Job Specifications
We’re looking for a tastemaker, creator and gatekeeper of all things product to join an ambitious innovation team as an NPD Manager covering a Maternity.
Our innovation team are at the heart of the healthy snacking revolution. We’re looking to offer someone the opportunity to be a thought-leader and pioneer in the snack category and continue our growth as the UK’s fastest growing snack brand.
You’ll be primarily located at the Nuneaton manufacturing site, but we welcome a hybrid approach, with working from home 1-2 days a week. There will be some travel to our London HQ and suppliers.
The Person
We are looking for an NPD manager that’s creative, with a passion for food, you will be eager to deliver new tasty, healthier snacks to market.
As the NPD Manager you will ideally have scientific curiosity and knowledge and understanding of ingredients, components and the effects manufacturing processes with a robust, methodical and analytical approach to deliver complex projects.
You must have a solid understanding of critical path management, you will be aware of what’s required to deliver a brief, on time, in full, as well as have the technical genius, agility and flexible approach to problem solving to tackle any recipe and process challenges that may occur along the way.
The Role
You will be leading the delivery of innovation projects (Eat Real, PROPER and Private Label), developing new, original ideas and taking them from concept through to launch as well as projects to continuously improve our current, exciting portfolio.
You will be working cross functionally with our in-house manufacturing team, marketing and technical teams as well as external suppliers and third-party manufacturers to unlock exciting and commercially viable innovation within a rapidly growing business.
We are looking for this person to start end of Jan 2026
Responsibilities
Ideation – working with Brand, Innovation & Commercial teams – you will dissect project briefs and customer opportunities look for food trends and inspiration, you’ll understand how consumer behaviours and the category landscape effect the product design and you’ll convert project briefs into detailed food briefs and identify areas of scientific exploration for functional ingredients
R&D – partnering with suppliers and scientific bodies, you’ll identify areas of exploration for functional ingredients and new process technologies. You’ll initiate and lead workstreams that enable scientific breakthrough ensuring the Innovation pipeline is packed with next generation snack products.
Development & Prototyping – briefing suppliers and managing stakeholders – you’ll write detailed briefs and manage submissions with suppliers and project teams. You’ll design the prototype recipes ensuring nutritional compliance and claims, factory feasibility and commercial viability are all built-in and preparing for the scale-up
Scale-Up – working with suppliers and the Nuneaton Site – you’ll plan, oversee, assess and report on trials ensuring the concept integrity is upheld once in market
Validation – collecting and assessing data which validates the pack copy and making sure our new creations can be produced safely and consistently by our Nuneaton Site movers and makers
Testing – you will set up shelf-life testing, analysis, data collection and interpretation, run internal and external taste panels and create summaries, reports and recommendations
Stage & Gate Process – you will build the product elements of the Gate documentation following each phase of work. You’ll work with the project management team to flag and mitigate risk to the business using critical paths, commercial insight and factory impact.
Baseline – you’ll ensure that our NPD function is in tiptop condition, is continuously improving and integrating with the wider business functions whilst upholding industry best practice for the management of all aspects of product change
Requirements
You have 3 or more years of food NPD or Process experience already under your belt
Positive, proactive and relentless, you’re able to get stuff done with a flexible, can-do attitude
Working within the Innovation team and collaborating across the PROPER sites, teams and supplier base to achieve project goals you are a team player but not afraid to fight your corner
Excellent communication skills are a must, verbal confidence combined with the ability to be concise in writing briefs and reports tailored to your audience
You hold a degree level qualification in Food Science/ Food Technology/ Food Manufacturing
Oh yes and a love of snacking – passionate about food and with a discerning palate for product tasting!
About PS
PROPER SNACKS is the home of PROPER and Eat Real. The UK’s fastest-growing major snacks company.
We’re a diverse team of builders, thinkers, creators and makers - based in London and Nuneaton and serving snackers across Europe. Our brilliant team are united by an insatiable curiosity and driven by an entrepren
About the Company
As the UK’s fastest-growing major snacks company, we’re here to improve snacking. And we’re in a hurry to do it. Built by founders who believed snacks could be better. That belief still fuels us today. We create bold flavours, standout packs, and use ingredients sourced with care. And behind it all is a team that never settles for ordinary. As the UK’s first B Corp snacks brand - and now the largest B Corp snacks manufacturer - we’re setting new standards for what snacking looks, feels, and tastes like. Every month, 12 milli...
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