NPD Manager with Ancient + Brave
Help us drive growth of our rapidly expanding brand and become an integral part of a team that’s shaping the future of health and wellbeing.
ABOUT US
Ancient + Brave is a mission driven wellness brand, founded in 2018 by Kate Prince who saw a gap in the market for sustainable products which support women’s health and wellness. From the start Kate wanted the company to be unique, creating innovative formulas with targeted health benefits. The elements of daily ritual and ancestral health are integral to the brand.
As a B-Corp, Ancient + Brave meets the highest standards of social and environmental Impact. The brand has developed an incredible following in the UK and following investment from Piper, is ready to scale in the UK and internationally.
Want to be a part of a team that’s shaping the future of health and wellbeing?
We’d love to have you!
THE ROLE
This is a brand new role for an Innovation Project Manager to sit within the dynamic Nutrition+Innovation Team. The successful candidate should have experience of new product development from conception to launch with a passion for bringing innovative wellness products to market in a very quick-moving and fast-growing business.
Reporting to (and supported by) our Head of Innovation you will be an integral part of the team, working collaboratively and cross-functionally at all levels and with all departments to support and manage the new product development (NPD) pipeline from concept through to launch, including ongoing category and product lifecycle management.
This role is a gateway to making a significant impact in the rapidly evolving field of wellness supplements and offers the chance to be part of a team that values innovation, efficacy and sustainability to make a meaningful difference in the health and wellbeing of consumers.
YOU WILL
+ Support the drive, and management of the new product development pipeline – from concept through to launch, including ongoing category and product lifecycle management.
+ Assist in the iterative refinement of new product formulations and enhancements to existing offerings, incorporating market research, consumer feedback, and regulatory insights.
+ Identify and evaluate suppliers and ingredients for quality with a strong focus on sustainability.
+ Work on formula optimisation, and manage supply chain logistics to ensure timely, cost-effective delivery of new products to market
+ Conduct and oversee comprehensive quality control and third-party testing e.g., heavy metals, microbiological contaminants, and other necessary quality control and quality assurance assessments to ensure compliance with safety and regulatory standards in the UK, EU and US.
+ Work with the Head of Innovation on managing critical paths ensuring all actions are achieved within deadlines to hit launch windows.
+ Follow and enhance internal NPD process, working collaboratively with key departments and stakeholders to support effective end-to-end new product development execution.
+ Maintain rigorous documentation and stay updated on industry regulations, standards, and guidelines, contributing to the team’s knowledge base and innovation capacity.
WHO YOU ARE
To be successful in this role, you will need the following skills / knowledge / experience:
+ Experience with developing innovative and market-disruptive products within the health supplement and wellness sector.
+ Experience with sourcing ingredients with a focus on sustainability and commercialisation is strongly preferred.
+ Familiarity with the regulatory requirements for nutritional supplements in the UK, EU and US (required).
+ Exceptional communication skills, with a demonstrated track in effective collaboration across departments and with external partners.
+ Demonstrable ability to thrive in a high-pressure, fast-paced environment, with a clear understanding of how to prioritise tasks and meet deadlines.
+ Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, capable of quickly addressing formulation challenges and optimising product performance.
+ Project management experience with excellent organisational and planning skills, coupled with the ability to work well under pressure and manage tight deadlines.
Further, to truly thrive at Ancient + Brave you will need to embody the spirit of our brand and align with our company culture. You are:
+ Highly self-motivated with an ability to take initiative and run with it
+ Solution focused with a ‘can-do’ attitude and a strong work ethic
+ Known for having tonnes of energy, a positive outlook and a growth mindset
+ A collaborative team player who also excels in independent settings
+ Exceptional communicator, able to convey information clearly and concisely
+ Entrepreneurial and commercially minded
+ Able and willing to work in fast paced startup environments that are often full of ambiguity – an ability to effectively prioritise will be key
+ Passionate about doing greater good and the future we’re building – we expect our team to be supporting our B-Corp and ESG goals while being proactive and mindful in suggesting ideas for the business to improve its practices
WHY JOIN US
Ancient + Brave are a community-built brand and embracing innovation and sustainability with social and environmental responsibility is at the heart of everything we do. We hold ourselves accountable to the highest standards when it comes to our commitment to balance profit and purpose – working with us means being part of building a truly sustainable product. We are B Corp certified and members of 1% for the Planet, committed to giving back % of all sales towards helping environmental partners, so we can work together towards a better future for our planet.
At Ancient + Brave you’ll find an engaging, collaborative and inclusive work environment where your talents will be nurtured, and your contributions valued.
We provide all our team members with suitable laptop computers & headphones and our office is equipped with monitors, ergonomic chairs and sitting + standing desks. Our kitchen is fully stocked with the usual supplies as well as limitless supply of A+B products (you also get 50% off on any product you wish to purchase).
We pay a discretionary bonus based on a mix of company performance and individual contributions and review our salaries annually. Our pension contributions are ESG invested (so no pharma, weapons or other ethically questionable investments).
Our Medicash plan offers access to specialist consultations, 24/7 Virtual GP and health screenings as well as dental, optical and complementary therapies and access to confidential support via its EAP programme.
In addition to our regular annual holiday allowance of 25 days plus bank holidays, we also offer one Wellbeing day to use as needed.
We offer continuous training & professional development opportunities and our team members get to enjoy complimentary nutrition and workout sessions in the office. We support a number of charities, coordinating our fund-raising initiatives for maximum impact. We hold two social events a year to come together and connect in a meaningful way.
An important note on our ways of working…
As a fast-paced scale-up, we’ve found that spending time together in person is hugely beneficial to the way we’re needing to communicate, collaborate and drive the business forward. We’ve worked hard to make our office (a beautiful old mill situated in East Sussex) an inviting and friendly environment for all of our team members and we expect any new joiner to be in the office full time.
We are an equal-opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace culture. We embrace varied perspectives and encourage creativity that knows no bounds. While most of our roles are advertised as full-time, we are open to discussing part-time setup where appropriate.
