Senior NPD Project Manager
On-site
Full Time
#Project Management
#Retail
#Management
#Stakeholder Engagement
#Negotiation
Born on South Molton Street, London in 1971, Molton Brown is an icon of uniquely British style. Today, Molton Brown is one of the leading global brands in Kao´s global cosmetics portfolio. Growing from small-scale artisans into the international fragrance brand it is today, its pioneering presence is felt in our stores and websites, travel retail, luxury department stores and the most esteemed hotels around the world.
Expertly blended in London, Molton Brown’s signature fragrances, bath and shower gels, home and hand care luxuries have claimed iconic status. Kao and Molton Brown have a passion for integrity, for craftsmanship, for artistry and for giving our consumers the ultimate, quality experience.
The role:
This position is a fixed term position until the end of October 2026
Responsible for overseeing a designated portion of the NPD project portfolio, proactively identifying and escalating risks or issues that may affect cost, timeline, or scope. Provides support, guidance, and development to direct reports to ensure team objectives are met, while advocating for excellence in project delivery processes.
What you will do:
- Portfolio Delivery:
- To ensure direction is clear for all projects within the agreed portfolio and dependencies are managed.
- Work closely with cross functional team leaders to resolve issues and mitigate risks when they arise.
- Manage Projects:
- To ensure delivery of individual and direct reports projects on time and within scope/cost parameters by leading cross functional teams through each phase and ensuring all activities are completed as required.
- Project Delivery Process:
- To champion the NPD stage and gate delivery process through educating and mentoring stakeholders and identifying, initiating and implementing improvement initiatives.
- Provide effective management of direct report and offer support to the broader team as needed.
What you will need:
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional qualification
- Preferable; recognised project management certification (e.g., PRINCE2 or equivalent)
- 3–5 years of proven project management and line management experience with retail products, preferably in the health and beauty sector.
- Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with confidence engaging stakeholders at all levels
- Proven experience working in a cross-functional environment
- Strong influencing and negotiation abilities
- Excellent organisational and time management skills
- In-depth knowledge of project management methodologies, tools, and best practices
- Highly adaptable, with the ability to thrive in dynamic, fast-paced environments and manage ambiguity
- Strong analytical mindset with a proactive approach to problem-solving and delivering practical solutions through team work
Molton Brown is part of Kao founded in Japan in 1887, Kao is passionate about making a difference in people’s lives with our high-quality products and services to create a Kirei Life for all – a beautiful life that respects the needs of our consumers and customers as well as the planet. We never compromise on quality and craft our products with care for the consumer and the environment. As a company driven by purpose and strong corporate values, we pride ourselves to be listed among the World´s Most Ethical Companies since 17 consecutive years. Our corporate philosophy, the Kao Way, guides us in everything we do – acting with integrity, courageously driving innovation and treating each other with trust and respect.
How we work: Having been selected among the World´s Most Ethical Companies for 17 consecutive years, we are a company with a purpose and strong corporate values. We never compromise on quality and craft our products with care for the consumer and the environment. At Kao, each employee can actively shape their job and their career. We work collaboratively to achieve our common goals, always aiming to deliver the best for our customers.
What we offer: A friendly and flexible work environment with competitive salaries, benefits package, ongoing development and the opportunity to enhance your skills and deliver tangible results. At Kao your voice will be heard. Your opinion really counts. We believe that change comes from taking opportunities into your own hands, so we value and reward entrepreneurial thinking and innovation.
Hiring Process: Kao embraces the diversity and the individual personalities of its people because we believe it is diversity that makes us strong. This is why we welcome applications from all areas of the global community.
Want to learn more: If you feel you are as unique as our products and want to find out why 33,000 people across the globe opted for a career with us please visit https://www.kao.com/emea/en/
