Average Product Developer salary in Manchester

Job: Product Development ControllerLocation: Warrington & KivetonWhy Greencore?Following the combination with Bakkavor in January 2026, we're one of the UK's leading creators of convenience food, driven by a simple purpose: to make everyday taste better.As a vibrant and fast-moving business, we're proud to employ over 28,000 talented colleagues across 36 manufacturing sites and 21 distribution depots in the UK and the US. Together, we bring delicious food to life. Our products cover every meal occasion from breakfast through to dinner and dessert, with lunch and snacking in between.In FY25, our shared passion helped us achieve combined revenues of approximately £4bn. Our extensive direct to store (DTS) network, with 17 depots across the UK, allows us to deliver fresh and frozen food both our own and from trusted partners to thousands of stores every day, ensuring consumers enjoy the very best, whenever and wherever they shop.We have an excellent opportunity for a Product Development Controller to join our team, this position will work across both the Kiveton and Warrington sites. You must have a driving license. This role offers the chance to make a real impact within a growing team, helping to shape product development processes and drive innovation across our Italian ready meals range. It's a fantastic opportunity for someone looking to take ownership, influence key decisions, and play an important role in the continued success of the business.Role Purpose:You will lead the product development team, driving the customer category food strategy to ensure profitable growth for both Greencore and our clients. You will also play a pivotal role in fostering strong customer partnerships.Key Responsibilities:Review all customer product development briefs to ensure they align with our food strategy, addressing any discrepancies as needed.Lead your team in developing market-relevant, commercially viable product and packaging concepts, ensuring high quality and sustainability.Engage with senior management stakeholders at each site to ensure strategic alignment across customer, category, and Greencore objectives.Be a champion of our `Great Food' principle, ensuring that food quality and innovation remain central to everything we do.Utilise food trends and insights to shape product concepts, working in collaboration with the marketing and portfolio teams.Set high standards for the Product Development team, ensuring excellence in food quality, customer communication, and operational processes.Take responsibility for margin delivery by overseeing accurate product costing from concept to implementation, ensuring target costs are met or exceeded.Provide strong leadership, ensuring your team is safe, engaged, and fully equipped to deliver outstanding results, with the right training and resources.Ensure full compliance with Product Development procedures and policies, guaranteeing that products are developed correctly from the outset.What We're Looking For:Proven track record of delivering high-quality, sustainable commercial products.Strong leadership and people management skills, with the ability to plan workloads effectively and focus teams to meet objectives.In-depth knowledge of food and customer needs, along with the ability to engage and build strong relationships with clients.Passion for great food, with a deep understanding of current and emerging trends in the food industry.Excellent organisational skills to ensure smooth project execution and team alignment.We're proud to be recognised in the Gender Equity Measure Top 100 for our commitment to gender equality.What you'll get in return:* Competitive salary and job-related benefits* Holidays* Competitive matched pension contributions* Life insurance up to 4x salary* Company share save scheme* Greencore Qualifications* Exclusive Greencore employee discount platform* Access to a full Wellbeing Centre platform* Enhanced parental leave and menopause policiesThroughout your time at Greencore, you will be supported with on the job training.

