New Product Development (NPD) Project Manager

New Product Development (NPD) Project Manager

(12-month contract, maternity leave cover)

Your Manager: Head of New Product Development

Team: Manufacturing, New Product Development

Location: Dumbarton – We operate a hybrid working approach

Be part of something big

We are Pernod Ricard, a leading company in the global wines and spirits industry with over 19,000 employees globally. We own 16 of the world’s top 100 Spirits Brands and hold one of the most prestigious and comprehensive brand portfolios in the industry with 240 premium brands available in over 160 countries, including: Absolut vodka, Ballantine’s, Chivas Regal, Royal Salute, and The Glenlivet Scotch whiskies, Jameson Irish whiskey, Martell cognac, Havana Club rum, Beefeater, Malfy and Monkey 47 gins, Malibu liqueur, Mumm and Perrier-Jouët champagnes as well Jacob’s Creek, Brancott Estate and Campo Viejo wines.

Here in the UK

In the UK, Pernod Ricard is made up of 4 businesses:

• Chivas Brothers, the largest brand company in the Group, responsible for the production and management of our award-winning Scotch whisky portfolio
• Pernod Ricard UK, which markets, sells and distributes our products in the UK market
• Pernod Ricard Global Travel Retail, the global and EMEA home of the group’s duty free, air travel and cruises business.
• The Absolut Group, the brand owner of our global white spirits portfolio, whose Gin brand unit and Business Acceleration team sit in London.

We are an organisation of 2,000 employees in the UK, headquartered in London, in a brand-new office designed with sustainability, ‘conviviality’ and collaboration in mind. We also have offices in Scotland and various distilleries and production sites across the UK from Plymouth to London to Speyside.

Your new team

This position sits in our Chivas Brothers business. At Chivas Brothers, our 1,600-strong team across 27 sites is committed to upholding the heritage of Scotch and ensuring its sustainable future, as well as opening it up to new audiences across the globe.

The scope of Operations stretches from Procurement through conversion (distillation and maturation) and manufacturing (or bottling) to all the downstream Supply Chain activities until the final product is delivered.  In addition, Operations play a very active role in Innovation, Talent Development and Operational Risk Management.

The Manufacturing New Product Development (NPD) team are a team of around 30 people based at our manufacturing site in Dumbarton.  The team support the business by developing new packaging products to support our brand and innovation strategies.

Your unique contribution

The Project Manager will lead New Packaging Projects from feasibility of concept to delivery for launch and will manage and develop a team of Packaging Technologists.

You will have four main areas of responsibility:

Project Management – to lead New Packaging Projects from feasibility of concept to delivery on behalf of Brand teams, Regional Innovation teams and Manufacturing and to create timing plans and costs in line with the stage gate process requirements.  You will manage and report on obsolescence, actively working to minimise on each project, and conduct post project reviews.  You will also be responsible for leading improvement projects using the TRACC/A3 model.

Product Development – to apply design for manufacturing principles to all innovations to ensure required line performance.  You will manage the NPD Risk Management Process for all NPD projects, identifying the risks and required mitigations to ensure successful project delivery.  You will also initiate and manage the trialling and testing of all new packaging and manage the handover process from project status to on-going live product status with Manufacturing stakeholders.  You will be responsible for ensuring component developments and approvals are in line with Product Life Cycle Process.

Leadership – to be responsible for the development and performance of your team and to actively support the development and implementation of the NPD strategic roadmap as well as the drive towards Pernod Ricard sustainability targets, through all projects.

Compliance – to initiate the creation of quality standards for all new packaging by liaising with suppliers, Brand teams and Quality and to manage and maintain the system to ensure compliance with ISO9001:2008 and ISO22000:2005 in respect to development & delivery stages of the process.  You will create all necessary documentation for gate approval of all projects and enrol and engage the nominated Suppliers to ensure projects are delivered on time, meeting quality and financial targets. You should be aware of IP rights and confidentiality agreements in relation to component development.

Who you’ll be working with

Internally, you will collaborate with the wider Manufacturing team, including supply chain, bottling and quality as well as other functions such as Finance and Brand teams.

Externally, you will work with suppliers and vendors to ensure delivery of services to the highest standard.

Your blend of talent

This position could be right for you if you:

• Have a degree in a relevant subject or equivalent industry experience along with significant experience in a similar role within the FMCG industry.
• Have excellent project management, and problem-solving skills, ideally with a project qualification as well as excellent skills in word, excel and power point
• Have detailed knowledge of project governance process e.g., stage gate process, as well as manufacturing processes, bottling line requirements and capabilities and supply chain processes and packaging.
• Hold a full UK driving license

Our mix of benefits

For your health, we offer private medical insurance, income protection and a comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme.

Our lifestyle benefits include 28 days’ annual holiday, your employee pension, share incentive plan, season ticket loans, payroll giving and more!

You can access lots of gifts & discounts, including an allowance each year to spend on our brands in our staff shop and employee discounts from a range of high street retailers.

We have regular events in our very own office bar, employee-run networks, a culture of flexibility and trust and a variety of tools and resources to help you focus on your wellbeing and mental fitness.