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:
Lead Product Design, Development, and R&D teams to deliver cohesive product ranges
Define the roadmap across traditional, tech-enabled, and licensed categories
Align global product operations, especially between UK and China
Embed insight-driven innovation and professionalise development processes
Guide team growth, recruitment, and cross-functional collaboration
Key Skills and Experience Required
To succeed as Director of New Product Development, you’ll need:
Experience as a Product Director or Director of New Product Development in consumer goods
Track record of managing cross-functional teams and global suppliers, especially in China
Background in sports equipment, gaming peripherals, or consumer electronics
Strong commercial acumen and strategic leadership capabilities
Proven ability to lead NPD programmes through growth and transformation
Salary and Benefits
£115,000 – £120,000 basic salary
Private medical insurance
Company-wide bonus scheme (typically 3–6% of salary)
Flexible working hours (core hours 10 AM – 3 PM)
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.