Job Description

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:

o 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

o 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.

o 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

o 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

o 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

o 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

o 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.

o 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 entrepreneurial spirit. At PROPER SNACKS, we don't sit still. We scale fast, dream big and back our people to make stuff happen. Our values keep us grounded: Be builder. Dream bigger. Seriously fun.

Whether you're joining us in London - where the brands are built, and big ideas take flight. Or in Nuneaton where magic happens in our factory and every bag gets made - you'll be part of a team shaking up the snacking world. Get a flavour of what life is like at PROPER SNACKS here.

London - Drummond Street - London - NW1 3HP

Nuneaton - Townsend Drive - Nuneaton - CV11 6TJ

Our Approach:

PROPER and Eat Real is an equal opportunities employer and we do not discriminate on the grounds of gender, sexual orientation, marital or civil partner status, pregnancy or maternity, gender reassignment, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, disability, or age.

Please let us know if there is anything we can do to accommodate you to participate fully in the recruitment or interview process.