Head of New Product Development – Cosmetics

Head of New Product Development – Cosmetics
Full time, 37.5 hours - Fixed Term/Secondment

Here at No7 Beauty Company we have a rare opportunity to join our business and be part of the #1 Skin Care brand in the UK as Head of New Product Development.

This position is full time, 37.5 hours and can be based in either London or Nottingham.

Working within our No7 Cosmetics Global Product Development Team, the successful candidate would be responsible for building the strategy & delivery of product development for No7 Cosmetics, creating compelling & consumer led propositions, which drive revenue & profit for the business and our customers. We are looking for talent who can encourage us to think differently and change beauty for the better.

WHO WE ARE

No7 Beauty Company is more than just one voice. In 2021 six brands - No7, Liz Earle, Soap & Glory, Botanics, Sleek MakeUP and YourGoodSkin - joined forces and No7 Beauty Company was born. We believe in creating the best in beauty for everyone - we’re innovators with a passion for challenging perceptions with ground-breaking products, proven results and positive impact. We have built a reputation on scientific innovation, whilst being environmentally sustainable and socially responsible. No matter where you work in No7 Beauty Company, you’ll be empowered to bring your authentic self and we share a culture where diversity, equity and inclusion are at the centre of everything we do. Join us and together we can achieve more. Find out more here.

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Head of NPD will report directly to the Global Product Director and be responsible for the management of the Global Cosmetics Product Team

Key day to day activities include:

• Owning and setting the vision for our product innovation pipeline to support our 3 – 7-year strategy
• Leading and inspiring a talented team of product managers by appraising new product ideas and strategising innovative go-to-market plans
• To deliver the plan your team will utilise and represent our consumer needs through the analysis of market data and competitor analysis
• Work with our packaging agencies to determine creative execution design team to adapt products based on compliance for different regions/countries
• As the brand guardian for all new product development you will ensure all products are aligned accordingly to the branding guidelines
• Managing senior stakeholders including No7 Beauty Company Board to excite and align to the innovation pipeline and to build confidence that unlock investments
• Accountable for managing the Global Product Development budget; ensuring portfolio and brand sufficiency targets are delivered within budget
• Drive the execution of all product life cycle processes for products, including product research, market research, competitive analysis, planning, positioning, roadmap development, requirements development, and product launch
• Collaborate closely with production, marketing, and commercial teams across our Regions (UK, US, Europe) on the development, QA, and release of products and balance of resources to ensure success for the entire organisation
• Develop product positioning and messaging that differentiates from our competitors and its features across primary market segments

We offer our Support Office team members a flexible, hybrid working approach based upon empowerment, accountability, care and trust which includes a balanced mix of remote and office-based working - this will be discussed with you as part of the application process.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED TO HAVE

Our ideal candidate has expert cosmetics category knowledge and a huge passion for product development. Further experience would include:

• New product development within an FMCG, Fashion or CPG environments
• A demonstratable passion and energy for beauty and the drive to challenge the status quo
• Open to travel
• Proven track record of delivering innovation pipelines to deliver growth
• Previous experience within a management role
• Champions understanding, capturing, and communicating the reality of consumer needs and translating into product concepts successfully launched globally
• Engagement and management of senior stakeholders at Board Level
• Ability to translate macro trends into micro product detail these include packaging, formulation, fragrance & design elements.
• Expert in manufacturing & production methods on the category with a key understanding how to utilise supplier capabilities alongside our inhouse Research team to develop breakthrough innovation

IT WOULD BE GREAT IF YOU ALSO HAVE

• Global experience
• Experience within the Beauty industry

OUR BENEFITS

• Travel links including on campus bus stops, parking and close to train and tram links
• Generous discount on our own brands and partner businesses
• Excellent onsite facilities including staff shop, opticians (including free eye tests for team members), gym, cafeteria, outdoor seating spaces and dry-cleaning service

We have a great range of benefits in addition to the above that go beyond salary and offer flexibility to suit you; click here to view our full list of company benefits (all rewards and benefits are subject to change and eligibility).

WHAT’S NEXT?

We are always open to discussing possible flexible working options and what this may look like for you, including job share and reduced hours. If you require additional support as part of the application and interview process, we are happy to provide reasonable adjustments to enable you to be at your best.