Head of Product Development – Brand and Futures

Head of Product Development: Brand & Futures

Location: Hybrid: Travel Across the UK and Internationally

Industry: Chilled Food Manufacturing

Are you passionate about food, brimming with innovative ideas, and ready to shape the future of branded product development? If so, this is probably the best job in product development on the market—and we want you to apply!

At The Compleat Food Group, we’re looking for an exceptional Head of Product Development: Brand & Futures to lead and inspire our branded product development teams. With a unique and diverse portfolio of brands, this role is a rare opportunity to make a significant impact in the chilled food sector, driving innovation and growth in one of the most exciting corners of the FMCG industry.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Leadership & Strategy: Set and execute the product development strategy for our branded portfolio, ensuring alignment with our growth aspirations and category plans.
• Pipeline Creation: Lead the design and delivery of robust innovation pipelines that inspire customers and drive business growth.
• Relationship Building: Build and nurture pro-active, positive relationships with customers and internal stakeholders, influencing at all levels to deliver results.
• Future-Focused Innovation: Stay ahead of the curve, bringing a passion for food trends, a keen eye for “what’s next,” and expertise in areas such as the plant-based category and fermentation.
• Process Excellence: Continuously refine and improve our branded product launch process, ensuring it’s fit for purpose and delivers timely, high-quality results.
• Travel: Travel across our site portfolio and mix of customers, working with your remote team. There will also be ample opportunity to travel internationally with our extensive supply base.

Who We’re Looking For?

We need a driven and visionary leader with:

• Extensive Experience: A proven track record in chilled FMCG product development and innovation, ideally across both retail and branded products.
• Customer Focus: Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build and maintain positive customer relationships.
• Strategic Mindset: Demonstrated success in creating and implementing innovation pipelines that deliver growth.
• Passion for Food: A genuine love for food and curiosity about future food trends, especially in plant-based and fermentation categories.
• Operational Excellence: Deep knowledge of the product launch process and food regulations, coupled with project management and commercial acumen.

Desired Qualifications & Skills

• A food-based degree or equivalent experience.
• Extensive leadership experience in retail or FMCG, ideally as a Head of Development or Senior Manager.
• Strong planning, organization, and presentation skills.
• Commercial acumen, analytical skills, and a good grasp of UK and EU food regulations.
• Proficiency in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams.

About You: Your Qualities

We’re looking for someone who is:

• Self-motivated, energetic, and flexible, with a can-do attitude.
• A creative problem-solver who thrives in a fast-paced environment.
• A senior team player with strong interpersonal skills and high integrity.
• Confident, emotionally intelligent, and capable of influencing at a senior level.

Why work for us?

• Work with some of the UK’s most unique and exciting food brands.
• Be at the forefront of innovation in a dynamic, fast-paced industry.
• Join a passionate team and lead a function that’s critical to our success.
• Shape the future of food, from ideation to shelf.

Benefits to Include:

• Car Allowance
• Bonus
• 33 Days annual leave
• 2 Employee Volunteering Days per year
• Online and High-street retailer discount scheme 
• Employee well-being and community support groups
• Informal and Formal training opportunities with personalised online LMS platform
• Charity Initiatives and Team events
• 24/7 Access to Grocery Aid (Free Financial, Emotional and Practical Support)
• Physical Well being Benefits – Free on demand exercise hub and various gym discounts.
• Online Well being benefits
• Free Financial wellbeing – mortgage calculators, budget tools, financial aid tools
• Holiday Discounts via Online Retail Discount

Are You Ready to Join Us?

If you’ve got the passion, expertise, and ambition to lead branded product development in a fast growing large company that’s redefining the future of food, we want to hear from you.

This is your chance to make your mark. Apply now and let’s create something incredible together.

The Compleat Food Group are proud to have built an inclusive and respectful culture where our colleagues feel safe, supported and valued. A place where they can bring their whole selves to work to achieve exceptional results and thrive. We continue to attract diverse talent into our teams, because we know greater diversity leads to exceptional results and provides a better working life. That’s why we’re committed to ensuring Fairness, Equity, Inclusivity, and Respect in all that we do. 

Recruitment Agencies: We have an active and trusted Preferred Supplier List to assist us if required. We do not acknowledge any speculative CVs or unsolicited candidate introductions from agencies.