Senior NPD Manager

Summary

Lead the customer-focused innovation and NPD strategy across Sofina Foods Europe, driving growth through market-leading innovation for M&S. Identify consumer opportunities, shape retailer growth plans, and lead teams to deliver commercially successful products from concept to launch.

Additional Benefits

Car Allowance, Company Bonus Scheme, Company Pension Scheme, Enhanced Sick Pay, Private Medical Insurance

The Role

This is a hands-on, fast-paced role where you’ll collaborate closely with internal teams and customers, balancing creativity with commercial awareness. You’ll contribute to both brand and own-label development, with particular focus for M&S, while staying ahead of trends and driving continuous improvement across products and processes.

Working cross functionally across the business, you will manage projects from initial concept through to launch approval, ensuring all products meet expectations in terms of food technology, quality, hygiene, safety, legality, and cost.

You will play a key role in driving innovation, building strong customer and supplier relationships, and supporting the development of future NPD strategies and plans.

Your Key Responsibilities

• Create a high-performance NPD culture through coaching, mentoring and capability development.
• Champion best practice NPD processes, governance and ways of working across the business.
• Drive continuous improvement in speed to market, launch success and innovation effectiveness.
• Develop and maintain a rolling 3-year innovation pipeline aligned to customer, category and business growth strategies.
• Identify emerging consumer, market and food trends and translate these into commercially viable innovation opportunities.
• Lead customer innovation sessions and present concepts directly to retailer development teams.
• Build strong partnerships with Commercial, Marketing, Category and Operations teams to ensure innovation priorities are aligned.
• Represent Sofina Foods at customer presentations, innovation forums and product reviews.
  
  

The Ideal Candidate

Key Behavioural Competencies

• A true NPD professional with experience in a retailer focused and fast changing food environment
• Practical and hands on approach with strong experience of NPD Process and Innovation
• Innovative analytical and capable of delivering strategic initiatives
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
• Passion for food, innovation, and product development
• A “superstar” NPD professional you will clearly have ability to inspire and challenge those around you combining strategic NPD experience with a strong commercial ability, and exceptional people skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities effectively
• Collaborative and proactive approach to cross functional working
• Strong leadership, mentoring, and coaching capability
• Solutions focused with strong problem solving skills
  
  

Preferred Experience

• Minimum 8 years experience within a retailer-facing food NPD environment.
• Demonstrable experience leading innovation programmes for major UK retailers, ideally M&S.
• Strong understanding of category strategy, consumer insight and retailer innovation processes.
• Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders both internally and externally.
• Experience presenting innovation strategies and concepts directly to customers.
• Driving licence and willingness to travel as required
  
  

Why Sofina Foods?

• Competitive Salary
• Company Pension Scheme
• Life Assurance
• Online Benefits Hub
• Career Development Opportunities
• Supportive and Collaborative Working Culture
• Opportunity to work on innovative branded and retailer products across Seafood and Pork divisions
• Exposure to cross functional teams, major customers, and exciting development projects
  
  

Company Information

Sofina Foods isn't just a food company - It’s a place to build your future.

With a team of over 13,000 people across 40 sites in Canada and Europe, we're passionate about delivering quality meats and seafood products to consumers around the world.

Join a company where innovation, sustainability, and customer satisfaction drive everything we do. At Sofina, you’ll grow your skills, make a real impact, and work with responsibly sourced products from more than 50 protein sources across five continents.

Our vision is bold: to be the most successful food company in the world. If you’re looking for a rewarding career in the food industry, there’s a place for you at Sofina Foods.

Equal Opportunities

Sofina Foods is proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We’re committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and respected.

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences – regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

Schedule

Monday to Friday

Location

Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire

Hours of Work

Full-time

Company

Sofina Foods

Country Code

GB

AutoReqId

5572BR

AdRef

BAND2HP