New Product Development Manager
Location: Swinton, Manchester
Salary: £50,000 £55,000 + Bonus
Type: Permanent
Are you a commercially minded food innovation specialist with a passion for turning ideas into shelf-ready successes? Our client, a fast-growing and trend-led product design business, is seeking a New Product Development Manager to lead the charge in bringing high impact products to market.
The Company
This entrepreneurial, licensing led business partners with some of the biggest names in retail and FMCG to deliver branded, private label, and own-label food products. With a strong track record of category defining launches and a client list spanning many major UK retailers, they offer a versitile and high responsibility environment for innovation led thinkers.
Recent wins include licensed partnerships in global food and character brands, and the business is constantly seeking the next big idea across snacking and ambient categories.
The Role
As the New Product Development Manager, you ll lead the development of 25 - 30 projects, from concept through to launch. This is a highly autonomous role that sits at the heart of the business, you'll work closely with commercial, sales, logistics, and external manufacturing partners to bring ideas to life.
This role is perfect for someone who thrives in a fast moving, creative environment where no two days are the same, and where product fit, commercial viability, and brand storytelling matter just as much as innovation.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead cross functional projects across licensed, private label, and own label food products
- Translate category trends into commercially viable product launches
- Manage external supplier, manufacturer, and 3PL relationships
- Deliver full EPD & NPD pipelines with speed and creativity
- Work closely with sales and marketing to support go-to-market strategies
- Ensure compliance with food safety and labelling regulations
- Champion a solution-focused mindset with ownership from brief to shelf
What We re Looking For
- Previous experience in NPD, ideally within snacking or related food categories
- Strong commercial acumen, not just a product thinker, but a market thinker
- Highly organised project manager with creative energy
- Hands-on experience managing external manufacturing and supply partners
- Knowledge of UK food regulations and quality standards
- Confident communicator, collaborator, and problem solver
- Passionate about trend spotting and gap analysis
- Ability to work in the office 4 5 days per week in a fast-paced SME environment
Interested?
Click "Apply" or email your CV to (url removed) to learn more.
The Advocate Group is a leading recruitment partner to the FMCG and consumer product sectors. We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation, or age.
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