NPD Project Manager

NPD Project Manager
- Food

Somerset | Up to £50,000 + Bonus + Excellent Benefits

Are you anexperiencedNPD Project Manager with a passion for food innovation?

We're recruiting for an exciting opportunity with a premium food business seeking an experienced NPD professional to lead the development of high-quality own-brandfood products across a diverse portfolio. This is afantasticopportunity to joina growing business where you'll havethe autonomy todrive innovation, leada small teamand bring exceptionalproductsto market.

As NPD Project Manager, you'll oversee the complete product development lifecycle, from concept throughto launch, ensuring products meet commercial objectives, quality standard sand customer expectations.

Working across bakery, dairy, butchery, prepared foods and ambient categories, you'll collaborate with internal teams and external suppliers todeliver innovative products while managing multiple development projects.

• Lead the end-to-end development of new and existing food products.
• Manage multiple NPDprojects from concept through to successful launch.
• Assess commercial viability, costings, product format sand critical paths.
• Lead and developa Junior Product Developer.
• Manage packaging development and artwork approval processes.
• Build strong supplier relationships and negotiate commercial terms where appropriate.
• Monitor food trends, competitor activity and emerging market opportunities.
• Work closely with Technical, Buying, Marketing, Retail and Merchandising teams to deliver successful product launches.
• Ensure products comply with UK food safety, allergen and labelling legislation.
• Manage project timelines, risksand supplier forecasts.

You'll already have experience managing food product development projectsandbe confident working across multiple product categories within a fast-paced environment.

• Proven experience ina New Product Development, Product Develop mentor NPDManager role within the food industry.
• Experience developing chilled, frozen and/orambient food products.
• Strong commercial awareness and product costing experience.
• Excellent project management and critical path management skills.
• Experience working with suppliers and packaging development.
• Previous leadership orteam management experience.
• Good understanding ofUK food legislation, food safetyand allergen requirements.
• Strong Excel and PowerPoint skills.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities.

• Experience with in prepared foods, ready mealsor premium food manufacturing.
• Experience working for a premium retaileror food producer.
• Knowledge of AItoolsthat support product development or commercial analysis.

• Salary up to £50,000
• Performance bonus - Up to 10%
• Excellent benefits package
• Mondayto Friday working pattern
• Opportunity to lead innovative food development projects
• Collaborative, supportive and growing business
• Excellent career development opportunities

If you're acommercially minded food product developer looking for your nextchallenge, we'd loveto hear fromyou.