Development Account Manager

Location:           Ultrapharm, Pontypool

Shift:                  Monday - Friday

Salary:               Competitive

We have a new opportunity for a Development Account Manager to join our NPD team at Ultrapharm bakery in Pontypool, part of the Finsbury Food Group.

Ultrapharm is a dedicated gluten-free bakery, specialising exclusively in gluten-free products since 1993. Our craft-led approach creates premium products with the flavour and texture of traditional bakery goods, supplying major UK retailers including Marks & Spencer and Waitrose. 

In this role, you will be responsible for developing both NPD and EPD gluten-free products that align with FFG's commercial objectives and evolving market trends. Managing projects from concept through to launch, you will play a key role in delivering innovative, high-quality products, while also supporting cost-reduction initiatives and driving forward exciting 'blue sky' innovation opportunities.

This is what you’ll actually do!

As a Development Account Manager, you will lead the development of new and existing products from concept through to launch, ensuring projects are delivered on time, meet customer requirements and align with Finsbury Food Group's NPD processes and commercial objectives.

Working closely with customers, retailers, Commercial, Marketing and NPD teams, you will identify consumer trends and innovation opportunities, helping to develop exciting new gluten-free products and enhance existing ranges. You will collaborate with Buying, Technical and supplier partners to source new ingredients and packaging solutions, ensuring all materials meet the required quality and approval standards.

You will act as the key contact throughout the development process, building strong customer relationships, attending presentations and meetings, and ensuring projects progress in line with agreed critical paths and project objectives. You will also prepare and manage customer documentation, benchmarking activities and product reviews.

A key part of the role will involve working closely with Process, Production and Technical teams to ensure product feasibility, food safety and compliance requirements are met. You will coordinate factory trials, support pre-production and launch activities, and ensure effective handovers to operational teams. In addition, you will provide regular project updates, manage packaging artwork approvals and help resolve any issues that may impact delivery timelines. You will conduct post-launch reviews to identify successes, lessons learned and opportunities for continuous improvement, supporting the ongoing growth and success of the product portfolio.

Ideally this is you!

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Ability to work closely with other departments including, Commercial, Operations, NPD, Technical, Planning, Purchasing and Engineering
• Ability to liaise and build relationships with external suppliers
• Complete food safety and quality checks as part of development
• Process evaluation to reduce cost and maintain quality
• Excellent presentation skills
• Ability to communicate, present and influence credibly and effectively at all levels of the organization
• Knowledge of M&S systems would be advantageous

Personal Attributes

• Minimum of five years within a food manufacturing environment
• Excellent communication, interpersonal skills and problem solving
• Attention to detail and ability to work in a fast-paced environment
• Self-motivated, with the ability to motivate others, along with the ability to work on own initiative, as well as possessing team working skills and able to demonstrate a continuous improvement ethos
• Have pride in your work and display behaviours that align with the company vision and values (Teamwork, Ownership, Communication, Honesty and Respect)

What’s in it for you?

• Enhanced Maternity & Paternity Leave to allow quality time with your new arrival!
• Enhanced Pension Scheme for our employees
• Death in Service Benefit
• Free Employee Assistance Programme (open to colleagues and their families)
• Retail discounts accessible via our Benefits Hub platform!
• Refer a Friend Scheme (up to £300 per referral – T&C’s dependent)
• Employee Recognition Awards· Extensive Learning & Development opportunities (including opportunities for sponsored professional memberships and our own in-house development course!)
• An opportunity to be part of a fantastic, growing organisation. Head over to our LinkedIn page to find out more!

Our vision is to be the leading specialty bakery group in the UK, and we want the best people in place to achieve this. Our continued success is built entirely on the talented people who work here, so employee development is important to us because everyone is a valued member of the team, and we want every individual to have the skills and capabilities to achieve both your own personal goals and our business goals. We want good people to join our company, to help our company continue to go from strength to strength. If this sounds like you, please get in contact to learn more!