Senior NPD & Innovation Manager

About the Role

Help us build one of the UK's most exciting contract manufacturing businesses.

We're looking for an exceptional Senior NPD & Innovation Manager to join Zendlabs in Paddock Wood, Kent.

This isn't a traditional NPD role. It offers an opportunity to work directly with ambitious health, wellness and sports nutrition brands, taking products from concept through to launch while helping shape the future of a rapidly growing business built around quality, innovation and customer experience.

You'll work alongside founders, brand owners and our manufacturing, operations and commercial teams to bring new products to life and solve complex challenges.

• Leading customer projects from concept to launch.
• Developing powder formulations across sports nutrition, wellness and functional health.
• Working directly with customers on ingredients, claims, flavours and formats.
• Driving innovation and identifying future trends.
• Building strong relationships that create advocates and long‑term partnerships.
• Working cross‑functionally with Procurement, Operations, Manufacturing, Supply Chain and Commercial teams.

• Experience with in sports nutrition, supplements, functional foods or health and wellness.
• Strong formulation and technical knowledge.
• Customer‑first mindset.
• Naturally curious with a passion for innovation and continuous improvement.
• Someone equally comfortable discussing formulations with customers, working with Quality or spending time on the production floor.

• Help shape one of the UK's fastest‑growing contract manufacturing businesses.
• Work with exciting brands and founders.
• Influence innovation, systems and customer experience.
• Competitive salary (£60k‑£65k DOE), bonus and benefits.
• Healthcare, optical and hearing cover.
• Retail and wellbeing discounts.
• Genuine opportunity to grow and build a team around you.

Year 1:
Lead and establish the NPD function and help shape our innovation roadmap.

Years 2-3:
Build and develop your own team and become a key member of the wider leadership group.

Next Step:
Head of Innovation.

If you're looking for a role where you can combine technical expertise, customer relationships and innovation while helping build something genuinely special, we'd love to hear from you.

Paddock Wood, Kent.

Occasional UK, EU and US travel.