Business Development & NPD Projects Manager

Cranswick Country Foods - Preston, Staithes Road, Hull, HU12 8TB

An exciting new opportunity has arisen for a New Product Development (NPD) Manager to join our NPD Department at our busy Preston site near Hull. The successful candidate will become an integral part of our team, responsible for delivering projects for the customer base from concept to launch, ensuring these meet both the customer and company expectation.

Main Duties Include (but not limited to)

• Lead and Manage Team: Inspire, motivate, and guide the team to deliver exceptional results.
• Drive Innovation: Stay at the forefront of food trends and market insights, developing innovative product concepts. Proactively explore new ingredients, processes incorporating future factory capabilities, and ideas to differentiate Cranswick.
• Project Leadership: Lead strategic projects from concept to execution, ensuring they align with Cranswick's goals and deliver value to both customers and the business.
• Customer Engagement: Cultivate and maintain strong customer relationships through effective communication and regular engagement, ensuring their needs, feedback, and expectations are understood and addressed promptly and professionally.
• Cross-Functional Cooperation: Partner with various departments, including sales, marketing, operations, and technical, to ensure seamless product launches and successful market penetration.
• Commercial Focus: Ensure that new product initiatives are commercially viable and aligned with the current or future capabilities of the site, while also being strategically beneficial.
• Project Management: Oversee the end-to-end development process, ensuring all projects are completed on time, within budget, and to the highest quality standards.
• Launch process custodian: Ensure meticulous adherence to the product development process, rigorously overseeing each stage's completion, accurate documentation, and effective communication with key stakeholders.

What We Look For

• Creative and innovative thinker
• Proven track record of managing and leading a team
• Previous experience of FMCG manufacturing (preferably food related)
• Experience in a similar role beneficial but not essential
• Ability to interact with high profile customers

What We Offer

• Competitive salary - to be discussed at interview stage, including car allowance
• Job stability at a growing and expanding company
• Commitment to progression and career development
• Competitive annual leave entitlement
• Purchase company shares through discounted share scheme
• Company pension scheme - up to 10% employer contribution
• Access to retail discount app, bike to work scheme, health and wellbeing platform

A full job description is available upon request. Salary to be discussed at the interview stage.

Please apply on Indeed or submit your CV & Cover Letter to:

Closing Date: 15 March 2026

Please note that if a suitable candidate is found, this closing date may be brought forward.

If you are an internal applicant, please ensure you have made your line manager aware before applying and confirm this when submitting your application.