At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead innovative product development and delivery for SURI's wet products.
- Company: Join a dynamic team at SURI, focused on sustainability and innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, generous leave, and a personal development budget.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with excellent career growth opportunities and regular social events.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the beauty and wellness industry with cutting-edge products.
- Qualifications: 6+ years in NPD or product development, with a passion for sustainability.
The Senior NPD Manager will be an integral part of the SURI Innovation team, whilst partnering closely with Supply Chain & Operations to ensure that we have the right processes, structure, vendors and resources available to deliver global launches OTIF at the right cost, right quality and in line with our sustainability commitments.
70% - Lead the Development and Delivery of the Innovation Pipeline
- Own the end-to-end development and delivery of SURI's innovation pipeline across wet products, consumables and selected commercial innovation initiatives within the existing hardware portfolio.
- Lead the development of SURI's wet and consumable product portfolio including toothpaste and future adjacent categories.
- Translate innovation opportunities into compelling product concepts, propositions and launch plans.
- Lead projects from concept through development, testing, validation and launch, ensuring products are delivered on time, to budget and to SURI's quality and sustainability standards.
- Work closely with formulators, manufacturers, packaging suppliers and technical partners to develop best‑in‑class products and consumer experiences.
- Challenge suppliers and development partners to bring forward new technologies, ingredients, formats and manufacturing capabilities that create meaningful differentiation.
- Lead consumer testing programmes and utilise qualitative and quantitative insights to shape product decisions.
- Build robust business cases and commercial assessments for innovation opportunities, balancing consumer desirability, technical feasibility and financial viability.
- Lead selected commercial innovation initiatives across the existing SURI hardware portfolio, including limited editions, colourways, artist and brand collaborations, gifting propositions, exclusive retailer launches and seasonal activations.
- Develop and evaluate partnership opportunities that can accelerate awareness, customer acquisition or category expansion, working closely with Brand, Commercial and Growth teams.
- Identify opportunities to increase customer lifetime value through new bundles, kits, accessories and cross‑category propositions across the SURI ecosystem.
- Partner closely with Marketing, Commercial, Supply Chain, Operations, Finance and Regulatory teams to ensure successful global launches.
- Monitor category, consumer and competitive developments globally, identifying emerging trends and opportunities relevant to SURI.
- Act as the day‑to‑day leader for wet innovation projects, coaching, managing and developing the NPD Executive while fostering a high‑performance innovation culture.
- Proactively identify risks, dependencies and delivery challenges, driving solutions and clear decision‑making to maintain launch timelines.
15% - Innovation Governance and Portfolio Management
- Support the management and prioritisation of SURI's innovation roadmap, ensuring resources are focused on the highest‑impact opportunities.
- Lead preparation for Commercial Sign‑Off (CSO) meetings, ensuring projects are appropriately scoped, costed and supported by data.
- Maintain clear visibility of project status, investment requirements, launch timing and key risks across the portfolio.
- Partner with Finance to track innovation investment, business cases and project performance against agreed objectives.
- Continuously improve innovation ways of working, helping establish best‑in‑class processes, governance and launch excellence as SURI scales.
15% - External Innovation and Strategic Partnerships
- Build and maintain strong relationships with leading manufacturers, formulators, packaging suppliers, ingredient houses, testing partners and regulatory experts.
- Identify and evaluate new technologies, ingredients, materials and supplier capabilities that can strengthen SURI's innovation pipeline.
- Support supplier selection, qualification and onboarding activities alongside Operations and Supply Chain teams.
- Represent SURI at industry events, supplier innovation days and trade shows to bring fresh thinking and external inspiration into the business.
- Collaborate with strategic partners to unlock exclusive innovation opportunities and future category expansion.
Qualifications
- 6+ years experience in NPD, Innovation, Product Development or R&D within FMCG, beauty, personal care, wellness or oral care.
- Proven track record of successfully launching consumer products from concept through commercialisation.
- Familiar with using best in class project management tools and processes (stage gate).
- A strong understanding of operations, supply chain, manufacturing and logistics.
- Able to handle ambiguity, uncertainty, strong problem solver with bias for action.
- Data driven, strong reporting and analytical skills and system-savvy.
- Strong collaborator and communicator with influencing skills and gravitas at all levels.
- Strong track record of delivery in a fast paced environment, ideally a scale up business.
- Passion for innovation, sustainability and building category-defining consumer brands.
- Entrepreneurial mindset with a bias for action and comfort operating within ambiguity.
- Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills across technical and non-technical functions.
- Excellent project leadership skills, able to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
- Experience working directly with formulations, packaging development, manufacturers and external development partners.
- A passion for more sustainable living is a real plus!
Benefits
- 25 days annual leave, plus bank holidays and an additional day for your birthday.
- Flexible working hours.
- Hybrid working - up to 2 days working from home each week.
- Bupa Healthcare and Dental Packages.
- Income Protection and Life Assurance.
- 1 Charity Day per year.
- Central London offices- based in London Bridge; a stone’s throw from Borough Market.
- 4x “Work from Anywhere” weeks, with no requirement to be in the office those weeks.
- Access to our Employee Assistance Programme, which grants free therapy and coaching sessions to all staff.
- Monthly social events, organised by different team members.
- 5x free toothbrushes every year.
- £1000 personal development budget each year, per employee.
- Fantastic career opportunities; with the chance to grow as SURI does.
- Summer Fridays; 2pm finish across Fridays in July and August.
- Fresh fruit and snack orders every week.
- Cycle to Work scheme, and Electric Bike Cycle to Work scheme.
- Regular product swaps with other fantastic companies.
At SURI, we value diversity and welcome applicants from all backgrounds. We look for team members who will positively contribute to our dynamic, passionate culture and believe that an inclusive and diverse work environment is one in which we all thrive. Please let us know if you require any reasonable adjustments to be made for the recruitment process.
Senior NPD Manager (Wet products) employer: SURI
SURI is an exceptional employer that fosters a dynamic and inclusive work culture, offering employees the chance to lead innovative projects in a fast-paced environment. With a strong commitment to sustainability, competitive benefits such as flexible working hours, generous annual leave, and a personal development budget, SURI empowers its team members to grow alongside the company while making a meaningful impact in the consumer goods sector. Located in the vibrant area of London Bridge, employees enjoy easy access to local amenities and a supportive community that values diversity and collaboration.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior NPD Manager (Wet products)
✨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 SURI!
✨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 SURI 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 SURI through your school's career services!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior NPD Manager (Wet products)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Product Passion:When applying for a product management role like Senior NPD Manager (Wet products), 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 Senior NPD Manager (Wet products) position at SURI. 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 SURI
✨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.
