Product Development Manager

Our client is a well-established food manufacturer supplying major UK retailers. Due to continued growth, they are seeking an experienced NPD leader to drive innovation, customer engagement, and successful product launches across the business.

This role would particularly suit an individual with a strong bakery development background, a Food Science or related degree, and proven experience managing key retailer relationships, ideally including Tesco and JS ( amongst all top
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Reporting into the Managing Director you will lead the NPD and Process Development function, ensuring innovation projects are aligned with customer and business priorities. You will oversee the full development lifecycle from concept through to factory launch, while providing technical expertise, commercial awareness, and strong customer‑facing leadership.

• Lead, mentor and develop the NPD and Process Development team.
• Manage the delivery of NPD projects from concept through to successful launch.
• Oversee project critical paths, ensuring milestones are achieved and stakeholders remain aligned.
• Act as the primary contact for customers, suppliers and internal teams throughout the development process.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with major UK retailers through a collaborative and customer-focused approach.
• Present new concepts, market insights and product innovations directly to customers.
• Drive recipe development and ensure products are commercially viable and factory‑manufacturable.
• Work closely with Technical, Operations, Supply Chain, Procurement and Commercial teams to ensure project success.
• Manage costings from concept approval through to post‑launch review.
• Lead process improvement initiatives across existing and new products.
• Ensure all launches are delivered in line with agreed quality, cost and timing expectations.

• Degree qualified in Food Science, Food Technology or a related discipline.
• Significant experience within chilled food manufacturing.
• Proven track record in an NPD leadership role.
• Strong customer‑facing experience with major UK retailers.
• Experience managing multiple development projects and critical paths simultaneously.
• Excellent communication, presentation and stakeholder management skills.
• Commercially aware with the ability to balance customer expectations and manufacturing capability.

• Experience supplying Top 4 UK grocery retailers.
• Strong understanding of recipe development, process optimisation and design for manufacture.

We're looking for a hands‑on, commercially minded NPD leader who combines technical expertise with excellent customer relationship skills. You'll be comfortable presenting to retailer development teams, influencing cross‑functional stakeholders and leading the successful delivery of innovative products from concept to launch.

We can offer flexible working, you do need to be able to get to see customers. Manufacturing site is North West based