Innovation Assistant Brand Manager

Vrieservice; Kingston upon Thames; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading FMCG company in Kingston upon Thames is seeking an experienced Innovation Assistant Brand Manager to drive their innovation plan. This role spans project ownership, team leadership, and engagement with key stakeholders. The ideal candidate will have a background in marketing, particularly in beauty, and must be passionate about skincare. Competitive salary and a mix of remote and onsite working are offered.

Benefits

Free parking

Discounted Unilever products

Onsite gym access

Canteen facilities

Qualifications

• Experience in Marketing, preferably in a Global Brand Development role.
• Knowledge of project network management.
• Prior experience in a beauty category such as Skin/Hair is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Contributing to shaping the innovation funnel based on market data.
• Leading premium innovation projects end to end.
• Representing projects in key stakeholder engagements.
• Creating outstanding content showcasing products.
• Leading a cross-functional project team.

Skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Analytical skills

Entrepreneurial drive

Trend scouting

Job description

Overview

Manpower are currently seeking an interim Innovation Assistant Brand Manager, to work with our global FMCG client Unilever, renowned for brands such as Dove, Sure, Persil, and Simple, and become an integral part of their fast-paced FMCG environment.

The position is based in Kingston upon Thames, Surrey. This is a full-time temporary role to run for 9 months, requiring 36.25 hours per week, Monday to Friday. Compensation for this role is competitive, paying up to £48,000 per annum, pro rata, depending upon experience.

The role currently offers a mix of remote and onsite working, subject to adjustment based on business requirements.

About Simple

A Bit About Simple

We\'re the #1 face care brand in UK, and the original Clean Beauty brand since 1960 with our proposition of \'no perfume, no colour, no harsh chemicals\'. We\'ve since evolved with our belief that skincare can be clean, kind AND effective, and our proposition is becoming increasingly relevant to consumers - with Simple growing ahead of B&W, and double and triple digit growth in our key markets UK, VN, IN. You will be joining at an exciting time, as we are at the beginning of a new journey having recently launch our new brand Purpose in culture, and starting our social first transformation across all touchpoints.

About The Role

We are looking for an experienced ABM to join our new fully integrated E2E brand team which covers both brand & mix design as well as in-market execution (BG-BU integrated team).

The Innovation Design lead will drive our three-year innovation plan, crafting & deploying beautiful on-trend innovation mixes.

The role reports into the Simple Innovation Lead, and is perfect for someone who is looking for a final ABM rotation where they can work autonomously, with a full end to end scope across innovation, and a great opportunity for exposure to senior leadership through presenting your work to the Global Brand Lead and B&W CMO.

Responsibilities

• Directly contributing to shaping the innovation funnel, identifying key opportunities for growth based on market data and trends
• Owning and leading premium innovation projects end to end, with special attention to beauty craftsmanship and working closely with R&D to bring our product science stories to the forefront
• Representing your projects in key stakeholder engagements such as brand reviews and Investor Boards
• Driving Science and Desire through comms, with specific focus on creating outstanding content that showcases the science, ingredients and beauty of our products in 7OA, Amazon stores, Brand.com etc
• Leading a cross-functional project team, and partnering closely with demand-creation and social-first teams

All About You

• A do-er with entrepreneurial drive, who knows how to make things happen and form excellent working relationships with cross functional partners and agencies
• Naturally curious, and constantly scouting for the latest Beauty trends, with a particular passion for skincare brands and how they engage with their audiences
• A team player, with excellent listening & analytical skills able to build a compelling plan, influence & create alignment
• Passion for Beauty: A demonstrable passion for the beauty landscape, its products, keeping up with trends, innovations, and key players, reflecting a genuine enthusiasm for the field

Must Have Experience

• Experience in Marketing. Experience in a Global Brand Development role is preferred, but not mandatory if you are able to demonstrate your interest in Craft (product/pack, design, comms)
• Knowledge and experience of project network management, comfortable in leading a cross-functional team and working closely with key partners
• Prior experience in a beauty category such as Skin/Hair is preferred

Kingston Working Environment

• Contractors who are based at Kingston will be eligible to get free parking at a local carpark
• There is a Unilever Staff Shop located on the Ground Floor next to the main entrance, where Contingent Workers can buy discounted Unilever products
• A canteen
• A Gym is available for use on the Ground Floor (with subscription)
• Facilities in the gym include cardiovascular equipment, resistance machines, spin bikes, free weights area, boxing equipment and a stretch/matted area. Classes are also available and can be booked directly with the Gym. Shower facilities are available in the changing rooms, along with hairdryers.