The opportunity you’ve been waiting for
Premium whisky packaging doesn’t happen by accident. It requires technical rigour, creative collaboration and someone with the organisational capability to hold a complex, multi-year pipeline together under pressure.
Gordon & MacPhail, one of the world’s most respected names in single malt Scotch, is looking for an NPD Manager to lead that agenda. You will own the full NPD life cycle across a premium portfolio, from concept through to production sign-off, working across a 36-month planning horizon and chairing the cross-functional groups that keep projects on track.
It is a role with real scope: strategic oversight, a team to lead and the kind of brand context that makes the work worth doing.
How you’ll make your mark
Own and manage the company-wide NPD plan across a multi-year horizon, chairing cross-functional working groups and keeping brand, procurement, quality, operations and external partners aligned
Lead multiple packaging development projects simultaneously, from design concept through technical feasibility to production-ready execution
Provide technical expertise on packaging processes, labelling regulations, production constraints and quality standards, with responsibility for final approvals and proofing
Manage supplier selection, approval processes and packaging production sign-off
Lead and develop a small NPD team, building in-house packaging capability over time
Drive continuous improvement through post-project reviews and policy development
Represent the business externally with industry bodies and key suppliers
What’s in it for you
A planning horizon that rewards genuine strategic thinking, with a 36-month NPD pipeline to shape and own
Line management responsibility and room to grow the team’s capability
The credibility of working for one of the world’s most celebrated independent whisky businesses
A bit more about Gordon & MacPhail
Founded in Elgin in 1895 and still family-owned four generations later, Gordon & MacPhail is the world’s leading single malt specialist. The business operates across distilling, maturation, bottling and retail, with two distilleries, a portfolio of casks spanning over a century and a global reputation built entirely on the quality of what’s in the bottle and on the shelf.
Packaging here is not an afterthought. For a brand where provenance, rarity and craft define the premium positioning, what goes on the outside matters as much as what goes in. This role has been created to bring dedicated strategic leadership to that function as the business continues to grow.
Denholm’s take
Gordon & MacPhail is one of those businesses that genuinely does things differently. Decisions are made with the next generation in mind, quality is non-negotiable and the brand carries real weight in the global whisky community. For an NPD professional who wants to work on packaging that actually means something, this is a compelling place to do it.
If you have a background in packaging technology or NPD within drinks or FMCG and are ready to lead rather than support, we would welcome a confidential conversation.
And here’s your coordinator role: The oppo… by Anastasia Banks
Anastasia Banks
10:35
And here’s your coordinator role: The opportunity you’ve been waiting for
Scotland’s whisky industry is full of heritage businesses. This one is building something different. A growing, ambitious start-up in the whisky sector is looking for an Operations & Business Support Executive to come in, take ownership, and help shape the way the business runs.
Reporting directly to the Managing Director, this is a broad, hands-on role that touches operations, compliance, warehousing, commercial activity, and more. For the right person, it is also an opportunity to develop a network in one of Scotland’s most distinctive industries.
If you want variety, autonomy, and the chance to leave a mark on a business while it is still finding its shape, this is worth your attention.
How you’ll make your mark
Own the Warehouse Management System, keeping all stock movements accurate and up to date
Prepare and submit monthly HMRC reporting, including W1 documentation
Produce weekly stock and warehouse utilisation reports for the MD
Work alongside the Warehouse Manager to identify and implement operational improvements
Build and manage a company CRM, covering both existing and prospective contacts
Ensure all due diligence documentation is current and accurate, including EMCS checks, insurance, and customer records
Develop and maintain company policies covering health and safety, handling procedures, and the employee handbook
Support business development by engaging customers, attending trade events, and visiting client sites across Scotland
Contribute to marketing materials, price lists, and service documentation
Manage and grow the company’s LinkedIn presence
What’s in it for you
Salary is negotiable and will reflect experience. This is a role where the breadth of exposure, the proximity to senior leadership, and the autonomy to shape your own remit are part of the offer.
For someone early in their career who wants to develop across multiple disciplines, this kind of position in a growing business is difficult to replicate in a larger organisation.
A bit more about the business
This is a start-up operating in the Scotch whisky sector, based in Angus. The business is at a stage where the foundations are being built and where the right people will have a genuine influence on how things develop. The MD is hands-on and the team is small, which means decisions get made quickly and good ideas get heard.
Denholm’s take
What stands out here is the scope. This is a role where you could, within a relatively short period, have touched every part of the business. That kind of breadth is genuinely rare at this level.
The whisky industry connection adds something too. For someone with an interest in the sector, or a network within it, there is real potential to grow commercially as well as operationally.
If you are organised, proactive, and ready to work closely with a founder-led team, we would be glad to tell you more. Get in touch for a confidential conversation.
