At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead exciting food product development projects from concept to launch.
- Company: Simply Lunch, a family-owned food manufacturer with a passion for quality.
- Benefits: Free lunch, social events, career growth opportunities, and financial support.
- Other info: Dynamic work culture focused on personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Join a team that values innovation and makes a real impact on food-to-go.
- Qualifications: Experience in food product development and strong project management skills.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 60000 £ per year.
Simply Lunch is a rapidly growing, private family-owned food-to-go manufacturer based in London. Our commitment to delicious food and our local communities has been central to our South London business since it was founded in 1979. Today, we are as committed as ever to creating high-quality hand-crafted products, made to improve lives and protect our beautiful planet.
This is a pivotal leadership role where you will take full ownership of the end-to-end delivery of multiple New Product Development (NPD) projects, shaping and driving the product development function to ensure every product moves from concept through to launch against agreed critical path timelines in a fast-paced food manufacturing environment.
Key Responsibilities
- Own, develop, and continuously improve the product development critical path, ensuring all projects are delivered on time and in full through structured tracking, prioritisation, and proactive risk management.
- Lead multiple concurrent NPD projects from concept through to launch, enforcing stage gate governance, managing dependencies, risks, and decision points to maintain control of the critical path.
- Act as the central project lead and escalation point for all NPD activity, ensuring clarity, pace, and alignment across internal teams and external customers.
- Ensure an agile, solutions-driven approach to actively protect timelines, unblock issues, and maintain delivery momentum across multiple live projects.
- Prepare and present key development documentation throughout the stage gate process.
- Lead, mentor, and develop the NPD team, including workload planning, prioritisation, and delivery oversight across competing project demands.
- Own capacity planning, pipeline prioritisation, and resource allocation across all live and pipeline NPD projects to ensure delivery against commercial deadlines and manufacturing constraints.
- Build strong, trusted relationships with customers and internal stakeholders.
- Work closely with chefs to translate briefs into commercially viable, scalable products.
- Ensure manufacturing feasibility is considered at every stage of development.
- Stay ahead of food-to-go market trends and drive innovation aligned to commercial strategy.
- Conduct benchmarking and gap analysis against competitors.
- Foster a high-performance, delivery-focused team culture.
What We’re Looking For
Experience and Background
- Proven track record in food product development, ideally within the food-to-go or food manufacturing sector.
- Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, factory constraints, and cross-functional delivery.
- Proven experience managing multiple concurrent NPD projects in a fast-paced manufacturing environment with strict deadlines and competing priorities.
- Experience managing teams and leading cross-functional delivery activity.
- Customer-facing experience with retail or foodservice partners.
Key Skills
- Strong end-to-end project management capability with demonstrable ownership of critical path delivery.
- Proven ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously under pressure.
- Highly structured approach with strong prioritisation, planning, and stakeholder alignment skills.
- Strong understanding of stage gate or structured product development environments.
- Commercial awareness with the ability to balance innovation and operational feasibility.
- Strong problem-solving and decision-making ability in a fast-moving environment.
- Ability to influence, drive clarity, and maintain delivery focus across teams.
- Passion for food innovation, grounded in operational reality.
What You’ll Get in Return
At Simply Lunch, we believe our people are at the heart of our success. We’re committed to creating an environment where you can thrive, grow, and genuinely enjoy coming to work.
- Great perks & culture: Free lunch and beverages every day, regular social events – from summer & Christmas parties to BBQs, pizza days, sweet treats, and even ice cream vans.
- Career development & growth: Ongoing training and development opportunities, sponsored professional development, a clear commitment to helping you progress your career.
- Financial & lifestyle benefits: Pension scheme, cash plan and financial wellbeing support, discounted car repairs and MOT.
Senior Product Development Manager (Projects) in London employer: Simply Lunch
Simply Lunch is an exceptional employer that prioritises the well-being and growth of its employees, offering a vibrant work culture enriched with regular social events and daily perks like free lunch. Located in South London, the company fosters a supportive environment where team members can thrive through ongoing training and clear career progression opportunities, all while contributing to the creation of high-quality, innovative food products that positively impact local communities and the planet.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Product Development Manager (Projects) in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the food-to-go industry, especially those who work at Simply Lunch. A friendly chat can open doors and give you insights that might just land you an interview.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for your interviews by knowing our products inside out. Familiarise yourself with our latest offerings and think about how your experience can enhance our product development process. Show us you’re passionate about what we do!
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t underestimate the power of follow-ups! After an interview, drop us a quick thank-you email. It shows your enthusiasm and keeps you fresh in our minds as we make decisions.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team at Simply Lunch.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Product Development Manager (Projects) in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Food:When you're writing your application, let your love for food shine through! Share any relevant experiences or projects that highlight your passion for food innovation and how it aligns with our mission at Simply Lunch.
Be Clear and Structured:We appreciate a well-organised application. Make sure to structure your CV and cover letter clearly, showcasing your project management skills and experience in a way that's easy for us to follow. Use bullet points where necessary!
Tailor Your Application:Don’t just send a generic application! Tailor your CV and cover letter to reflect the specific requirements of the Senior Product Development Manager role. Highlight your experience with NPD projects and how you’ve successfully managed them in fast-paced environments.
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 the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team at Simply Lunch!
How to prepare for a job interview at Simply Lunch
✨Know Your NPD Inside Out
Before the interview, dive deep into your understanding of New Product Development (NPD) processes. Be ready to discuss specific projects you've led, focusing on how you managed timelines and overcame challenges. This will show your expertise and passion for product innovation.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your experience in leading teams and managing cross-functional projects. Think about times when you mentored team members or resolved conflicts. This will demonstrate your ability to foster a high-performance culture, which is crucial for the role.
✨Understand the Food-to-Go Market
Research current trends in the food-to-go sector and be prepared to discuss how they could influence Simply Lunch's product development. Showing that you’re ahead of the curve will impress the interviewers and align with their commitment to innovation.
✨Be Ready for Problem-Solving Scenarios
Expect to face hypothetical scenarios during the interview where you’ll need to demonstrate your problem-solving skills. Think through potential challenges in NPD and how you would address them, showcasing your structured approach and decision-making abilities.
