Solent Group work with a diverse portfolio of Retailers and supply bespoke products within various categories, including Health & Beauty, Household Impulse Snacking and Reusable Bags. We are proud to be best-in-class when it comes to own-label product innovation. Our Categories are fast-paced with ever-evolving trends and a host of ground-breaking products coming to market on a regular basis – we add value to retailers by leading and owning each category

Here at Solent we want people to be extraordinary. We pride ourselves on creating and producing amazing products and brands for our Global Customers. You will be joining a company with offices globally across South Africa, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Vietnam, and the UK

LOCATION: Hybrid (1-2 days per week in Christchurch, Dorset)

TRAVEL: Occasional travel to manufactures & customer meetings

Purpose of the role:

Are you passionate about product development and ready to be part of a fast-paced, exciting retail team?

We’re looking for a Household Product Development professional to join our dynamic team, working on our Marks & Spencer account. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who thrives in a busy environment, loves bringing innovative products to life, and has a keen eye for quality, trends, and customer needs. You’ll be working closely with cross-functional teams to develop and deliver outstanding household products for one of the UK’s most iconic retailers

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage the production of the required deliverables. planning and project monitoring
• Track work to be completed, set deadlines and delegate tasks to your project team, identifying any potential risks
• Build strong relationships with our manufacturing partners
• Engage/collaborate with key stakeholders to ensure project viability
• Manage the product development from Concept stage to finished goods
• Lead clear briefs and communicate efficiently to our buying teams
• Contribute to Category plans for the financial year with quarterly reviews
• Manage our project management tool Asana ensure content is accurate and updated weekly
• Speak and present with confidence on project status updates
• Understand the technical make up of a product
• Support with exceptional presentations for our customers

Experience:

• Able to work with large amounts of detail
• Confidently understand and run a critical path
• Strong understanding of the retail landscape
• Manufacturing knowledge
• Project management across multiple SKU’s and categories
• Examples of cross-functional working across multiple teams
• Market and trend understanding in order to overlay onto product plans
• Strong supplier relationships with a commercial mindset
• Examples of problem solving and solutions to previous projects
• Trade Show and supplier visit experience
• Strong communication skills and detail orientated
• Ability to review trends and pull into a development calendar
• Strong relationships with suppliers and retailers
• To engage teams globally and across different time zones

Personal Profile:

• Excited and passionate about working within a dynamic and fast-paced team
• Passion for product development
• Appetite to learn new categories and explore new product ranges
• Can do attitude to find solutions with a development window
• Ambitious

What we offer:

• Competitive salary with annual salary reviews
• 25 days holiday per annum, increasing to 27 days after 3 years’ service and 30 days after 5 years’ service
• Extensive benefits programme including buying additional holiday, medical cash plan, access to mental health support and many other benefits
• Flexible hours and work from home available to all staff with an office presence ideally once a week
• Great learning and development and progression opportunities
• Yearly bonus structure (based on company targets)
• Enhanced Maternity and Paternity Leave
• Generous Company Sick Pay
• Pension Scheme Contribution
• Solent social events run by our inhouse Social Team
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Free parking on Christchurch Quay