About this role
Head of New Product Development
Location: Worcester (Head Office)
Employment Type: Full-time
Salary & Package
£80,000 – £120,000 (negotiable) plus company car, profit share bonus scheme, private healthcare and a comprehensive benefits package.
Lead innovation. Shape products. Drive long-term growth.
A well-established, fast-growing manufacturer within the construction sector is seeking a Head of New Product Development to lead innovation and product strategy during an exciting period of expansion.
This is a newly created senior leadership role, offering the successful candidate the opportunity to shape the future product roadmap of a global business. The focus is on developing commercially viable, premium products driven by customer insight, focus groups and market intelligence.
The role offers genuine autonomy, influence and visibility, working closely with the executive team to support long-term growth.
About the Business
Our client is a family-owned, internationally operating manufacturer of through wall systems and supplier of surface protection films, adhesive tapes, membranes and associated products for the construction industry.
Their customers include window fabricators, façade manufacturers, modular building specialists and installers across Europe, the Americas and other international markets.
The business is known for its strong culture, collaborative working environment and commitment to innovation. Employee engagement is high, with a strong internal reputation as an excellent place to build a long-term career.
The organisation is actively investing in new product development to meet increasingly demanding industry regulations and to support customers with safer, faster and more efficient installation solutions.
The Role
As Head of New Product Development, you will lead the full innovation lifecycle, from early-stage concept and customer insight through to testing, launch and ongoing performance evaluation.
You will work closely with customers, suppliers and internal teams to identify opportunities where new products can deliver genuine commercial and operational value.
Key responsibilities include:
- Developing and executing the New Product Development strategy aligned with business growth objectives
- Using customer insight, focus groups and market trends to generate and prioritise new product ideas
- Managing the full NPD pipeline, ensuring projects are delivered on time and within budget
- Leading product testing, certification and compliance activities
- Chairing NPD meetings and driving accountability across cross-functional teams
- Tracking KPIs including development lead times, product performance and revenue impact
- Managing trade marks, patents and intellectual property across multiple regions
- Embedding a culture of innovation, creativity and continuous improvement
The role reports directly to the Chief Operating Officer and plays a key role in shaping long-term strategy.
This opportunity will suit an experienced product development leader who combines technical capability with strong commercial awareness.
You are likely to bring:
- Proven experience in New Product Development or R&D
- Strong understanding of the construction industry
- A track record of successfully launching products to market
- Excellent project management and stakeholder leadership skills
- Strategic thinking combined with a practical, hands-on approach
- A genuine passion for innovation and improving standards within construction
You will be motivated, grounded and commercially astute, with the ability to navigate complexity and turn ideas into results.
- Salary of £80,000 – £120,000 (negotiable depending on experience)
- Company car
- Profit share bonus scheme
- Private healthcare
- 23 days’ holiday plus bank holidays
- Additional paid day off for your birthday
- Salary sacrifice pension scheme
- Breakfast and refreshments provided on site
- Eye care voucher scheme
- Professional development and long-term career progression
- On-site parking and employee wellbeing initiatives
Why Apply?
This is a rare opportunity to step into a newly created leadership role where you can make a tangible, lasting impact.
You will have the freedom to build and shape a product pipeline, influence senior decision-making and be part of a growing global organisation that takes innovation seriously.
Other facts
About Universal Business Team
The Universal Business Team (UBT) is a fast-paced global consulting organisation supporting over 3,000 family businesses across 19 countries.
We provide our customers with an unprecedented range of business advisory, coaching, consulting and training programs to move their business forward.
We also partner with leading brands around the world, leveraging our group buying power to ensure our customers can access products and services at competitive prices.
UBT has a unique value proposition to our customers and our staff in that all profits are invested into a higher purpose - education and charity work.
OneSchool Global is one of the largest progressive independent school networks in the world, with over 100 schools in 21 countries.
Rapid Relief Team provides food and water to emergency services during times of disaster, and supports the homeless and people with disability.
What you'll do
- Lead the full innovation lifecycle from concept to launch and performance evaluation. Manage the NPD pipeline, ensuring timely and budget-compliant project delivery.
Ready to join Universal Business Team?
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