Innovation & Product Development Manager

Location: Weyhill

Innovation & Product Development Manager Andover, SP11 8HU
Full time, permanent Hybrid – 2 days per week in the office. Salary: 55-70k Competitive benefits package Helping drive global growth for one of the UK's leading wellness brands Wren Laboratories is the business behind Optibac, a leading brand in the probiotics and gut health sector. As the business continues to develop its product range, it is looking for a commercially minded and technically strong innovation to help identify new opportunities, shape product development strategy and turn ideas into successful products.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced Innovation & Product Development Manager professional who combines technical and new product development expertise with strategic thinking, commercial awareness and proven team management skills. Working collaboratively across the business, you'll help identify what customers want, assess market opportunities and determine where new products can deliver both customer value and commercial success. You'll play an important role in setting the direction for NPD, bringing together different teams and ensuring opportunities progress from initial insight through to practical delivery.

Innovation & Product Development Manager , the role:
Develop and deliver the NPD and portfolio strategy in line with business objectives and commercial priorities. Identify new product and portfolio improvement opportunities through consumer insights, market trends, competitor analysis and commercial data. Lead the end-to-end new product development process, from concept and formulation through feasibility, launch and post-launch optimisation. Evaluate ingredients, probiotic strains, product formats, dosage levels, product claims, costs and margins to ensure commercially viable product propositions.

Work collaboratively with Marketing, Sales, International, Supply Chain and Scientific Affairs to align product priorities and deliver successful launches. Manage portfolio planning, project gateways, timelines, risks and stakeholder reporting. Build strong supplier relationships, providing technical and commercial input into pricing, raw materials, exclusivity opportunities and supply agreements. Oversee technical documentation, product specifications, testing, stability, quality standards and relevant regulatory requirements.

Support international product registrations by ensuring technical information, ingredient evidence and claims substantiation are accurate and available. Contribute to packaging development, including sustainability, feasibility, compliance and supply considerations. Lead, develop and motivate the Technical Team, setting clear objectives, managing performance and supporting professional development. Manage team resources, budgets, recruitment and onboarding, while continually improving processes and ways of working. Innovation & Product Development Manager, the person:
Established product development or technical experience within the food, health food or supplement industry. Relevant experience and understanding of the health food or supplement sector. Experience leading, managing or developing a team. A relevant diploma or degree in a health-related or food science subject. An understanding of formulation, ingredients, manufacturing processes, product quality and technical documentation. An appreciation of commercial considerations, including product feasibility, cost, margin and market opportunity.

An understanding of physiology and pathology, including the role of the gut microbiome. The ability to interpret scientific publications and translate technical evidence into robust product solutions. Strong communication, organisation and stakeholder management…