Ice Cream Prog Manager

Jobs2Web; Greater London; On-site; GBP 77,000 - 112,000; Full time

Job summary

Ferrero is seeking an accomplished project and program management leader to shape and drive the IC R&D agenda, collaborating with the Head of R&D to define strategy and manage a balanced funnel across short-, medium-, and long-term initiatives focused on innovation, efficiency, and sustainability.

You will partner with the CMO and cross-functional teams to gatekeep projects, prioritize resources, and ensure disciplined delivery, while building capabilities across the IC organization, including

Qualifications

• 15+ years of experience in Project Management, Marketing, R&D, or closely related functions within FMCG/CPG multinationals.
• Experience leading projects and complex portfolios, delivering strong business outcomes.
• Fluent in English; additional languages are considered an advantage.

Responsibilities

• Shape and drive the IC R&D agenda with the Head of R&D, defining strategy and managing a balanced funnel across short-, medium-, and long-term initiatives.
• Collaborate with the CMO and cross-functional stakeholders to ensure disciplined project gatekeeping, prioritization, and smooth delivery.

Job description

Thanks to your ability to work at both strategic and operational levels, you will shape and drive the IC R&D agenda in close collaboration with the Head of R&D, from defining a clear R&D strategy to managing a balanced short-, medium-, and long-term project funnel focused on innovation, efficiency, and sustainability. You will ensure strong external positioning through active engagement with academic partners, suppliers, and trade associations, whilemaintainingclear oversight of how projects and programs align with division priorities and broader business strategies.

You will work closely with the CMO and cross-functional stakeholders (R&D, Marketing, Operations, SBD, CSU, Finance) to ensure disciplined project gatekeeping, clear prioritization, and smooth delivery despite competing resource demands. Thanks to your experience inprogram and project management, you will promote structured methodologies, support effective decision-making at each project phase, foster a culture of ideation and creativity within defined frameworks, and reinforce rigor around financial reporting, business cases, timelines, and ways of working. You will also contribute to building project andprogramsmanagement capabilities across the IC organization, including communication, training, and change adoption.

You will define,monitor, and manage annual IC R&D budgets covering facilities, people, travel, trials, shipping, inter-departmental costs, andCapExfor infrastructure and equipment, with regular monthly and annual follow-up. Based in Luxembourg, you will oversee dedicated local activities, including ice cream storage and sensory evaluation facilities, regulatory coordination for extra-EU sample imports and tastings, management of asmall, dedicatedteam, professionalized tasting processes, andtimelyinvoice handling via Ariba. Thanks to your clarity in documentation and communication, you will translate R&D and innovation concepts into structured visual materials, presentations, position papers, and a searchable archive supporting IC Innovation work across R&D and Marketing.

Main Responsibilities:

Thanks to your ability to work at both strategic and operational levels, you will shape and drive the IC R&D agenda in close collaboration with the Head of R&D, from defining a clear R&D strategy to managing a balanced short-, medium-, and long-term project funnel focused on innovation, efficiency, and sustainability. You will ensure strong external positioning through active engagement with academic partners, suppliers, and trade associations, whilemaintainingclear oversight of how projects and programs align with division priorities and broader business strategies.

You will work closely with the CMO and cross-functional stakeholders (R&D, Marketing, Operations, SBD, CSU, Finance) to ensure disciplined project gatekeeping, clear prioritization, and smooth delivery despite competing resource demands. Thanks to your experience inprogram and project management, you will promote structured methodologies, support effective decision-making at each project phase, foster a culture of ideation and creativity within defined frameworks, and reinforce rigor around financial reporting, business cases, timelines, and ways of working. You will also contribute to building project andprogramsmanagement capabilities across the IC organization, including communication, training, and change adoption.

You will define,monitor, and manage annual IC R&D budgets covering facilities, people, travel, trials, shipping, inter-departmental costs, andCapExfor infrastructure and equipment, with regular monthly and annual follow-up. Based in Luxembourg, you will oversee dedicated local activities, including ice cream storage and sensory evaluation facilities, regulatory coordination for extra-EU sample imports and tastings, management of asmall, dedicatedteam, professionalized tasting processes, andtimelyinvoice handling via Ariba. Thanks to your clarity in documentation and communication, you will translate R&D and innovation concepts into structured visual materials, presentations, position papers, and a searchable archive supporting IC Innovation work across R&D and Marketing.

About You:

Thanks to your 15+ years of experience in Project Management, Marketing, R&D, or closely related functions within FMCG/CPG multinationals, you bring a solid understanding of how tooperateacross functional and geographical interfaces. You will draw on your experience working with diverse teams and environments to navigate complexity and ensure alignment across locations and disciplines.

You will rely on your proven experience in leading projects, managing complex portfolios, and delivering strong business outcomes. Thanks to your strategic thinking, youare able totranslate direction into a shared language between technical and commercial teams, while applying a sound understanding of financial levers such as P&L, pricing, mix, and profitability.

Thanks to your combination of creativity, consumer focus, and analytical discipline, you approach challenges with pragmatic problem-solving.You will use your communication, influencing, and stakeholder-management skills to engage effectively with senior leaders.You are fluent in English, andadditionallanguages are considered an advantage.

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About Ferrero:

Ferrero began its journey in the small town of Alba in Piedmont, Italy, in 1946. Today, it is one of the world’s largest sweet-packaged food companies, with many iconic brands sold in countries all over the world. Find out more about Ferrero at ferrero.com .

DE&I at Ferrero:

Ferrero is committed to building a diverse and inclusive culture in which all employees feel welcomed and appreciated and have the same opportunities. We believe all our people are equally talented in their own way. In nurturing the curiosity and natural abilities of our employees, we provide them, generation after generation, the means to succeed personally and professionally, enabling them to craft their journey at Ferrero. The diversity of our talents is what makes our work environment multicultural, innovative, and highly rewarding.