Senior Product Development Manager

Job Description

Sysco GB (whose UK operating companies include Brakes, Fresh Direct, KFF & Medina), has an exciting opportunity for a Senior Product Development Manager to join the Centre of plate team on a permanent basis. The role is critical to develop a differentiated product proposition with a particular focus on Fresh & Independent.

As a Senior Product Development Manager, you will lead product development initiatives including new product development, innovation, resourcing, and value-engineering across designated categories across Centre of plate. The main objective is to drive category growth by increasing volume and sales through effective innovation, while also enhancing category performance and margins through strategic value-engineering. This will involve improving product quality, availability, and cost competitiveness via resourcing and new supplier onboarding.

The role is also responsible for supporting product placement within the supplier base, ensuring alignment with Sysco’s requirements, including packaging standards, product quality, and tiering criteria.

This role is offering a hybrid working contract with a mixture of home working and time spent in the Ashford, Kent office per week, so you must be in a commutable distance and flexible with travel.

Key accountabilities;

• Develop effective products that will work in one or multiple sectors in GB to drive category growth through innovation, product or tiering gap fill and / or category expansion
• Complete value engineering project work, focussing on both value-in and cost-out initiatives, to optimise product, product packaging, production efficiency, route to market and more for Sysco, never at detriment to product quality or volume impact of product
• Lead on the implementation of any product resourcing needed as required within the COP team such as to support product tendering
• Champion the compliance of Sysco brand standards and packaging standards throughout workstreams
• Support the RACI work to ensure effective ways of working between the EU Hub and the in-market teams.
• Lead the Pivot to driving more leading Independent innovation whilst maintaining relevant range for our corporate customers
• Work with the Category and Sourcing Managers to contribute towards the building of Joint Business Plans, Supplier Strategy documents, Category Strategies.
• Own the relevant actions within supplier and category strategies in relation to product development, value-engineering and resourcing.
• Work in partnership with internal & external category functions, Meat Specialists & operations to ensure all NPD / EPD is relevant & is executed professionally
• Ensure market insight is gathered and shared throughout the department to aide in proposition planning
• Maintain accurate data on agreed product changes.
• Make fact-based decisions using a blend of Sysco internal data and insights, and external third-party data sources including but not limited to competitor ranges, supplier data, market trends.
• Source within Sysco brands global standards, considering associated lead time requirements.
• Enhance supplier relationships through innovation, sales growth, strategy alignment, conflict resolution, partnership way of working.
• Role will have 2 direct reports covering Product development executive and Product Manager

About you;

The ideal candidate will have proven product development experience within a food business or similar role, with solid factory and process knowledge. You should understand product development processes and be capable of creating detailed critical paths. Familiarity with Sysco brand criteria including product specifications, tiering, packaging, and FSQA standards is desirable. The role requires openness to change and enthusiasm for working in a dynamic, future-focused team. Strong cross-functional and cross-market relationship-building and influencing skills are essential, along with a team-oriented mindset. You have a track record of delivering results in NPD, such as growth-driven development, value-engineering without compromising quality or sales, and category expansion. Strong data-driven decision-making and an understanding of product costs and value are important. Proactivity, agility, and a willingness to learn are key, as are strong Microsoft Office skills (Teams, Excel, PowerPoint) at an intermediate to advanced level. Experience in a chilled food manufacturing environment would be a plus.