NPD Manager

Kinrise is a growing, privately owned Australian food manufacturer with brands in Biscuits, Breakfast, Baking, Bakery, and Snackfood. Formed in 2018, Kinrise has 40+ years of making iconic Australian food, with a heritage grounded in family origins. This role supports our Snackfood category - home to the Cobs and Poppin popcorn brands. About Kinrise At Kinrise we believe in creating food with passion, purpose, and sustainability. As part of our Snackfoods team, we innovate delicious, high‑quality snackfood products that delight consumers and contribute to a better world. We are looking for an NPD Manager to drive our product development pipeline, champion innovation, and lead technical excellence across our iconic snack brands Cobs and Poppin popcorn. About the Role Innovation & Product Development Lead the end-to-end development of new products—from concept to commercialisation—with a sustainability-first mindset. Collaborate across Marketing, Operations, Sales and Procurement to align products with strategic goals. Create and test prototypes, run feasibility studies, and manage sensory and shelf-life testing. Provide technical insights to guide investments in new lines, packaging processes, and technologies. Stay ahead of food trends and champion a culture of experimentation and innovation. Manage all project phases to ensure delivery on time, in full, and to brief. Value Engineering & Continuous Improvement Lead annual Value Engineering (VE) cost-out initiatives and optimise existing products for margin, efficiency, and sustainability. Drive process improvements in collaboration with Operations and Procurement. Identify packaging, warehousing and logistics efficiencies while maintaining product quality and safety. Project Management & Cross-functional Leadership Lead and coordinate multiple R&D projects with clear milestones, risk mitigation, and stakeholder updates. Build strong relationships with external suppliers and industry partners. Prepare detailed documentation, CAPEX proposals, and ensure Procurement engagement. Health, Safety, Environment & Quality (HSEQ) Ensure compliance with food safety regulations (local & international), FSANZ, product claims, and IP. Support internal and external audits. Ensure product changes do not negatively impact CPMU or OEE. About You Skills & Competencies Expertise in food science and processing technologies. Strong knowledge of FSANZ Code, sensory evaluation, and regulatory standards. Excellent project management and stakeholder engagement skills. Strategic thinker with commercial acumen and a hands-on, problem-solving approach. Resilient, adaptable, and able to lead through ambiguity in a fast-paced, agile environment. Strong attention to detail, excellent communication skills, and a collaborative team player. Experience Minimum 5 years' experience in R&D within food manufacturing, ideally in FMCG. Proven track record of successful product innovation and commercialisation. Experience delivering VE initiatives and driving continuous improvement programs. Kinrise’s Perks Competitive salary + benefits + career development opportunities. Work with iconic products that Aussie consumers love. Access to retail discounts through Reward Gateway. Access to LinkedIn Learning to support your continuous learning journey. Additional week of annual leave after 2 years of service. 2 "You do You" days per year. Company paid parental leave for Primary and Secondary caregivers. No agencies please. Kinrise is committed to creating an environment that welcomes all, celebrates diversity, and fosters inclusion. We are an equal opportunity employer. #J-18808-Ljbffr