New Product Development Manager

About the role

Our client is seeking an experienced New Product Development (NPD) Manager to lead product development and technology transfer activities from their London head office. The permanent role offers the chance to drive innovation, manage cross‑functional teams, and ensure products meet quality and regulatory standards.

Key responsibilities

• Lead, coach and develop a team of three direct reports, overseeing resource planning and project prioritisation.
• Coordinate product transfer activities between manufacturing sites and external partners, managing scale‑up and technology transfer.
• Support the development of new products from concept through commercial launch, translating market and customer requirements into technical solutions.
• Develop and optimise product formulations to meet quality, regulatory, customer and manufacturing criteria.
• Design and develop new packaging solutions, managing trials and validation activities.
• Manage multiple technical projects, ensuring delivery on time, within budget and to quality standards.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory, safety and quality requirements and drive continuous improvement initiatives.

Required profile

• Degree in Chemistry, Food Science, Pharmaceutical Science, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science or a related discipline.
• Significant experience in product development, formulation and technical project management.
• Proven experience leading product transfer and scale‑up activities.
• People‑management experience with responsibility for a team.
• Experience managing packaging development projects.
• Strong understanding of quality and regulatory requirements.
• Desirable: postgraduate qualification and project‑management certification (PRINCE2, PMP, APMP).
• Desirable: experience in manufacturing, FMCG, pharmaceutical, healthcare or chemical industries.

Required skills

• Product formulation
• Packaging development
• Technology transfer and scale‑up
• Project management (PRINCE2/PMP)
• Quality and regulatory compliance