Senior NPD Manager

Your Mission You'll build the pipeline that's currently missing at Hawkstone, and take ownership of turning ideas into products on shelf. Hawkstone is going through a major period of expansion - a comprehensive brand and packaging refresh, new can formats, an expanding range of ready-to-drink cocktails, and a first move into low and no-alcohol, alongside international growth already underway across the EU and Ireland with more markets on the horizon. Right now, new product ideas come from across the business, and it falls to a small team to coordinate everything from artwork to co-packers on top of the day job. You'll bring structure and pace to how ideas become products on shelf, without losing the entrepreneurial energy that makes this business move fast. About the Team You'll work across commercial, supply chain, quality, logistics, finance and marketing to keep every launch on track, alongside the operational and supply chain team on relationships with co-packers, new suppliers and packaging partners. What you'll do Own end-to-end delivery of new products and formats - cans, bottles, kegs, pouches, RTD cocktails and emerging categories - from concept through to launch. Build a stage-and-gate process for NPD, introducing structure to de-risk delivery without slowing the business down. Coordinate cross-functionally across commercial, supply chain, quality, logistics, finance and marketing to keep every launch on track, including secondary packaging projects like new outer casing for international markets. Alongside the operational and supply chain team, manage relationships with co-packers, new suppliers and packaging partners. Assess the viability and supply chain impact of new ideas - validating what's realistic, and by when - rather than taking every brief at face value. Support Hawkstone's expansion into new markets, adapting formats and processes accordingly. Act as the critical link between the creative and commercial vision and practical, on-time delivery. What you'll bring to the team Proven experience in NPD, innovation delivery or launch management within food, drink or FMCG, with a track record of managing multiple product launches across different formats and packaging types simultaneously. Strong cross-functional stakeholder management - comfortable influencing without direct authority, holding senior stakeholders to a gate, and confident challenging when something isn't feasible while still working towards an outcome that meets the original need as best as possible. Experience operating in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial or scale-up environment, with the judgement to introduce process gradually and bring people with you rather than impose bureaucracy. A genuinely independent operator, able to take ownership of a broad, sometimes unpredictable remit from day one.