Innovation Lead – Ice Cream Growth & NPD (12-Month)

6254 Magnum ICC UK Ltd; Datchet; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

The Magnum Ice Cream Company in the UK is seeking an Innovation Manager for a 12-month maternity cover. You will lead cross-functional projects from concept to launch, integrating consumer insights with brand strategy in a fast-paced environment.

Experience in NPD, portfolio planning, and strong project management are essential. You will partner with marketing, design, and country teams to deliver market-ready innovations on time and within budget.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in brand development, particularly NPD development/portfolio management.
• Understanding of the ice cream category.
• Demonstrated project management experience, including the ability to lead cross-functional work.
• Clear and effective communication skills, both verbally and in writing, utilizing spoken business English and the ability to engage tactfully with internal and external stakeholders at all levels.
• Good numeracy skills.
• Degree level education or equivalent experience.
• Excellent IT skills are required, particularly Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Experience with BLUE and/or PlanView is helpful but not essential

Responsibilities

• Overall support across marketing & innovation delivery requirement.
• Lead innovation projects through the internal innovation process, from concept to launch.
• Support additional innovation projects by providing project management including managing timelines, meetings, milestones, and key project documentation.
• Assist in landing innovations in market, working closely with the local country teams to deliver OTIF (on time in full) & delivering on the business case.
• Work with cross functional marketing teams in the development of innovation sell-in support and materials & communications plans.
• Work closely with the design dept to ensure excellent brand representation across all materials including packaging, POS, etc.
• Contribute to the development of the 18- 36 month portfolio roadmap
• Pro-actively feed market, category and customer requirements into platform innovation projects
• Support the development and execution of annual marketing plans & BETs
• Recommend and commission consumer research where needed
• Champion the consumer needs and brand passion within the overall business
• Partner with the Social Mission Team on integration of social mission campaigns/objectives in marketing plans.
• Provide regular support to event organisation, trade samples, and other launch related activities
• Budget support including PO raising.

Skills

Brand development

NPD development

Portfolio management

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Consumer insight

Financial awareness

Communication skills

English proficiency

Education

Degree level education or equivalent experience

Tools

Word

Excel

PowerPoint

BLUE

PlanView

Job description

The Magnum Ice Cream Company in the UK is seeking an Innovation Manager for a 12-month maternity cover. You will lead cross-functional projects from concept to launch, integrating consumer insights with brand strategy in a fast-paced environment.

Experience in NPD, portfolio planning, and strong project management are essential. You will partner with marketing, design, and country teams to deliver market-ready innovations on time and within budget.