New product developer manager

SUMMARY:
Our client, a well-established organisation within the food manufacturing industry, is seeking an experienced New Product Development (NPD) Manager to lead their product development function.
This is a specialist opportunity for an NPD professional with a strong technical background in poultry applications, formulation, spices and flavour development, together with proven leadership and customer-facing experience.

POSITION INFO:
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Lead and manage the NPD team, ensuring effective project prioritisation and delivery Manage multiple NPD projects from customer brief through to commercialisation Interpret customer requirements and develop innovative formulation solutions Develop, test and optimise recipes and product concepts Prepare product samples and manage customer feedback and reformulation requirements Work closely with customer development teams throughout the product development process Source specialised spices, flavours and ingredients through flavour houses and suppliers Develop and optimise spice packs, spice blends, savoury sauces, marinades and related products Ensure compliance with food safety, regulatory and quality requirements Oversee product specifications, recipes and production documentation Monitor market and industry trends to identify new product opportunities Provide technical guidance and leadership to the NPD team REQUIREMENTS Degree/Diploma in Food Science, Food Technology or a related discipline Proven experience in food product development, preferably within spices, seasonings and savoury applications Strong formulation and sensory evaluation capabilities Specialist knowledge of poultry applications and processing Experience working with flavour houses, spice companies and ingredient suppliers Knowledge of food safety, quality and regulatory requirements Proven project management and team leadership experience Strong customer-facing and communication skills Creative approach to flavour development with the technical ability to create and match flavour profiles Strong commercial and problem-solving orientation Poultry formulation and application development Chicken breading and crumbing systems Coatings and batter systems Brining and marinades Pick-up, coating adhesion and processing performance Formulation and recipe development Yield optimisation Texture, adhesion and moisture retention Frying and processing performance Spice blends, savoury sauces and marinades Flavour creation, matching and optimisation Working with poultry processors, flavour houses and ingredient suppliers Only short-listed candidates will be contacted