About Fragrances Of Ireland Ltd
An opportunity to join a dynamic Irish SME that is distributing its products to over 5,000 independent gift retail store customers around the world. Based in Kilmacanogue, Co. Wicklow, we export to the USA, Canada, the UK, Continental Europe, and Australia, participate in over 25 B2B trade shows worldwide each year, and partner with over 130 independent multi-line sales representatives.
We have exciting plans to grow our existing markets and enter new ones and we are looking for a highly experienced and senior NPD & Sourcing Manager to accelerate new product development (NPD) and strengthen our supplier network.
Our best-selling fragrance and personal care brand Inis the Energy of the Sea has achieved huge success in markets worldwide. Consumers love Inis—the clean, fresh fragrance which makes you feel close to the sea, no matter where you are.
We are a collaborative SME with a friendly culture. We are the core funder for the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, Plastic Neutral Certified, and sponsor the Wicklow Senior Ladies’ Gaelic Football Association team. This is a great opportunity for a senior operations professional with proven skills to develop and transform our NPD and to drive growth.
The Role
The NPD & Sourcing Manager will report to the Head of Supply Chain Operations and will be a strategic and hands-on professional. They will join a small and busy operations team and must be able to execute tasks independently and build on them to identify improvements and develop the function. They will translate ideas from Marketing and Sales into refined, launch-ready products.
They will lead supplier selection, negotiation, and performance for NPD across packaging and formulation sourcing. This hybrid role bridges Operations, Supply Chain, R&D, and Marketing, ensuring the delivery of innovative, sustainable, and brand-aligned products through the full NPD process from concept to launch. The position will directly oversee two technical specialists under contract: a Packaging Technologist and a Chemical Formulations Expert. We are looking for a self-starter and leader who can manage cross-functional collaboration to deliver excellence in NPD and sourcing.
What You’ll Do
Packaging Development & Innovation
Collaborate with Operations, Marketing and NPD teams to translate creative NPD ideas into fully developed and viable technical solutions
Manage, negotiate, and oversee all packaging activities from design to delivery
Ensure packaging reflects brand identity while meeting sustainability and operational efficiency goals
Provide leadership and development in Packaging Technology within the company and manage our Packaging Technologist
Strategic Sourcing & Supplier Management
Develop, manage, and implement a sourcing and procurement strategy covering packaging and formulation partners
Identify, assess, negotiate with and onboard best-in-class suppliers, including formulation labs, contract manufacturers, and packaging producers
Negotiate, build, and sustain long-term supplier partnerships to ensure quality, innovation, and resilience
Lead commercial negotiations, contracts, and service-level agreements in line with regulatory and sustainability standards
Formulation Sourcing & Technical Oversight
Lead sourcing, evaluation, and procurement of fragrance, cosmetic, and skincare formulations for NPD
Manage and guide our Chemical Formulations Expert and collaborate with external laboratories to assess performance and compliance
Manage sampling, testing, evaluation, and scale-up processes through approved partners
Cross-Functional Leadership
Act as the primary link between Marketing, NPD, Operations, Regulatory, and Finance to deliver successful new product launches, using ERP and project management tools as required
Drive NPD timelines, cost efficiency, and specification accuracy
Promote effective collaboration between creative, technical & supply chain teams
Quality, Compliance & Sustainability
Ensure adherence to EU/UK/US/Canada cosmetic regulatory frameworks for NPD
Lead supplier performance reviews, continuous improvement, and risk-management initiatives
Advance sustainability objectives with focus on recyclability, environmental footprint, and ethical sourcing
Collaborate with our Quality & Regulatory Specialist to ensure full compliance with internal standards and external regulatory requirements
Requirements
A combination of experience, skills and qualifications are necessary to succeed in the role:
Essential
Minimum 7 years’ high level experience in managing and negotiating sourcing, procurement, packaging development, or technical New Product Development within the cosmetics, personal care, pharmaceutical, or food industries
Demonstrated people leadership experience managing technical specialists, including Packaging Technologist and Chemical Formulations Expert
Strong track record managing suppliers for both packaging and formulation
In-depth experience and understanding of packaging materials, engineering, and development processes
Familiarity with management of formulation development workflows, stability testing, and regulatory requirements
Experience with ERP and project management systems and implementing NPD projects within them
Confident negotiation, contract management, and project management capabilities and experience
Degree in Chemistry, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Supply Chain Management, or a related discipline
Strategic yet pragmatic, able to balance vision with execution
Strong influencer and decision-maker with technical credibility
Organised, proactive, and solutions-oriented
Passionate about innovation, quality, and continuous improvement
Desirable
Experience working with Irish, European & US supplier bases
Knowledge of sustainability frameworks and packaging compliance
Proficiency in cost-benefit and risk analysis
Experience operating in fast-paced FMCG or NPD environments
Why Join Us?
You’ll be joining a vibrant company with a strong growth trajectory and a close-knit team culture. This is a high-impact role where you’ll contribute to scaling our NPD and Sourcing strategy and ensure that we continue to meet and exceed our goals.
Benefits
Hybrid working policy with a minimum of 2 days in the Kilmacanogue office
20 Days Annual Leave
Company pension scheme with company contribution
Gym membership contribution
Fully paid health insurance (after probation)
Paid maternity and paternity leave (subject to service)
Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
Employee engagement programme with social committee and company events
Free car parking
The pay range for this role is €80,000 - €100,000 per year (Fragrances of Ireland Ltd)
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