Job Description

Senior NPD Project Manager in Supply Chain

Hybrid - Barbican

Travel to France occasionally

Our client is a world-famous luxury fragrance house steeped in history and recognised for creating the finest artisan fragrances, using exquisite natural ingredients and traditional methods.

Now one of the largest independent players in high-end luxury fragrance globally, our client has achieved exceptional performance over the last few years and has further ambitions to double in size over the next three years.

Throughout its growth, this heritage brand has maintained a true SME culture at its heart. In this role, you can be sure that you will be heard as a trusted and valued expert voice across the business. You will be able to execute ideas quickly and really feel like you are moving the needle – no red tape!

The brand has a strong commitment to family values, and provides a fantastic and inclusive working environment, where people feel free to be themselves. There is also the possibility of an incredible creative career path across other brands within the group that span luxury fashion and jewellery.

KJ Talent & Partners is working exclusively to hire a Senior NPD Project Manager in Operations to join our client’s incredibly talented London-based global team, which is at the heart of the business and its continued growth trajectory.

This demanding role offers highly rewarding long-term opportunities for an individual with confidence, gravitas, and an ability to calmly think on their feet to perform well under pressure within a rapidly evolving working environment, with regular travel to Paris.

Reporting into the Global Operations Director, this pivotal role will lead product developments and major changes from brief construction through to market availability.

You will coordinate projects across all operations based on business needs to ensure seamless integration with key departments, including R&D, global innovation and marketing, packaging, and sustainability.

Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with global innovation and marketing teams on new product briefs to ensure design-to-cost, profitability, sustainability, and innovation.
• Collaborate with cross-functional partners throughout the NPD launch cycle.
• Manage project development and management activities and product launches to assure timeline and cost-effective new product launches.
• Anticipate, assess, and manage risks related to timing, quality, and cost of NPD projects.
• Optimise PMO product launch processes, tools, and procedures.
• Act as custodian of the stage gate process to drive roll-out across the organisation and ensure adequate training for all relevant stakeholders.

About you:

• More than 7 years of project management experience with responsibility for launching global products, involving cross-functional working with operations teams.
• Experience in developing products and packaging within the beauty industry (ideally in perfume, skincare, or make-up), especially for luxury markets.
• Able to leverage an existing network of relevant luxury or beauty industry suppliers and contacts to share product and packaging development challenges and opportunities.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, international project context with strong relationship management and influencing skills.
• Creative and innovative mindset.
• Analytical with strong problem-solving skills.
• Experience of managing and developing a small team within NPD or other project managers.
• Excellent communication skills, with fluency in French highly desirable.