Senior NPD Project Manager

Senior NPD Project Manager Birmingham / West Midlands | Hybrid Working | Permanent Ballantine Recruitment is partnering with an established UK food & drink manufacturing business to appoint a Senior NPD Project Manager. This is a senior, highly visible role for someone who knows how to take control of a busy NPD pipeline, lead people and get complex projects from concept approval through factory and into successful commercial launch. The business is going through an exciting period of development and is looking for someone who can bring structure, pace and strong project leadership to the NPD function. The Opportunity You’ll manage your own portfolio of NPD projects while also leading and supporting a team of Project Managers. You’ll sit at the centre of the development process, bringing together Product Development, Technical, Commercial, Operations, Planning, Procurement, Supply Chain and customers to keep projects moving against demanding critical paths. You’ll also deputise for the Product Development Manager when required, giving you genuine visibility and influence across the wider function. What You’ll Be Doing Lead NPD projects from concept approval through to commercial launch Manage multiple projects and critical paths simultaneously Lead, coach and support a team of NPD Project Managers Ensure customer timelines, internal actions and launch requirements remain on track Work closely with Product Development and Technical teams to deliver customer briefs Lead cross-functional NPD and supplier meetings Work directly with customers throughout the development and launch process Support customer visits, presentations and product launches Coordinate activity across Commercial, Marketing, Technical, Operations, Planning, Procurement and Supply Chain Ensure new materials, products, forecasts and production requirements are ready for launch Identify risks early, remove blockers and drive actions through to completion Provide clear project updates to senior stakeholders Support post-launch reviews and continuous improvement Deputise for the Product Development Manager when required What We’re Looking For Food or drink manufacturing experience is essential. We are particularly interested in candidates who bring: 5+ years’ NPD / Product Development / Project Management experience Strong experience within food or drink manufacturing Proven end-to-end NPD delivery from concept through factory trial and launch Experience managing multiple fast-moving projects and critical paths Strong customer-facing experience, ideally working with major retailers or branded customers Previous team leadership, coaching or mentoring responsibility Good understanding of factory trials, scale-up and manufacturing requirements Strong commercial awareness alongside technical understanding Experience working within structured Stage-Gate / NPD Gate processes Strong stakeholder-management and communication skills SAP and advanced Excel experience would be advantageous Full UK driving licence Why This Role Stands Out This is not a role for someone who simply maintains project trackers. They need someone who can own the agenda, challenge when required and make things happen. You’ll have the opportunity to: Lead and develop an established NPD team Own commercially important product launches Work directly with customers and senior stakeholders Influence how projects are managed across the business Deputise for the Product Development Manager Develop broader leadership responsibility Make a visible impact within a business investing in its future Who Could Be Relevant? We’d be interested in speaking with experienced: Senior NPD Project Managers NPD Managers Senior NPD Managers Product Development Managers Senior Product Development Managers Innovation Managers You must have genuine food or drink manufacturing experience and understand what it takes to move products successfully through factory development and into launch. If you’re looking for a role with greater ownership, visibility and leadership responsibility within a fast-paced food & drink manufacturing environment, we’d be keen to speak with you. For a confidential conversation, contact Ballantine Recruitment.