Kinrise is a growing, privately owned powerhouse in Australian food manufacturing with some of Australia's most loved and innovative brands.
We describe ourselves as a 'start up with scale' and have a burning ambition to grow our business.
Formed in **** the Kinrise portfolio covers Biscuits, Breakfast, Baking, Bakery, and Snackfood categories and has 40+ years making iconic Australian food, with a rich Australian heritage that's grounded in family origins.
Kinrise is a growing, privately owned powerhouse in Australian food manufacturing, home to some of Australia's most loved and innovative brands.
At our Snackfoods business, we are home to iconic brands such as Cobs and Poppin popcorn brands.
We describe ourselves as a 'start-up with scale' and have a burning ambition to grow our business.
We're seeking an experienced NPD Manager to lead the development and commercialisation of innovative food products across our growing snack foods portfolio.
This is an exciting opportunity for a hands‐on food scientist or R&D; professional who enjoys taking products from concept through to launch while driving continuous improvement and value engineering initiatives.
Reporting to the Head of R&D; and NPD, you will play a pivotal role in shaping our innovation pipeline, developing market‐leading products, optimising existing formulations and collaborating across the business to deliver exceptional consumer experiences.
Please note that this is a Max-Term role until Feb ****, Full Time based in Dandenong South.
About the role
As the NPD Manager, you'll lead end-to-end product development projects across multiple brands and categories, from concept creation and recipe development through to factory trials, validation, commercial production and post-launch review.
You'll work closely with Marketing, Operations, Procurement, Sales and external suppliers to deliver innovative products that meet consumer needs while supporting business growth, operational efficiency and sustainability objectives.
This role offers the perfect blend of innovation, technical leadership, commercial thinking and project management.
Key Responsibilities
Innovation & New Product Development Lead end-to-end new product development projects from concept through to commercial launch
Develop innovative food products, recipes and packaging solutions aligned with consumer and market trends
Conduct product formulation, prototyping and feasibility assessments
Manage factory trials,



scale-up activities and commercial validation processes
Conduct sensory evaluations and shelf-life studies to optimise product performance and consumer experience
Partner with Marketing and Commercial teams to ensure products align with brand strategies
Identify emerging food trends, technologies and ingredients to strengthen the innovation pipeline
Provide technical expertise to support capital investment decisions and new processing technologies
Coordinate innovation showcases and present emerging concepts to key stakeholders
Product Improvement & Value Engineering Lead continuous improvement initiatives across existing product portfolios
Identify opportunities to improve product quality, efficiency, sustainability and profitability
Drive annual value engineering programmes and cost-saving projects
Partner with Operations to improve manufacturing efficiencies, line speeds, changeovers and product performance
Evaluate ingredients, packaging and manufacturing processes to optimise commercial outcomes
Support initiatives that reduce waste and improve environmental sustainability
Project Management & Stakeholder Engagement Manage multiple NPD and renovation projects simultaneously
Develop project timelines, risk mitigation plans and launch schedules
Collaborate with cross-functional teams including Marketing, Sales, Procurement, Quality and Operations
Build strong relationships with ingredient suppliers, packaging suppliers and industry partners
Provide regular project updates and technical reports to senior leadership
Ensure projects are delivered on time, in full and within agreed budgets
Quality, Compliance & Food Safety Ensure compliance with FSANZ requirements, food safety standards and regulatory obligations
Maintain product specifications, technical documentation and compliance records
Support internal and external quality audits
Ensure all new products meet customer, consumer and quality expectations
Champion safe product design and manufacturing excellence
Promote a strong health, safety and quality culture across the business
About You




Proven experience leading successful food innovation and NPD projects
Strong knowledge of food science, food technology and food manufacturing processes
Experience conducting sensory evaluation and shelf-life testing
Sound understanding of FSANZ regulations and food compliance requirements
Excellent project management and prioritisation skills
Robust commercial acumen with the ability to balance innovation, cost and operational requirements
Exceptional stakeholder engagement and influencing skills
Analytical problem-solving capabilities and a continuous improvement mindset
Ability to thrive in a fast-paced FMCG manufacturing environment
A hands‐on approach with strong accountability and ownership
Experience Minimum 5 years' experience in Research & Development, Food Technology or New Product Development
Experience within FMCG food manufacturing
Demonstrated success delivering products from concept to commercialisation
Experience working within a fast-paced, commercially focused manufacturing environment
Proven track record of innovation, renovation and value engineering delivery
Why Join Us?
Kinrise is a fast paced, agile business that focuses on your talents and challenges you to perform at your best.
An opportunity to work with leading Australian-made brands and products
An exciting role in a growing business with a great history and an ambitious growth agenda
Supportive and collaborative team culture
Kinrise is committed to creating an environment that welcomes all, celebrates our diversity in all its forms and fosters an environment of inclusion.
We recognise that our unique differences are what sets us apart and how we succeed as a team.
We are an equal opportunity employer.
At Kinrise, it is not just about what we do and the great products we make, but how we work together.
Kinrise is built on the foundation of five core values – we are driven, we are real, we care, we are proud and we are different.
These values guide our decisions and how we behave every day.
We strive to make a positive impact on each other, our communities and our consumers.
We believe that how we achieve our results is as significant as the results we achieve.
As leaders in Australian food manufacturing, it is the living of our values that will build our reputation as a great place to work and a great Australian business with the consumer at the core.
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