Are you an organised and proactive NPD professional who enjoys taking ownership, bringing people together and driving projects through to successful launch?

This is an exciting opportunity for an NPD Project Manager to take ownership of multiple NPD and EPD projects within a fast-paced food manufacturing environment. You’ll sit at the centre of the development process, working closely with Development, Technical, Operations, Supply Chain, Procurement and Commercial teams to take projects through the full product lifecycle from development through to successful launch.

You’ll need to be someone who takes initiative, creates structure and drives activity forward, with the confidence to keep multiple stakeholders aligned and projects on track. With several projects running simultaneously, you’ll need to be highly organised, people-orientated and a strong communicator, comfortable managing competing priorities and ensuring actions are followed through.

You will be responsible for, but not limited to:

• Managing multiple NPD and EPD projects through the full development and launch process.
• Creating, managing and maintaining critical paths, ensuring key milestones, actions, approvals and sign-offs are completed on time.
• Coordinating cross-functional teams across Development, Technical, Operations, Supply Chain, Procurement and Commercial.
• Taking ownership of project governance and ensuring projects progress effectively through the relevant stage-gate process.
• Maintaining oversight of the wider development pipeline and prioritising activity across multiple live projects.
• Proactively identifying risks, dependencies and potential delays, taking action to resolve issues and keep projects moving.
• Leading project reviews and providing clear updates on progress, actions and priorities.
• Driving accountability across project teams and constructively challenging stakeholders where required.
• Maintaining accurate project documentation, systems and governance records.
• Understanding the complete product lifecycle and ensuring projects transition effectively from development into manufacturing and launch.
• Supporting successful launches by ensuring all relevant teams are aligned and requirements have been completed.
• Continuously looking for opportunities to improve project management processes and ways of working.

What’s required?

• Strong project management, organisational and critical path planning skills.
• Experience managing multiple projects and competing priorities within a fast-paced environment.
• A good understanding of the product lifecycle, ideally within NPD, food manufacturing or FMCG.
• Experience coordinating cross-functional teams and bringing multiple stakeholders together.
• A proactive, hands-on approach with the initiative to identify what needs doing and make it happen.
• Strong communication and people skills, with the confidence to influence and challenge when necessary.
• Experience working with stage-gate processes, project governance, approvals and sign-offs.
• Ability to identify risks early, problem-solve and remove barriers to project delivery.
• Experience delivering projects against agreed timelines and quality requirements.
• An understanding of manufacturing, supply chain and commercial processes would be beneficial.
• Previous experience working with NPD, innovation or product launch projects would be advantageous.
• Experience with recipe management, project planning or ERP systems would also be beneficial.

What’s in it for you?

A varied and highly visible project management role with flexible working, strong cross-functional exposure, and the opportunity to influence how NPD and EPD projects are delivered. You’ll work across a busy innovation pipeline, build strong relationships across the business, and have scope to develop your project management capability within a supportive and growing environment.

Do you think you fit the criteria?
Want to find out more about the role?

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