NPD Lead Operations Wild HQ

About Us:

Hey there, we're Wild. We're on a mission to remove single-use plastic from the bathroom and redefine the future of personal care across Europe and beyond. We're a high-growth, venture-backed scale-up, launching our refillable deodorant on in 2020 - we're also one of Europe's fastest growing start-ups. Sounds fun, right?

We're looking to hire an NPD Lead to join our Product team and help manage our growing portfolio of D2C and Retail products.The successful candidate will be responsible for a number of Wild's product categories, as well as work on bringing new products to market and championing innovation throughout the business.

The ideal candidate will be passionate about innovation in personal care, have experience with packaging & artwork development across both D2C and retail, be commercially driven and have excellent project management skills, to be able to juggle multiple projects across a range of products.

This role will report into our Head of NPD. You will also collaborate closely with the rest of the Wild team, our suppliers, and customers to ensure we are delivering best in class sustainable personal care products.

Ready to become a Wild thing?!

Some of your responsibilities:

• Lead the end-to-end NPD process, from conceptualisation and formulation to final product launch, ensuring alignment with company goals and customer needs

• Collaborate cross-functionally with Brand, Creative, Fulfilment, and Supply Chain teams to define and execute the product roadmap and limited edition launches calendar

• Conduct market research and consumer insights analysis to identify emerging trends, gaps in the market, and new product opportunities

• Define and refine product briefs, ensuring they meet business objectives, brand standards, and consumer preferences

• Oversee the creation of prototypes, product testing, and trials, ensuring products are safe, effective, and meet regulatory standards

• Manage relationships with external partners, including suppliers, manufacturers, and contract developers

• Develop and manage project timelines, cost & margin analysis to ensure timely delivery of new products.

• Drive product innovation by staying up to date on industry trends, competitive analysis, and new technologies in the personal care space

• Identify potential risks or challenges in the product development process and implement mitigation strategies to ensure the successful launch of new products

• Coach and mentor junior team members, fostering a collaborative and high-performance team environment

• Present product concepts, progress updates, and final outcomes to senior leadership and stakeholders

What we need from you:

Please note that we welcome applications from candidates who may not hit every single bullet point on the lists below - if you're passionate about our mission and feel you have relevant skills and experiences to add value to this role, please submit an application!

• 4+ years of experience in new product development within the personal care, beauty, or FMCG industry.

• Proven experience leading and managing the full product development lifecycle, including formulation, testing, and commercialisation.

• Strong understanding of market trends, consumer insights, and innovation processes

• Excellent project management skills with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet deadlines.

• Strong analytical and quantitative skills (excel/googlesheets)

• Exceptional problem-solving abilities, able to stay calm under pressure

• Ability to work cross-functionally in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

• Excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation skills.

• A passion for personal care products and a deep understanding of consumer needs and preferences.

What you'll get from us:

• 25 days holiday + bank holidays

• Hybrid working, 3 days a week in our shiny new London office

• Weekly early finishes and social events

• Mental wellbeing support through Spill

• Private healthcare through Vitality

• A role at a young but well-established brand making a considerable splash in sustainable self-care

At Wild, we know that diversity drives innovation and creativity. We are committed to creating and maintaining a workplace where all employees feel valued and empowered to bring their most authentic selves to work. We recognise that diversity goes beyond visible differences such as race, gender, age, and ethnicity, and encompasses a broad spectrum of backgrounds, experiences, perspectives, and abilities. We encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply!