New Product Development Manager

Job description

Job title: NPD Manager

Location: Cheshire - 5 days a week on-site

Salary: £60,000 – £65,000 + Benefits

We’re partnering with a well-established ambient food manufacturer to recruit an NPD Manager.

This is a senior, high-impact role responsible for leading end-to-end product development across own label and branded ranges - from concept through to launch and lifecycle optimisation. You’ll play a key part in shaping innovation strategy while ensuring products are technically robust, commercially viable and delivered at pace.

The Role

Reporting into the Sales Director and working cross-functionally across Commercial, Technical, Operations and Procurement, you will:

• Define and deliver the product development and innovation strategy aligned to business growth objectives
• Lead a balanced innovation pipeline including renovation, line extensions and breakthrough concepts
• Manage stage-gate processes, feasibility and risk assessment
• Lead complex development projects through factory scale-up and launch
• Act as the senior technical authority on formulation and processing
• Ensure full compliance with food safety, quality and regulatory standards
• Own product costings, margin targets and value engineering initiatives
• Partner with Commercial teams on positioning, claims and launch readiness
• Influence senior stakeholders and external partners
• Develop and mentor a high-performing NPD team

About You

We’re looking for someone with:

• Extensive experience in food product development and commercialisation
• Strong food science and processing expertise, with proven scale-up capability
• Deep knowledge of food safety, quality systems and regulatory compliance
• Strong commercial acumen with ownership of cost and margin performance
• Experience leading cross-functional teams and complex projects
• A strategic, consumer-led mindset and the ability to operate at pace

Salary & Benefits

• £60,000 – £65,000 basic salary
• Generous company pension scheme
• 22 days holiday + bank holidays

For a confidential discussion, please get in touch.

Extra information

Status

Open

Education Level

Secondary School

Location

Cheshire East

Type of Contract

Full-time jobs

Published at

04-03-2026

Profession type

Retail

Full UK/EU driving license preferred

No

Car Preferred

No

Must be eligible to work in the EU

No

Cover Letter Required

No

Languages

English