Senior NPD Manager – 12-Month Contract (Maternity Leave Cover) 

An exciting opportunity is available for an experienced Senior NPD Manager to join a well-established and highly regarded food manufacturing business based in Sydney.

This is a 12-month fixed-term contract covering maternity leave, with a strong possibility of extension.

Reporting into the NPD leadership team, this role will see you leading a team of NPD professionals and managing the end-to-end delivery of new product development projects across retail and foodservice channels.

You will play a key role in commercialising new products, managing stakeholder relationships, and ensuring projects are delivered on time, to budget, and in line with business objectives.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and manage a team of NPD professionals (3 direct reports)
• Drive the delivery of NPD projects through a structured stage-gate process
• Oversee technical, commercial and go-to-market aspects of new products
• Manage cross-functional stakeholders including marketing, sales, finance, planning and production
• Support the development and execution of the NPD pipeline across multiple categories
• Present and support NPD initiatives with key internal and external stakeholders
• Ensure customer, quality and compliance expectations are met

About You:

• Tertiary qualification in Food Science, Business or a related discipline
• Proven experience leading NPD or project management teams within food manufacturing | 3 to 5 years+ experience
• Strong stakeholder management, communication and influencing skills
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment
• Commercial mindset with strong attention to detail
• Experience across retail and/or out-of-home channels highly regarded

What’s on Offer:

• 12-month contract (maternity leave cover) with potential for extension
• Senior leadership role within a stable and reputable food manufacturer
• Start date: January 2026
• Salary up to $130,000 + super, depending on experience
• Sydney-based role with an established and collaborative team

If you’re an experienced NPD leader open to a confidential discussion or contract opportunity, we’d love to hear from you.

�� Apply via Seek or contact us directly for a confidential conversation: Natasha Donaghy - natasha@osbornerichardson.com.au