NPD Project Manager

NPD Project Manager at Molton Brown

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 NPD Project Manager role is responsible for leading the end-to-end delivery of New Product Development and Existing Development projects. You will ensure projects are delivered to agreed scope, timelines, quality standards, and commercial objectives. Acting as the central point of accountability, you will bring together cross-functional teams and external partners to drive momentum, manage risk, and resolve issues, while maintaining clear governance and stakeholder alignment. Through strong leadership, structured project management, and proactive decision-making, this role ensures projects are executed efficiently and continuously improved to support the business.

What you will do:

• Lead cross-functional teams, including external partners, through each phase of projects to ensure they remain on track to achieve cost, time, and quality.
• Ensure clear communication on project status to stakeholders, challenging where necessary.
• Proactively manage and communicate risks and issues throughout the project lifecycle, escalating via appropriate channels with clear business impact.
• Clarify and continue to define project scope throughout the project.
• Identify, implement, and promote process improvements, including identifying root causes and recommending corrective actions.

What you will need:

• 2-3 years of experience in the Beauty industry or FMCG.
• Project Management certificate (Prince 2 or PMP preferred).
• Experience using Teams, MS Project, MS Word, MS Excel, and MS Powerpoint.
• Experience managing multiple projects in a fast-paced business.
• Strong stakeholder management experience.

How we work:

Having been selected among the World's Most Ethical Companies for 17 consecutive years, Kao is 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.

Key skills/competency:

• New Product Development
• Project Management
• Stakeholder Management
• Risk Management
• Process Improvement
• Cross-functional Leadership
• Product Lifecycle
• Commercial Objectives
• Quality Standards
• Timeline Management