Product Development Manager - Fresh

We’d all like amazing work to do, and real work-life balance. That’s waiting for you at Sainsbury’s. Here, everything in our stores starts in Sainsbury’s Commercial. From product, proposition, packaging and price, to whether it meets our sustainability commitments or simply tastes great, our team is responsible for all food, non‑food and clothing items available in Sainsbury’s stores, online and on demand.

It’s an incredibly fast‑paced environment. People here are in it together and aren’t afraid to take risks. The knowledge and experience you gain here could set you up for career moves anywhere else in the business. So, if you’re passionate about your products and just as hungry to learn, you’ll fit in perfectly.

Joining Sainsbury’s as a Product Development Manager in the Fresh category offers an exciting opportunity to lead and shape the innovation pipeline, delivering high‑quality products that meet customer needs and support the commercial strategy. With a focus on customer quality, innovation, and sustainability, you will collaborate with cross‑functional teams, suppliers, and chefs to drive product development from concept to launch. This role provides a platform for continuous learning, professional growth, and the satisfaction of seeing your creations positively impact millions of customers, all within a supportive and dynamic work environment where your expertise in food product development can truly shine.

As the Product Development Manager for the Fresh category at Sainsbury’s, you will be responsible for leading the development and delivery of the Product Plan, ensuring that projects are executed in accordance with the gated development process and agreed timelines. Your role will involve developing insight‑led Product Briefs, defining customer quality standards, and championing product quality throughout the product lifecycle by monitoring customer feedback and market performance to drive continuous improvement.

Collaborating with cross‑functional teams, suppliers, and technical experts, you will drive product innovation through new ingredients, recipes, and manufacturing processes to deliver distinctive, high‑quality products that meet customer needs and support the commercial strategy. You may also manage and develop a Graduate or Product Development Assistant, providing coaching, objective setting, and performance support to help them grow and succeed in their role.

As a seasoned Food Product Development Manager with a deep‑rooted passion for creating innovative and high‑quality food products, you bring a wealth of experience in leading complex product development projects from concept to launch within the retail or food manufacturing industry. With a strong foundation in food science and technology, coupled with a keen eye for customer value, cost management, and regulatory compliance, you excel in driving product innovation, quality improvement, and sustainability initiatives to meet customer needs and support commercial objectives.

Having a Food Degree (or equivalent experience) in Food Science, Food Technology, Nutrition, or a related discipline is preferred but not essential. Your exceptional project management, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills enable you to navigate cross‑functional teams and suppliers effectively, ensuring the successful delivery of best‑in‑class products that resonate with customers and drive business growth.

• Extensive current and proven experience leading food product development projects from concept through to launch within retail, manufacturing or food service.
• Strong understanding of food quality, customer trends, innovation, ingredients, recipes, manufacturing processes, and the gated development process.
• Ability to develop insight‑led product briefs and work collaboratively with suppliers, technical teams, chefs, commercial teams, and other cross‑functional stakeholders.
• Demonstrable experience managing suppliers and manufacturers.
• Excellent project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, deliver to agreed timelines, and support commercial objectives.
• Stro…