Product Development Manager - Food, Fixed Term Contract covering maternity

Product Development Manager - Food, 12 month maternity cover
At Costa Coffee, we’re on a mission to reimagine coffee experiences across the globe. From bustling cities to local communities, we’re creating meaningful coffee moments, powered by innovation and driven by purpose.
As a proud part of the Coca-Cola system and working hand in hand with our pioneering partners, we’re in over 50 countries and counting. Whether it's served in-store, from a machine, at home, or on the go, every cup is thoughtfully crafted by our passionate teams who put heart into every moment.
Our teams truly make a difference. Whether it's pioneering new tech for the perfect pour, launching award-winning campaigns, developing exciting new menu items, or supporting our people to grow – together, we stir up success.
We are seeking a respected R&D leader in Food Product Development to join us on a maternity cover basis, playing a pivotal role across our Savoury and Sweet/Impulse retail platforms. With our food offering a key strategic priority over the next 12 months, this position presents an exciting opportunity to drive innovation, renovation, and reformulation that delivers both growth and margin improvement. Working at the heart of a highly collaborative, customer-focused environment, you will translate consumer insights into commercially successful food solutions, leading cross-functional teams to deliver high-impact product development from concept through to commercialization.
We value curiosity, inclusivity, and a problem-solving mindset. If you thrive in a fast-paced, global environment and are excited to make a meaningful impact, we encourage you to apply.
With inspiring experiences, development programmes, and our apprenticeship scheme, your career can grow far beyond the day-to-day.
What you’ll do
Being a Product Development Manager - Food is about so much more than bringing our coffee to the world. It’s your chance to stir up real success - which means you’ll:
• Design and deliver products to meet an ambitious Food innovation pipeline, aligned to category strategy and Food & Nutrition goals, with real influence on future direction and growth.
• Translate consumer, customer, and category insights and concepts into compelling product innovation projects that drive profitable, scalable outcomes.
• Lead high-profile product innovation end-to-end, presenting to senior stakeholders and collaborating cross-functionally across Marketing, Finance, Sales, and Supply Chain.
• Partner closely with suppliers and internal teams to bring ideas to life, ensuring seamless execution of new launches and continuous improvement of core products.
• Play a hands-on role in product excellence, from leading taste panels and benchmarking quality to ensuring smooth, right-first-time launches supported by clear operational processes.
Who you are
It’s your unique ingredients we’re interested in:
• Degree-qualified in Food Science (or similar), with deep industry knowledge, and a strong grasp of end-to-end product development from concept to launch.
• Proven R&D leader with the ability to inspire and manage both projects and people, combining strategic thinking with hands-on delivery in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment.
• Extensive experience in food product development, including managing complex, multi-market projects, working with suppliers on co-development, and navigating Stage-Gate processes to deliver successful launches.
• Highly analytical with strong numerical skills and attention to detail, complemented by excellent communication skills to confidently influence and engage stakeholders at all levels.
• Brings a well-developed sensory capability, with a refined palate and the ability to identify subtle differences in aroma, flavour, taste, and texture to drive product quality.
So, why Costa?
We didn’t become a global coffee brand by sitting back. When you work here, you join a community that values passion, progression, and integrity—with some brilliant perks to sweeten the deal. We work in a hybrid environment, giving us the flexibility to balance life while still spending meaningful time together and building strong connections:
• Own a piece of Costa’s success by becoming a share owner in Coca-Cola with our Share Investment Plan (SIP)
• An annual discretionary bonus scheme, based on business results and individual contribution.
• A smart pension that saves you money on tax and national insurance, and matches your contributions up to 10%
• The Costa Financial Support Fund, supporting team members who find themselves in unexpected financial pressure
• 50% discount in all Costa-owned stores, and 25% off in other participating stores
• Private medical cover thanks to our Private Healthcare scheme
• And that’s not all. Explore even more of our perks here: https://bit.ly/costaperks
Location – Hybrid – Loudwater – required to attend our Loudwater Innovation Centre a minimum of 3 times a week.
For any reasonable adjustments and general queries, please get in touch with costa.recruitment@costacoffee.com
We believe in living life with heart – and that starts with our people. By showing up as our authentic selves, we create a culture where everyone belongs. We celebrate diversity in all its forms and are committed to building an equitable and inclusive environment—one that embraces the unique blend of experiences, identities, and perspectives each person brings. This rich diversity strengthens our teams and reflects the spirit of our global brand.
Grounded in our core values – Disciplined to Deliver, Passion for Progress, Win with Warmth, Courage to Challenge, and Trusted Team Players - we strive to make a meaningful impact in everything we do. From empowering communities through the Costa Foundation to supporting local initiatives, we’re committed to changing lives in coffee-growing regions and right here at home.