Head of NPD, West Midlands

Job Description

Im working a retained assignment to recruit a Head of NPD for a large global food group based out of their Head Office in the West Midlands

You will be managing a team of 8 people over multiple sites. You will lead and drive the business product development and technical product capability to develop a pipeline of market leading, best quality, competitive priced products to satisfy all selling channels from concept, through process to launch by leading a team of product developers and working cross-functionally.

Key Accountabilities
• Understanding key consumer food and lifestyle trends that may feed our strategic innovation platforms for growth by converting them into concept ideas within the company and customer guidelines.
• Working closely and collaboratively with Marketing and Sales team Co creates an NPD and innovation calendar. Helps to create compelling customer/consumer NPD sell presentations.
• End to end project accountability for NPD launches within the EMEA team with focus, but not exclusively, in the UK&IR market. Strong liaison with wider group development functions specially in US and Mexico
• Responsible for efficient management of current portfolio of products and materials including improving, keeping up to date, identifying conflicts, constraints, and options for simplification at all levels of the portfolio layers.
• Own, improve, and follow the Innovation Process
• Take fully responsibility of the activities of the Innovations

The person
• A food related degree qualification preferably in Food Science or Science related min 8 years’ experience. Highly experienced individual with exceptional level of understanding in relation to beverage, functional systems and bakery categories including the areas of concept development through to launch
• Previous experience in food product development and formulations. Having experience of dealing both with the retailer and QSR sectors
• A track record in product concept, process and bringing product to market
• As a “Foodie” with a keen interest in food trends, oversee the team working on Customer Briefs to develop concept ideas within the company and customer guidelines.
• Work with the Procurement and Technical teams to identify and source new raw materials

Package on offer of 70K with flexibility for the right candidate.

Please do apply and I will call you to discuss