New Product Development Manager

Job Description About Us:Seabrook Crisps, established in 1945, is a proud British brand known for its iconic crinkle-cut crisps and bold flavour innovation. What began as a simple snack in Bradford has grown into a nationally recognised brand with a loyal following.In 2018, Seabrook was acquired by Calbee, one of the worlds largest snack manufacturers, marking an exciting new chapter of growth. Now part of the Calbee Group UK, with manufacturing sites in Bradford and Deeside, the business continues to perform strongly in a challenging market - driven by ambition, innovation and great people.With exciting growth plans and innovation at the heart of our strategy, we are now recruiting a passionate New Product Development (NPD) Manager to strengthen our Marketing & R&D function and help shape the future of our brand and own-label portfolio.About the Role:As NPD Manager youll play a critical role in driving Seabrooks future innovation pipeline across both branded and own-label products. Working closely with Marketing, Sales, Supply Chain and our Group R&D team, youll take end-to-end ownership of New Product Development - from concept through to launch.This is a hands-on, visible role where you will build concepts, develop samples, work with suppliers, lead projects and help embed an innovation-led culture across the business. Youll also collaborate with key retail customers to deliver commercially successful products that delight consumers and meet market needs.This role is based in Bradford (hybrid working minimum 3 days on site), with some travel to our Deeside site and customer locations as required.Key Responsibilities:Drive the brand innovation strategy and build a robust NPD pipelineLead the development and delivery of brand NPD projectsWork closely with Sales and customers to generate own label concepts and deliver projectsManage the full NPD lifecycle from trend tracking and insight through to launchCreate product concepts, samples and specifications, working with suppliers where requiredCollaborate with Supply Chain to deliver packaging and product requirementsLead cross-functional project teams and oversee the stage & gate processChampion innovation culture across the business.What Were Looking For:A minimum of 4 years experience in commercial FMCG product developmentProven experience delivering successful NPD projects from concept to launchStrong project management skills with the ability to work cross-functionallyKnowledge of frying and extrusion technologies is advantageousExperience working with major UK retailers on own-label development is beneficialExcellent IT and organisational skillsUK Full Clean Driving Licence Desirable but not essential:Fluent in JapaneseExperience of working with international marketing teamsDegree in Food Science, Food Technology, Nutrition or similarExperience in savoury snacksPersonal AttributesCollaborative and influential, able to work across functions and levelsResilient, positive and calm under pressureProactive, self-motivated and agile in approachPurpose-led with strong priority managementPragmatic, creative problem solverWell-organised with excellent attention to detailWhat We Offer:A dynamic, growing business with strong leadership and visionA collaborative culture where innovation is encouragedCompetitive salary and benefits packageOpportunities for development within a global organisationA real opportunity to shape products enjoyed by millions of consumersHow to Apply: If youre ready to take the next step in your R&D career and want to be part of an exciting growth journey, wed love to hear from you. Please send your CV and cover letter to: [email protected]

Created: 2025-12-14