working Relationships
Internal: Product Development, Engineering, Marketing, Operations, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Finance, Procurement, Quality, Regulatory, Senior Leadership Team.
NPD Process Manager - Little Treats Bakery in Winsford employer: Roberts Bakery 1887
At Little Treats Bakery, we pride ourselves on fostering a collaborative and innovative work environment where every team member is empowered to contribute to our exciting New Product Development initiatives. Located in a vibrant community, we offer competitive benefits, opportunities for professional growth, and a culture that values creativity and continuous improvement, making us an exceptional employer for those looking to make a meaningful impact in the food industry.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land NPD Process Manager - Little Treats Bakery in Winsford
✨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 Roberts Bakery 1887!
✨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 Roberts Bakery 1887 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 Roberts Bakery 1887 through your school's career services!
We think you need these skills to ace NPD Process Manager - Little Treats Bakery in Winsford
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Product Passion:When applying for a product management role like NPD Process Manager - Little Treats Bakery, 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 NPD Process Manager - Little Treats Bakery position at Roberts Bakery 1887. 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 Roberts Bakery 1887
✨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.
