Director of New Product Development – Harlow, Essex
This is a high-impact opportunity to lead new product innovation for a global consumer brand. As Director of New Product Development, you’ll define and execute the roadmap across sport, tech, and licensed product ranges—earning up to £120,000 plus bonus, private medical, and flexible working hours.
Scope of the Role
You’ll set the strategy and lead end-to-end product development to drive innovation and commercial success. The Director of New Product Development will:
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Lead Product Design, Development, and R&D teams to deliver cohesive product ranges
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Define the roadmap across traditional, tech-enabled, and licensed categories
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Align global product operations, especially between UK and China
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Embed insight-driven innovation and professionalise development processes
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Guide team growth, recruitment, and cross-functional collaboration
Key Skills and Experience Required
To succeed as Director of New Product Development, you’ll need:
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Experience as a Product Director or Director of New Product Development in consumer goods
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Track record of managing cross-functional teams and global suppliers, especially in China
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Background in sports equipment, gaming peripherals, or consumer electronics
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Strong commercial acumen and strategic leadership capabilities
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Proven ability to lead NPD programmes through growth and transformation
Salary and Benefits
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£115,000 – £120,000 basic salary
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Private medical insurance
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Company-wide bonus scheme (typically 3–6% of salary)
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Flexible working hours (core hours 10 AM – 3 PM)
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Office-based in Harlow with opportunities for international travel
This Director of New Product Development role is pivotal to scaling a future-focused product function. You’ll work closely with design and engineering teams to bring concepts to life and deliver category-defining innovations. If you’re a proven Product Director or NPD leader looking to shape strategy and team culture in a globally recognised brand, this could be your next step.
Want to find out more? Click the apply button and we’ll be in touch.