We are passionate about baking and the people who create delicious treats. We are a leading FMCG bakery manufacturing business with a reputation for quality product delivery and customer loyalty.
Our company is undergoing transformational change and is keen to further invest in new product innovation across multiple channels.
About The Role
The Innovation Product Development Lead will take product innovation from ideation and concept development, through to feasibility, business case development and production trials.
The role will focus on whitespace innovation as well as optimisation of our existing range and line extensions that will deliver sustainable growth.
Key to this role will be the opportunity for existing products to expand into adjacent markets or new regions.
Main Responsibilities
* Manage the end-to-end product development process using a Stage Gate methodology.
* Develop new products that meet consumer needs, market trends, and brand standards.
* Maintain and improve our existing product portfolio through benchmarking and quality reviews to ensure consistent delivery of market-leading products.
* Lead bakery and factory trials, recording and documenting all trial data.
* Work closely with marketing and sales teams to translate market insights and trends into commercially viable products.
Project Management
* Oversee product development projects from concept to final product launch.
* Ensure that all product development aligns with agreed commercial and customer plans.
* Deliver projects on time, within budget, and to required quality and compliance standards.
Culinary & Technical Expertise
* Apply bakery process knowledge, culinary skills, and flavour expertise to create exceptional products.
* Collaborate with production teams to optimise manufacturing processes for new products.
* Stay informed on trends in food, ingredients, packaging, and processing technology.
Key Skills & Qualifications
* Excellent written and verbal communication skills, accurate and precise with demonstrable attention to detail.
* The ability to take initiative in searching for new technical concepts and solutions.
* The ability to work effectively and methodically in recipe preparation for mass production quantities.
* The ability to communicate well when liaising with production and sales staff regarding customer requirements.
* The ability to anticipate problems before they occur and take steps to deal with them.
* The ability to multi-task and work under pressure.
* Have an inquisitive mind with a creative flair for innovating new bakery products.
* Understand and work within a Stage-Gate process modelling design.
* To be IT literate in Microsoft applications.
* You will be highly organised and self-motivated and be able to adapt quickly within a fast-paced environment.
About You
* Preferred qualifications in Food Science, Commercial Cookery (Baking) or equivalent.
* Proven experience in food product development, preferably in bakery or chilled/frozen foods.
* Strong culinary skills and knowledge of flavours, ingredients, and bakery processes.
* Hands-on experience with leading product trials and scaling from kitchen to factory.
* Excellent project management, organisational, and documentation skills.
* Knowledge of food safety, compliance, and quality standards.
* Strong collaboration and communication skills to work cross-functionally with marketing, sales, and production teams.