NPD Operations Lead

About the role

LILO® Desserts is seeking an experienced NPD Operations Lead to drive product innovation from concept to commercial launch while ensuring manufacturing and supply‑chain operations can scale efficiently. This hands‑on role bridges the development kitchen, factory floor, supplier meetings and strategic planning sessions.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the creation of new dairy, coconut and fruit‑based desserts, translating consumer insights into commercially viable products.
• Design and execute formulation, sensory, shelf‑life and validation programmes.
• Manage scale‑up activities, factory trials and successful commercialization of new products.
• Support manufacturing readiness, improve quality, efficiency and consistency across production lines.
• Drive continuous‑improvement initiatives and manage QA, operational KPIs, production planning and inventory considerations.
• Assist procurement, supplier management and ensure compliance with food‑safety, regulatory and quality standards.
• Support export market development through product adaptation, compliance and strategic capacity planning.

Required profile

• 10+ years of experience in food science, product development or food‑manufacturing leadership.
• Proven track record of commercialising dairy, non‑dairy, frozen or chilled dessert products.
• Strong understanding of food‑manufacturing systems, factory operations and scale‑up processes.
• Experience managing factory trials, validation projects and cross‑functional teams.

Required skills

• Food science
• Product development
• Formulation
• Sensory analysis
• Shelf‑life testing
• Validation programmes
• Scale‑up
• Factory trials
• Quality assurance
• KPI management
• Production planning
• Inventory management
• Procurement
• Supplier management
• Food safety compliance
• Regulatory compliance