NPD Lead – Chocolate & Confectionery
Lead Innovation for Two Iconic Confectionery Brands
We're looking for an experienced NPD professional with hands-on chocolate or confectionery product development experience to lead innovation across Montezuma's premium chocolate and Bristows of Devon traditional confectionery.
This is a senior role where you'll own the innovation pipeline from concept to launch, lead a small Product Development team and work cross-functionally to deliver commercially successful new products.
What You'll Do
- Lead the NPD and innovation strategy across both brands.
- Manage the full Stage-Gate process from concept through to commercial launch.
- Develop new chocolate and confectionery products, overseeing trials, scale-up and manufacturing.
- Identify consumer trends and translate insights into commercially successful products.
- Lead and develop a small Product Development team.
- Partner with Marketing, Operations, Procurement, Technical and Finance to deliver projects on time and within budget.
- Drive continuous improvement across the NPD process.
What We're Looking For
Essential:
- Significant experience in chocolate or confectionery product development within a food manufacturing environment.
- Proven track record of taking products from concept through to commercial launch.
- Experience managing multiple NPD projects.
- Strong commercial understanding, including product costings and margins.
- Excellent stakeholder management and leadership skills.
You'll stand out if you have:
- Experience leading or mentoring an NPD team.
- A passion for consumer trends and innovation.
- Experience within premium branded FMCG.
Please note: This role requires direct chocolate or confectionery product development experience. Applications without relevant industry experience are unlikely to be progressed.
Why Join Us?
This is a rare opportunity to shape the future of two much-loved brands, with the autonomy to influence innovation strategy and see your ideas become products on the shelf.
Pay: £40,000.00-£45,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Bereavement leave
- Casual dress
- Company pension
- Free parking
- On-site parking
- Sick pay
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Chichester PO20 7BT: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Application question(s):
- What are your salary expectations?
Experience:
- Chocolate/Confectionery/FMCG: 2 years (required)
- Innovation/NPD: 5 years (preferred)
Work Location: In person
