Are you ready to join a growing business with exciting opportunities ahead?

Our client is looking to bring in an NPD Manager who can help lead a team alongside another NPD Manager, with a focus on strong customer-facing skills. This role is open to candidates from various category backgrounds, making it a great fit for a Senior NPD Technologist looking to step up or a competent NPD Manager ready to take on new challenges. If you're looking to make an impact in a dynamic environment and contribute to the growth of a thriving business, this could be the perfect opportunity for you.

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You will be responsible for, but not limited to:

• Identify and develop NPD, EPD, and Blue Sky/Innovation opportunities for current and potential new customers.
• Build and maintain relationships with key customers and internal stakeholders.
• Proactively develop NPD, EPD, and Innovation plans in collaboration with the Category Insight Team, covering short-term (6-12 months) and long-term visions, including new fruits, added-value products, packaging, and technology (if required).
• Collaborate with the NPD Manager to drive and deliver the Innovation pipeline.
• Develop and share best practice NPD guidelines for launching NPD, EPD, and Innovation alongside the commercial team and other relevant functions.
• Ensure all required personnel are clear on launch requirements and obtain necessary sign-offs from relevant departments throughout the process.
• Work with the commercial lead to ensure products are commercially viable and meet minimum margin targets.
• Review current products to identify opportunities for improvement, driving better margins.
• Set up a formal, regular benchmarking process to enhance understanding of both own products and competitor offerings.
• Be recognised as an NPD champion, using creative and innovative thinking, along with market insight, to maximise NPD growth opportunities.

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What's required?

• Demonstrable experience in a Product Development role, ideally in Food Manufacturing (essential)
• Commercial awareness (essential)
• Creative and strategic thinking (essential)
• Working knowledge of retailer requirements (highly desirable)
• Ability to use fact-based sales and market data to justify NPD (essential)
• Supervisory/line management skills and experience (highly desirable)
• Goal-oriented, driven, and well-organised (essential)
• Good interpersonal and communication skills, comfortable working cross-functionally at all levels (essential)
• Project and stakeholder management (highly desirable)
• Experience managing Value Add / allergenic product ranges (highly desirable)

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What's in it for you?

£40,000.00 - £45,000.00

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Do you think you fit the criteria?

Want to find out more about the role?

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(ID 146)

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