Product Development Lead

About the role

We're looking for an experienced and commercially minded Product Innovation Lead to lead the development of exciting new products across two much-loved brands: Montezuma's premium chocolate and Bristows of Devon traditional confectionery. This is a fantastic opportunity for an innovative food professional who enjoys combining creativity with commercial thinking. You'll own the innovation pipeline from concept through to launch, creating products that delight consumers, strengthen our brands, and deliver profitable growth. Working across Marketing, Operations, Technical, Procurement and Finance, you'll play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our product portfolio while leading a small product development team.

Responsibilities

• Drive Innovation
• Develop and own the innovation pipeline across both Montezuma's and Bristows of Devon.
• Identify emerging consumer trends and market opportunities to create commercially successful new products.
• Balance quick-to-market opportunities with longer-term innovation projects.
• Turn consumer insight into compelling product concepts.
• Bring Great Ideas to Life
• Lead concept generation and product development across both brands.
• Ensure every innovation reflects each brand's unique identity:
• Montezuma's - premium, ethical and flavour-led.
• Bristows of Devon - traditional, accessible and nostalgic confectionery.
• Partner with Marketing to develop product propositions, packaging direction and launch stories.
• Lead the End-to-End NPD Process
• Take ownership of the full Stage-Gate product development process from concept through to launch.
• Deliver projects on time, within budget and to the highest quality standards.
• Oversee product development, factory trials and manufacturing scale-up.
• Identify and manage project risks while keeping stakeholders informed throughout.
• Provide Technical Leadership
• Lead and support the Product Development Technologist.
• Review and approve recipes, specifications and factory trial outcomes.
• Ensure products are technically robust, scalable for manufacture and fully compliant with food safety and labelling requirements.
• Collaborate Across the Business
• Act as the central point of contact for New Product Development.
• Build strong relationships across Marketing, Operations, Technical, Procurement and Finance.
• Keep teams aligned and engaged throughout the development process.
• Deliver Commercial Success
• Work closely with Finance to achieve margin targets and cost objectives.
• Support pricing strategy and product costings.
• Balance creativity with commercial viability and operational practicality.
• Develop People and Processes
• Line manage and coach the Product Development Technologist.
• Foster a culture of innovation, accountability and continuous improvement.
• Keep up to date with consumer trends, competitor activity and industry best practice.
• Continuously improve NPD processes to increase speed, efficiency and effectiveness.
• About You
• You'll be an experienced product innovator with a passion for creating exceptional food products and a proven track record of delivering successful launches.
• You'll also have:
• At least five years' experience in food product development or innovation.
• Experience within confectionery, chocolate or FMCG food manufacturing.
• A strong understanding of product development, food science and manufacturing processes.
• Experience managing products from concept through to commercial launch.
• Strong commercial awareness, including costings, margins and pricing.
• Excellent project management and organisational skills.
• The ability to influence and collaborate with stakeholders across multiple functions.
• Previous experience managing or mentoring others is desirable.

Requirements

• We're looking for someone who is:
• A creative thinker with strong commercial instincts.
• Passionate about food, flavour and delivering outstanding products.
• Hands-on, pragmatic and equally comfortable developing strategy or solving technical challenges.
• Highly organised with excellent attention to detail.
• An inspiring communicator who builds strong relationships and brings people together.
• Why Join Us?
• This is an opportunity to shape the future of two distinctive and well-loved brands, bringing innovative ideas to market while working with passionate colleagues who care about quality, craftsmanship and creating products consumers love.
• If you're excited by innovation, thrive in a fast-paced food environment and want to make a real impact, we'd love to hear from you.

Additional Information

Job Description: Product Innovation Lead Location: Birdham near Chichester Department: Marketing Reports to: Head of Marketing

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