Product Developer | Manchester | £30,000 - £38,000 DOE | Hybrid Working (2 Days WFH / 3 Days Office Based)We are recruiting for a Product Developer to join a fast-paced and growing fashion business based in Manchester. This is an exciting opportunity for a creative and commercially minded individual with experience across product development, accessories, or fashion categories within a large UK high street or lifestyle brand.As Product Developer, you will take ownership of your product categories from concept through to production, working closely with Design, Buying, Merchandising, and international suppliers to deliver trend-led, commercially successful collections. You will play a key role in driving product innovation, improving quality and fit, and ensuring products are developed in line with customer expectations, brand direction, and margin targets.This role would suit someone who thrives in a collaborative and fast-moving retail environment, enjoys balancing creativity with technical expertise, and is passionate about delivering high-quality products to market.Key Responsibilities:Own and manage product categories from initial concept through to final productionCreate trend-led, commercially successful fashion and accessories collectionsTranslate market trends, customer insights, and creative direction into commercially viable productsDevelop seasonal concepts including colour palettes, materials, trims, finishes, and styling detailsProduce clear CADs, specifications, and tech packs to support development and sampling processesWork closely with Product, Buying, Merchandising, and Commercial teams to align product strategy and customer needsCollaborate with UK and overseas suppliers to manage quality, costings, margin, timelines, and productionSupport the full product development lifecycle including fittings, sample approvals, and bulk productionEnsure all development and sales samples are delivered to a high standard and within critical path deadlinesAnalyse customer, wearer, and sales feedback to drive fit, quality, and product improvementsUse AI and digital tools to enhance creativity, efficiency, and product development processesVisit trade shows, retail environments, and key cities to stay ahead of trends and competitor activityChampion sustainability through improved materials, packaging, and responsible sourcing initiativesEnsure products comply with current and emerging UK compliance and regulatory standardsSkills & Experience:2+ years' experience within accessories design, product development, or buying for a large UK high street lifestyle, fashion, or home brandStrong product development and garment technical knowledge including fit, grading, construction, and bulk production processesExperience developing products to cost and margin targets while maintaining quality and brand integrityGood understanding and experience using PLM systems to manage fittings, feedback, and development progressionStrong understanding of materials, product engineering, garment construction, and manufacturing processesConfident presenting concepts, product ideas, and seasonal direction to internal stakeholders and suppliersExperience working with overseas suppliers and international product development teamsExcellent organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneouslyStrong communication and collaboration skills across Buying, Design, Merchandising, and Supplier teamsCommercially aware with a strong understanding of customer behaviour, market trends, and competitor activityAnalytical mindset with strong attention to detail and a proactive, solutions-focused approachPersonal Attributes:Creative, innovative, and commercially drivenHighly organised and detail-orientedPositive, collaborative, and adaptable approachStrong team player with excellent relationship-building skillsReliable, accountable, and able to work proactivelyPassionate about product, fashion, and emerging trendsEthical and sustainability-focused mindsetBH36179

Product Developer | Manchester | £30,000 - £38,000 DOE | Hybrid Working (2 Days WFH / 3 Days Office Based)We are recruiting for a Product Developer to join a fast-paced and growing fashion business based in Manchester. This is an exciting opportunity for a creative and commercially minded individual with experience across product development, accessories, or fashion categories within a large UK high street or lifestyle brand.As Product Developer, you will take ownership of your product categories from concept through to production, working closely with Design, Buying, Merchandising, and international suppliers to deliver trend-led, commercially successful collections. You will play a key role in driving product innovation, improving quality and fit, and ensuring products are developed in line with customer expectations, brand direction, and margin targets.This role would suit someone who thrives in a collaborative and fast-moving retail environment, enjoys balancing creativity with technical expertise, and is passionate about delivering high-quality products to market.Key Responsibilities:Own and manage product categories from initial concept through to final productionCreate trend-led, commercially successful fashion and accessories collectionsTranslate market trends, customer insights, and creative direction into commercially viable productsDevelop seasonal concepts including colour palettes, materials, trims, finishes, and styling detailsProduce clear CADs, specifications, and tech packs to support development and sampling processesWork closely with Product, Buying, Merchandising, and Commercial teams to align product strategy and customer needsCollaborate with UK and overseas suppliers to manage quality, costings, margin, timelines, and productionSupport the full product development lifecycle including fittings, sample approvals, and bulk productionEnsure all development and sales samples are delivered to a high standard and within critical path deadlinesAnalyse customer, wearer, and sales feedback to drive fit, quality, and product improvementsUse AI and digital tools to enhance creativity, efficiency, and product development processesVisit trade shows, retail environments, and key cities to stay ahead of trends and competitor activityChampion sustainability through improved materials, packaging, and responsible sourcing initiativesEnsure products comply with current and emerging UK compliance and regulatory standardsSkills & Experience:2+ years' experience within accessories design, product development, or buying for a large UK high street lifestyle, fashion, or home brandStrong product development and garment technical knowledge including fit, grading, construction, and bulk production processesExperience developing products to cost and margin targets while maintaining quality and brand integrityGood understanding and experience using PLM systems to manage fittings, feedback, and development progressionStrong understanding of materials, product engineering, garment construction, and manufacturing processesConfident presenting concepts, product ideas, and seasonal direction to internal stakeholders and suppliersExperience working with overseas suppliers and international product development teamsExcellent organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneouslyStrong communication and collaboration skills across Buying, Design, Merchandising, and Supplier teamsCommercially aware with a strong understanding of customer behaviour, market trends, and competitor activityAnalytical mindset with strong attention to detail and a proactive, solutions-focused approachPersonal Attributes:Creative, innovative, and commercially drivenHighly organised and detail-orientedPositive, collaborative, and adaptable approachStrong team player with excellent relationship-building skillsReliable, accountable, and able to work proactivelyPassionate about product, fashion, and emerging trendsEthical and sustainability-focused mindsetBH36179