Head of Health Innovation

Tesco UK; Digswell; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading retail company in the UK is seeking a Head of Health Innovation to develop and deliver a health-focused food strategy. This role involves leading product innovation initiatives, ensuring regulatory compliance, and driving customer engagement in health-focused offerings. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in food innovation, commercial acumen, and strong leadership skills. Join us in making a significant impact on health and wellness through food.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in food innovation and category management.
• Proven leadership in health-focused food innovation.
• Deep understanding of UK nutrition policy and food standards.
• Experience influencing at Exec level and leading innovation teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and delivery of Tesco’s health-focused food strategy.
• Ensure product development meets regulatory standards and health goals.
• Lead cross-functional squads to deliver health-led innovation.

Skills

Food innovation

Product development

Leadership

Nutrition policy understanding

Commercial acumen

Education

Qualified in Nutrition and Dietetics

Job description

At Tesco, we’re committed to helping our customers lead healthier lives. As Head of Health Innovation, you’ll lead the development and delivery of our health-focused food strategy, ensuring we continue to offer delicious, nutritious, and affordable food for everyone. You’ll shape Tesco’s product innovation agenda to drive transformation in health and wellness—balancing taste, value, quality, and sustainability.

This is a critical leadership role in driving Tesco’s ambition to be a leader in healthy and sustainable diets, while keeping innovation at the heart of our offer.

Innovation Strategy & Health Leadership

• Lead the Tesco Health & Nutrition innovation agenda across all relevant Own Brand categories, with a focus on HFSS reformulation, clean dec, functional foods, plant-based, and calorie reduction.
• Own and deliver a robust, customer-led innovation pipeline aligned to strategic health goals and future-facing trends.
• Ensure product development meets evolving regulatory standards and contributes to Tesco’s Healthy Little Differences Plan and net zero ambitions.
• Proactively identify emerging customer need states and whitespace opportunities through trend analysis, consumer insight, and cross-category collaboration to shape future innovation.
• Explore adjacent and disruptive health territories—such as personalised nutrition, microbiome-supporting products, and mental wellbeing—to future-proof the portfolio and lead in new growth spaces.

Product Development & Delivery

• Lead cross-functional squads (Product Development, Technical, Nutrition, R&D, Buying) to deliver health-led innovation at pace and scale.
• Embed health, quality, and sustainability criteria into the product lifecycle—from concept to shelf.
• Partner with Sustainable diets, Brand, the Consumer Insight team, and external food tech partners to develop next-generation food solutions.

Customer & Commercial Impact

• Champion customer health insight, using data to inform decisions and identify opportunity areas (e.g. family nutrition, brain development, clean dec, functional snacking, meal solutions).
• Drive growth through customer-trusted, healthier propositions that don’t compromise on taste, price, or convenience.
• Monitor market and competitor landscape to ensure Tesco stays at the forefront of health innovation.

Stakeholder & External Engagement

• Represent Tesco in cross-industry working groups and external bodies (e.g. IGD, FSA, BRC) from a food innovation perspective.
• Collaborate with government, academics, and NGOs to shape the broader food and health ecosystem.
• Influence senior leaders internally, securing buy-in and investment in the health and innovation agenda.

Team & Culture Leadership

• Inspire, coach, and develop a team of developers, nutritionists, and innovation leads.
• Embed an innovation-first mindset across food teams, championing agility, experimentation, and continuous learning.
• Model Tesco’s values: no one tries harder for customers, treat people how they want to be treated, and every little help makes a big difference.

Essential Experience

• Extensive experience in food innovation, product development, or category management, ideally in a major retailer or FMCG brand.
• Proven leadership in health-focused food innovation (e.g., HFSS reformulation, plant-based, low/no products).
• Deep understanding of UK nutrition policy, labelling laws, and food standards.
• Commercial acumen with strong project delivery capability across multiple categories.
• Experience influencing at Exec or Director level and leading cross-functional innovation teams.

Preferred Qualifications / Experience

• Qualified in Nutrition and Dietetics with registration from a recognised professional body.
• Background in food science, nutrition, or public health.
• Experience working with start-ups, academic institutions or emerging food technologies.
• Familiarity with Tesco’s Own Brand model and supplier collaboration processes.

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