New Product Development Manager
2 days ago
Epping
New Product Development Manager On-site, full-time (easy driving distance from Epping, Cheshunt & Bishops Stortford) About the Opportunity A fast-growing consumer brand in the lifestyle, sporting goods and tech/gaming accessories space is seeking a New Product Development Manager to lead the creation of innovative, market-leading products. This is a pivotal role, overseeing the full product lifecycle — from concept and prototyping through to launch — and ensuring projects are delivered on time, within budget, and aligned with commercial goals. The Role As New Product Development Manager, you will: • Introduce and execute a rolling three-year product development pipeline, • Manage the full NPD process: concept, sampling, prototyping, and sign-off, • Collaborate with UK design teams and overseas suppliers to deliver technical development, • Conduct supplier research and sourcing to enhance product offerings, • Define and manage project timelines, ensuring milestones are met, • Oversee packaging sign-off and compliance with UK/EU standards (UKCA, CE, WEEE), • Partner with marketing, sales and supply chain to deliver best-in-class launches, • Manage costs, pricing, and multi-currency price books, ensuring commercial alignment, • Analyse market trends, customer needs and competitor activity to identify opportunities, • Forecast demand, track product performance post-launch, and optimise the pipeline, • Present insights and recommendations to support future product planning What We’re Looking For • Proven experience in product management and project management, ideally in consumer goods or sports/lifestyle sectors, • Strong track record of delivering a three-year product pipeline, • Hands-on experience across the full product lifecycle, from concept to launch, • Commercially astute with strong forecasting and pricing knowledge, • Skilled at managing multiple projects in a fast-paced environment, • Confident communicator, able to work effectively with cross-functional teams and overseas suppliers, • Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate data into actionable strategies, • Knowledge of compliance requirements across UK/EU/ROW markets, • Experience with physical product development is essential What’s on Offer • The chance to drive innovation across a varied and exciting product range, • A collaborative, cross-functional commercial team environment, • The opportunity to make a significant impact in a dynamic, growth-focused business