New Product Development Manager (FMCG) in Bournemouth

New Product Development Manager (FMCG) in Bournemouth

Bournemouth Full-Time 60750 - 74250 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
Zest

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead the development of innovative home appliance cleaning products and manage the entire supply chain.
  • Company: Join Zest, a fast-growing brand in home appliance care with 20 years of expertise.
  • Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, a performance bonus, and a modern office near the beach.
  • Other info: Be part of a dynamic team with a focus on growth and professional development.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact by launching products that enhance customer appliance care and experience.
  • Qualifications: Experience in product range management, ideally in FMCG or household consumables.

The predicted salary is between 60750 - 74250 £ per year.

UK | Hybrid, Bournemouth | £35,000-£45,000 OTE | Immediate start

We're looking for a New Product Development Manager to define, launch and grow Zest's own-brand range of home appliance cleaning and maintenance products.

This is a hands-on role with influence and the opportunity to build your career with our brand growth.

You'll have the space to own New Product Development, backed by a Founder-led team that’s moving fast!

About Zest Plan

We’re specialists in home appliance care with 20 years of experience and a community of 40,000 UK-based customers.

We build customer trust and value through expert advice and proactive appliance maintenance services, repairs and replacements.

The role

Our New Product Development Manager (FMCG) will lead Zest's own-brand range of home appliance cleaning and maintenance products.

This role leads on what's in the range, how it's sourced and made, and how the range launches and grows.

The aim is to offer our customers a proactive care product range that serves appliance health and adds value to our membership offering.

You'll report to our Commercial Director and work closely with our Marketing and Operations Leads.

This role has direct input into how we launch and grow FMCG products to achieve a premium customer experience.

  • What You Will Own
  • Our own-brand range; the maintenance-chemicals line first and the cleaning range as it launches.

You will lead on product selection, using data and research to identify which products add most value for customers’ appliance maintenance and care.

  • Manage the entire supply chain: formulation, contract manufacturing, packaging, quality, and supply reliability.
  • Grow the range aligned with customers’ appliance needs, using data and insights to make commercial product selection and expansion decisions.

The expansion potential is from appliance maintenance into full home cleaning, and beyond.

  • Connect the range to the customer membership platform’s appliance maintenance logic.

All products should clearly map to the maintenance schedules and appliance‑care guidance we give customers.

The range should look, feel and act as an extension of the proactive care promise, not as a bolt‑on shop.

  • Achieve and maintain high product quality and claim integrity. Every claim made about an own‑brand product must be true and must trace to proven product performance.
  • Manage the commercial shape of the range including cost, pricing, and margin.

This should map to the platform's discipline that own‑brand sales must not bias the advice we give about repair, replacement, or maintenance.

  • What Will Help You Be Successful In This Role
  • A product range-management or own‑label background, ideally in household consumables, cleaning, or a comparable own‑brand FMCG range.
  • Experience taking a product range from sourcing through to shelf, including formulation and contract manufacturing, packaging, quality, and supply.
  • Commercial product awareness with the ability to judge what should be in a range and why, not just how to sell it.
  • Comfort working at the forefront of both Commercial and Product sales and operations.
  • Growth mindset and a desire to evolve skillset and thinking with the range as it migrates from a sourcing‑led to a definition‑led discipline.
  • Impactful communication that gives clarity and confidence to customers, supply chain partners and team‑mates.

Benefits

We care about our team as much as we do about our customer community. Joining Zest gives you access to:

  • Flexible + hybrid working
  • Focused learning + development plan with mentoring from our Directors
  • 24 days annual leave (+ up to 5 days extra with long service)
  • Performance-related bonus scheme
  • Medical health cash plan + mental health support
  • A Zest-designed modern office that’s 5 mins walk to West Cliff Beach
  • Zest Bites kitchen with onsite chef, subsidised meals + free refreshments including Pearhaus speciality beans coffee machine
  • Zest apparel drops
  • Social calendar with cultural, foodie + experiential events
  • #J-18808-Ljbffr

New Product Development Manager (FMCG) in Bournemouth employer: Zest

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Zest

Contact Details:

Zest Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land New Product Development Manager (FMCG) in Bournemouth

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 Zest!

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 Zest 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 Zest through your school's career services!

We think you need these skills to ace New Product Development Manager (FMCG) in Bournemouth

Product Range Management
Sourcing and Formulation
Contract Manufacturing
Packaging Design
Quality Assurance
Supply Chain Management
Data Analysis

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Off Your Product Passion:When applying for a product management role like New Product Development Manager (FMCG), 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 New Product Development Manager (FMCG) position at Zest. 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 Zest

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.