D R Newitt Recruitment
Head of Product Development
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Head of NPD | Leading Baked-Good/Food Chain 🥯🥪
📈 About the Company:
A leading, multi-million-pound Baked-Good Retail Chain producing high-quality food-to-go across 100+ sites in the UK are currently investing in their business-wide growth. A real high-street success story driven by quality, value, and a people-first culture, the company are a genuine example of an employee-first culture; now focused on bringing in truly valuable leaders across their functions.
👨 🍳 About the Role:
They're currently seeking an experienced and commercially-driven Head of NPD to take full ownership of the NPD/Innovation unit across their fast-paced, multi-site business. This is a senior leadership position responsible for end-to-end Product Development from concept to launch; delivering efficient project management and in-store launches to collaborating with Marketing & Sales and advising the business on ensuring effective brand growth based on trend & consumer-led insights.
Working closely with Commercial, Operations, Bakery Production, Manufacturing, Procurement, Technical, Marketing and Retail teams, you will ensure products are developed, launched and continuously improved to meet customer expectations whilst delivering top-level commercial performance and supporting business-wide.
This is a highly collaborative leadership and project management role requiring someone who thrives in managing multiple development projects simultaneously within a fast-paced QSR and retail bakery environment, yet also enjoys advising wider teams on new ideas, effective process improvements, as well as structured and strategic product launch planning.
📝 Key Responsibilities:
Product Development:
- Manage the end-to-end NPD process from concept through to launch.
- Develop commercially viable products that support company growth.
- Build category innovation plans across all bakery and food-to-go ranges.
- Identify trends and translate them into products suitable for the customer base.
- Develop seasonal, promotional and limited-time offers.
- Improve existing products through reformulation, quality enhancements and cost optimisation.
- Manage & lead a hands-on NPD/Kitchen-Based innovation Manager focused on direct recipe/product creation.
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Project Management:
- Own the critical path for every NPD project.
- Coordinate activity between all internal stakeholders.
- Ensure launches are delivered on time and within budget.
- Chair cross-functional project meetings.
- Manage multiple concurrent development projects across several categories.
- Escalate risks and propose solutions to maintain launch timings.
Bakery & Manufacturing Collaboration:
- Work closely with bakery production teams to ensure products are operationally achievable.
- Liaise with manufacturing partners on specifications, trials and production planning.
- Attend factory trials and first production runs.
- Ensure products meet production capability without compromising quality.
- Support process improvements where required.
Commercial Responsibilities:
- Understand category performance and identify opportunities.
- Review product profitability.
- Work alongside Buying and Procurement to manage ingredient costs.
- Support value engineering projects.
- Deliver products within agreed margin targets.
Cross-Functional Collaboration:
- Commercial
- Buying
- Procurement
- Bakery Production
- Manufacturing Partners
- Technical & Food Safety
- Operations
- Retail
- Marketing
- Supply Chain
- Finance
Product Testing:
- Organise kitchen development sessions.
- Coordinate factory trials.
- Manage internal tastings.
- Coordinate customer testing where appropriate.
- Ensure products meet agreed quality standards before launch.
Launch Management:
- Prepare launch documentation.
- Coordinate product photography.
- Produce operational specifications.
- Support marketing launch plans.
- Ensure stores receive all required information ahead of launch.
Product Lifecycle Management:
- Monitor post-launch performance.
- Recommend improvements where necessary.
- Conduct post-launch reviews.
- Rationalise underperforming products.
- Maintain product consistency across the estate.
Compliance:
- Food Safety legislation
- Allergen regulations
- Nutritional requirements
- Company quality standards
- Retail operational requirements
🔎 They're Looking For Someone Who Is:
- Highly organised
- Commercially driven
- Passionate about food (they are true foodies!)
- Naturally collaborative
- Solutions focused
- Comfortable working at pace
- Resilient under pressure
- Curious and innovative
- Detail orientated
- Confident influencing stakeholders at all levels
- 'Roll-up-your-sleeves' attitude to get stuck in
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🥇 Success Measurables:
- On-time product launches
- Successful delivery of innovation pipeline (up to 12 months pre-planning)
- Sales performance of new products
- Gross margin achievement
- Product quality consistency
- Operational ease of execution
- Retail feedback
- Customer satisfaction
- Project delivery against critical path
- Reduction in development timelines
✅ Requirements:
- Min. 5+ years’ experience within New Product Development.
- Experience across multiple food categories.
- Strong project management capability.
- Experience working with bakery manufacturing or food manufacturing.
- Food-to-Go experience.
- Excellent stakeholder management skills.
- Commercial awareness.
- Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
- Excellent organisational skills.
- Strong communication and presentation skills.
- Experience managing product critical paths.
- Ability to work at pace in a retail environment.
🤩 Highly Desirable Skills:
- Experience within: Bakery/QSR/Food Retail/Food Manufacturing/Convenience Retail/Coffee Shop Chains
- Experience working on: Sandwiches/Bakery and/or Baked-Goods/Cakes and/or Patisserie/Hot Food/Grab & Go/Seasonal products
🎓 Qualifications (Not-Essential):
- Ideal: Food Science/Food Technology/Bakery Science/Product Development/Innovation/Business
- Advantageous: Project Management qualification (Prince2, Agile or similar)
🎁 What’s on Offer:
- Competitive salary DOE
- 29 Days Holiday
- Owning and leading the NPD unit company-wide.
- Opportunities for professional growth and development.
- A dynamic and incredibly supportive work environment with 24/7 Wellbeing Support.
- Enrolment to company Pension Scheme
- Private Healthcare (Bupa)
- Free Employee benefits scheme with >1k online and in-store retailers, gyms, restaurants, cinemas, travel +
- 50% discounts on products and Free Meals on shift
NOTE: This role is located in Hertfordshire and requires in-office working; please only apply if you are able to commute to this area.
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