Product Development Manager

Product Development Manager

📍 Midlothian

Are you a driven, creative food innovator who thrives on turning ideas into commercially successful products?

An established and growing independent UK food manufacturer is seeking a Product Development Manager to lead innovation from concept through to launch. The business supplies both branded and well-known own-label customers to the highest quality standards.

This is an exciting opportunity to shape future product ranges, influence strategy, and work with state-of-the-art production and bakery facilities in a business where innovation genuinely drives growth.

The Role

This is an end-to-end NPD leadership role requiring equal strength in creativity, technical expertise, and commercial awareness.

• Generate and develop innovative product concepts aligned with brand strategy and market opportunity
• Lead recipe development from kitchen samples through factory trials to full-scale production
• Create hands-on prototypes and small-batch samples
• Conduct detailed cost analysis to ensure commercial viability
• Plan and execute production trials with operations and technical teams
• Develop accurate, compliant product specifications and upload to third-party customer and supplier portals
• Collaborate with the Design team to create compelling packaging and manage artwork approval through to release
• Use consumer insights, trends, and data to guide decision-making
• Ensure full compliance with BRC AA standards and regulatory requirements
• Drive continuous improvement across existing product ranges

This is a role for someone who enjoys both strategic thinking and rolling up their sleeves in the development kitchen.

What We’re Looking For

You will bring:

• Proven NPD experience within food manufacturing
• Strong technical understanding of food product development and quality standards
• Hands-on experience in recipe development, kitchen sample creation, and scaling to production
• Experience running factory trials and producing accurate specifications
• A track record of launching innovative, commercially successful products
• A proactive, self-motivated mindset with full ownership of projects
• A creative, curious, and data-driven approach
• Excellent cross-functional collaboration skills

Why Join?

• Modern BRC AA accredited site with advanced equipment
• Genuine end-to-end ownership of innovation
• Strong collaboration across commercial, technical, and design functions
• Opportunity to shape product direction in a growing UK manufacturer
• A culture that values creativity, data-driven thinking, and pushing boundaries

If you’re ready to lead innovation, challenge ideas, and develop products that consumers love, we want to hear from you.

Apply now to be part of a business where innovation isn’t a department — it’s the engine of growth.