New Product Development Manager (Food)

Location: Gwent / Monmouthshire, UK

Job description

Candour Talent Recruitment is currently recruiting for a New Product Development (NPD) Manager to join the retail commercial wing of a leading food manufacturer based in Gwent. This is a fantastic opportunity to lead product development for the UK's premier supplier to the ethnic restaurant and takeaway sector. You will be responsible for driving innovation and managing product lifecycle, ensuring quality and cost-effectiveness from concept through to market launch.

Main Responsibilities

• Develop and manage the company's innovation calendar in partnership with Commercial, Marketing, and Senior Leadership Teams.
• Inspire customers by driving the innovation agenda with creative applications for both new and existing products.
• Oversee product specifications, recipes, and processes to promote quality improvement and cost efficiency.
• Plan and conduct line trials to bring new product concepts into production, ensuring all shelf-life validations.
• Monitor and budget development projects by assessing and managing all aspects of product costs.
• Apply in-depth knowledge of ingredients, including their functionality and challenges, and communicate findings as needed.

Key Decision Areas

• Lead all decisions relating to recipe adjustments and new product development.
• Oversee the product lifecycle from concept development through to launch.

Challenges of the Role

• Maintain continuous improvement processes and ensure innovations are market-leading.
• Prioritise projects based on their commercial impact and adapt to urgent product delivery needs without compromising quality.

Internal Relationships

• NPD Department (UK, Overseas)
• Sales, Marketing, and Senior Leadership Team
• Technical/QA, Purchasing, Operations/Manufacturing, Finance, Supply Chain

External Relationships

• Customers and Suppliers

Essential Qualifications & Skills

• Degree in Food Technology, Food Science, or a related field (preferred).
• 4+ years of NPD experience, including in food industry (meat, fish, poultry, halal products knowledge advantageous).
• 3 years in food industry and 2 years in packaging and legal labelling.
• Project management experience (3+ years) with a proactive approach to product development.
• Strong understanding of food manufacturing, packaging, and labelling standards.

Schedule & Benefits

• Working Hours: Monday-Friday, 09:00-17:00
• Holiday: 28 days, including bank holidays
• Location: Gwent / Monmouthshire (with occasional travel)
• Benefits: Canteen, Company pension, Free on-site parking

This position is ideal for a passionate and experienced NPD Manager ready to drive new product initiatives for a market leader. Apply today to take the next step in your career!

How to Apply:
Contact Number: 07538 449154
Email Address:
www.candourtalent.co.uk

We thank you for considering Candour Talent Recruitment for your career aspirations and encourage you to continue exploring opportunities with us in the future. Good luck with your application, and we look forward to receiving your CV.

Who are we at Candour Talent?

At our award-winning recruitment agency, we pride ourselves on building strong connections with both our clients and candidates. We operate as both a recruitment specialist for permanent recruitment and a recruitment business for the supply of temporary workers, ensuring that we can effectively meet the diverse needs of our clients and candidates. With a dedicated and passionate team of professionals, we're committed to taking time to understand your unique skills, experiences, and aspirations, ensuring that we match you with opportunities that not only align with your professional goals but also inspire you to thrive. Whether you're seeking a career change, advancement, or a new challenge, we're here to support you every step of the way.

Rest assured that when you apply for a role through Candour Talent Recruitment, your details will be handled with the utmost confidentiality and in accordance with our Candidate Privacy Information Statement, outlining how your information will be used.

While we strive to respond to all applicants promptly, please note that only candidates with the relevant skills and experience will be contacted for further consideration. If you do not hear back from us within 7 days of your application, we regret to inform you that you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.

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