Head of Npd - Thetford, United Kingdom - Prestige Personal Care Ltd

Description

The NPD department is structured with a Head of NPD, Technical Manager, Lab Manager, Senior Development Chemists, Formulators, Development Chemists, Lab Assistants, Microbiologist and a Technical Administrator.

The business encourages it's NPD team to be creative and identify new raw materials and concepts to offer to new and existing customers, as well as working existing raw materials and formulations hard.

The main purpose of this role is to lead and direct the team to meet our customer's needs and support delivery of our commercial goals through innovative, efficient and timely product development.

Responsible for directing and managing the output of the function, coaching and developing the team to deliver successful customer formulation projects and ensuring that all projects are delivered in the most time efficient and cost-effective way.

This includes supervising and improving; formulations processes, sampling, batch scale up, utilising and managing existing raw materials efficiently, liaising with customers, internal departments & senior management.

Experience of leading a team, leading innovation through formulation, managing performance to a time-sensitive critical path and ability to problem solve for the team essential.

• Lead the department to support the achievement of overall business strategies. Measure performance and direct the team to improve delivery.
• Recruit, develop, motivate and retain a team sufficient to meet business needs and department objectives.
• Manage the full NPD team, working to develop team goals, personal objectives and supporting strategies to harness a winning team. Coach and support team to fulfil their own job description and to correctly meet all customer needs in a timely fashion.
• Support the Technical Manager in providing proactive technical support to Chemists, Process and the QC Lab where necessary.
• Manage the team to develop new product development formulations, from the laboratory through to scaleup and commercialisation, with a view to RFT batch production. Oversee NPD trials and feasibility for new products and processes for potential new and existing accounts.
• Work with Quality Manager and Compliance & Regulatory Manager to ensure full business compliance with industry and statutory regulations.
• Oversee all projects to ensure product performance, safety and timescale adherence.
• Attend industry shows, analyse and interpret market trends, materials and technologies and communicate knowledge gained with NPD and commercial teams.
• Ensure that all formulation and product stability trials are conducted by the department to ensure the product shelf life, as well as organising and creating raw material, product and customer specifications for new NPD and existing products.
• Lead the team to design and develop formulations and new product concepts to meet market trends. Present these concepts to the wider team and customers, offering technical support and guidance.
• Oversee the planning and execution of internal & external product testing by the Technical Administrator.
• Oversee the timely preparation of Product Information Files (PIFs) etc. and ensure crosscharges and chargebacks are completed by Technical Administrator.
• Attend and contribute to Senior Management meetings.

• Degree qualified, or equivalent, in Chemistry or Science, preferably Cosmetic Science. However, SCS diploma will be considered, with significant experience of working in new product development leadership roles and leading customer projects.
• Experience of/with:
• The formulation, development and management of personal care, organic/natural, bath & body care, skin care, hair care, foot care, fine fragrances and household laundry products.
• Supporting a high volume of new product launches
• Contract manufacturing of low cost to premium branded and organic/natural products.
• Strong knowledge of basic chemistry, including emulsions, emollients, sunscreens and surfactants is key. Knowledge of formulating bath and body, skin care, hair care, hair styling, sunscreens or organic/natural would be advantageous.
• Experience of leading and setting the pace for a broad team.
• Interpersonal skills and cross functional working abilities.
• Excellent communication skills (both verbal and written reporting), conveying views and ideas logically and gives formal presentations internally and/or externally. Interacts effectively within project teams and takes responsibility for team delivery.
• Computer literate in Microsoft Office, including but not limited to Word and Excel.
• Selfmotivated and enthusiastic with the ability to work unsupervised, using their own initiative, with a passion for cosmetics
• Excellent organisational skills and time management, with the ability