Join a British fragrance house and own the full NPD function within a fast-growing, experience-led brand with a passionate following and an exciting product portfolio.
The Role
As Head of NPD, you will set the strategic direction for new product development and own the end-to-end pipeline, from concept ideation through to launch across fine fragrance, home fragrance and adjacent categories. You will lead a talented team, drive cross-functional delivery and act as the brand’s guardian of product quality, compliance and innovation.
- Set the long-term NPD vision and roadmap in close partnership with Marketing, defining category, format and white space opportunities across a 3 to 5 year horizon
- Champion a disruptive innovation agenda, leading horizon-scanning sessions, innovation sprints and bold concept development
- Brief and manage external fragrance houses, overseeing scent submissions, formulation development, stability testing and technical sign-off
- Lead bespoke bottle, component and tooling development from concept through to production, providing hands-on technical expertise throughout
- Own full project management including critical paths, costings, bill of materials, margin analysis and launch delivery
- Oversee the artwork process from briefing through to regulatory compliance and final approval
- Maintain master product documentation, physical archives and the packaging library as the single point of reference across all departments
- Own product compliance including PIF, CPSR and safety assessments across all selling markets
- Place first purchase orders for all NPD products and coordinate raw material and component procurement through to delivery
- Build, coach and develop the NPD team, setting clear objectives and growing capability in line with the brand’s ambitions
- Act as the central NPD contact across Marketing, Retail, Ecommerce, Supply Chain and external partners
Sound like you?
You bring at least seven years of NPD experience within fragrance, beauty or personal care, including senior or Head of NPD-level ownership of an end-to-end pipeline. You have a proven track record of disruptive, category-challenging innovation and the leadership skills to build teams that sustain it. Your hands-on technical expertise in mould and tooling development, combined with strong regulatory knowledge and sharp commercial acumen, sets you apart. You are highly organised, confident with numbers and genuinely passionate about fragrance and beauty.