Customer Product Development Manager

Key Responsibility: To work directly with Key customers to develop NPD pipeline via Innovation whilst executing NPD launches to hit clear growth targets. Reports to: Marketing & product Controller Key Accountabilities: Support the commercial function with the product development conversations in front of key customer accounts. Managing cross functional and intercompany project teams to deliver New Products that meet UK market requirements and opportunities using existing production capabilities. Producing detailed product development briefs including desired attributes, target costs, formats and packaging based on approved development concepts and factory capabilities. Owning & reporting on the critical path of each development project to ensure all stakeholders are informed of project status and expectations are well managed internally and externally. Develop a detailed understanding of current capabilities for each of the relevant production sites to facilitate the product development process. Being the main point of contact for customer development teams, engaging upon new briefs and fielding factory level questions around capabilities. Driving innovation for customers via our consultancy support business. Be the go to person internally for your main product area - supporting around questions, NPD and projects.Experience & Requirements: Experience with project management & executing new launches into Retail & Food Service customers. Comfortable customer facing to support in development meetings and liaising upon key projects throughout the critical path. Ability to run internal project calls with key stakeholders, being clear and precise whilst documenting actions & feedback for the wider commercial function. Experience within either Cooked Chicken & Sous vide would be desirable, but not essential Experience of running project and product launches within FMCG essential to this role