NPD Manager - Laundry & Household

An established and well known manufacturer and household chemical brand owner are currently recruiting for a Technical NPD Manager for their team based in Redditch, West Midlands.

With an experienced/senior development chemistry background within household and cleaning products, the successful applicant will take charge of a small team of chemists

Key responsibilities:

• Lead the team in the development of products which meet agreed product brief targets in terms of performance, safety, cost and time.


• Ensure all on pack claims are justified using agreed industry and regulatory standards.


• Provide the business with monthly updates on the progress of all NPD projects. Maintain a list of all product development tasks. Ensure all business critical issues are reported in a timely manner to senior management.


• Ensure that MSDS, COSHH data and SOP’s are available before any technical product development task is undertaken in the lab. Review and update process and procedures in line with regulation.


• Ensure all appropriate documentation is in place prior to the manufacture of any product. Liaise with Manufacturing and Quality Control gaining approval and support for any manufacturing and QC process or standard. Update any changes post trial and ahead of first production.


• Ensure that all research work is conducted and documented to industry scientific standards.


• Ensure that production are aware of any unusual product properties or special process need ahead of any trial


• Proactively provide solutions to issues which may arise during the development process and/or in pilot plant manufacturing


• Provide action plans for continuous product and process improvement. Regularly review formulation costs setting this in context with external benchmark product


• Using market understanding,  identify new product opportunities and present any opportunity to the commercial team


• Regularly review team performance providing constructive feedback to individuals. Identify team strengths and highlight any gaps. Identify training opportunities and agree the need with line management.

Skills, experience and qualifications:

• Indepth knowledge of surfactants and raw material functionality for household and laundry product development. Excellent understanding of the product evaluation processes required to qualify on pack claims.


• Formulation experience within a R&D household/ laundry environment with a proven track record of delivering effective project leadership and product quality


• Must be familiar with analytical techniques. 


• Ability to work effectively and represent the business both independently and as part of a team within and outside of the business.


• Ability to meet deadlines while being adaptable to cope with changes in priorities and interruptions.


• Good understanding of the regulatory environment and standards


• Must have effective verbal and written communication skills.


• Ideally Excellent knowledge of household/ laundry market and key competitors’ technology.


• Must be proficient with Excel, PowerPoint and Word software.