Innovation Manager

Acu-IT.net; Market Drayton; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading dairy business is seeking an Innovation Manager to spearhead innovative projects and drive consumer-focused strategies. You will work with cross-functional teams to bring new ideas to market. The ideal candidate has a background in marketing (FMCG preferred) and strong leadership skills. Benefits include competitive salary, bonuses, and flexible benefits. This hybrid role is located in Market Drayton, UK.

Benefits

Competitive Salary

Bonus scheme

Private medical healthcare

Contributory pension plan

Life Assurance

Employee Assistance Programme

Generous annual leave

Flexible benefits programme

Rewards Benefits Programme

Qualifications

• Minimum 4 years in marketing (FMCG preferred) including innovation launches.
• Proven leadership experience in role or extracurricular activities.
• Strong analytical skills and a passion for data-driven decision-making.

Responsibilities

• Lead innovation projects from idea to scale up.
• Project manage innovation launches through the stage gate process.
• Manage project timelines to drive delivery by teams.

Skills

Marketing Experience

Analytical Mindset

Leadership

Curious

Change Maker

Team Spirit

Education

Degree-level qualification (2:1 or above) in a relevant subject

Job description

Who We Are

We're Mller UK & Ireland, a family‑run dairy business and we're experts at what we do. Dairy is a key part of a healthy and balanced diet and we're super proud to help meet the nutritional needs of millions of people, every, single, day. To do this, our business has been split into two areas: Mller Milk & Ingredients (MMI) and Mller Yogurt & Desserts (MYD).

We're here to talk MYD, the ones aiming to put a smile on the nation's face. We're all about Deep breath Mller Corner, Mller Light, Mller Bliss, Mller Rice, Mller FRijj, Mller X MyProtein and Biotiful Gut Health.

We know that sounds like a lot, but that's why we need you!

Why Mller?

Yogurts and desserts flow through everything at Mller — from farm to factory to fridge. But the true impact comes from our people, in each and every corner of the business, working hard and as a team to put smiles on faces everywhere, making each day delicious for our shoppers. And, as the UK's most popular dairy brand, we're always striving to make a real difference for our planet, our partners and our people, putting sustainability at the heart of everything we do.

Did you know that 29 Mller yogurt and desserts are eaten every second? And that's just the start, with ambitious plans to grow, while continuing to make a real difference for the planet, our partners and people, we're looking for a team of fridge‑fillers and self‑starters to help us on our mission to put a smile on the nation's face. Join a team of fridge‑fillers and self‑starters just doing their bit for the bigger picture.

Innovation Manager

Location: Market Drayton (Hybrid)

Contract Type: Permanent

Working Pattern: Full Time

Mller - Made By You

At Mller, we're proud to be a business that's driven by purpose and powered by people. We're passionate about creating products that meet real consumer needs and deliver category growth. As an Innovation Manager, you'll play a key role in shaping the future of our brands by leading the development of new ideas from concept to scale‑up.

Your Role

You'll be responsible for delivering innovation across all Mller brands, aligned to strategic priorities and consumer need states. Working cross‑functionally, you'll lead projects through our stage gate process, build compelling business cases, and ensure successful handover to brand teams.

What You'll Do

• Lead innovation projects from idea to scale up, prior to a collaborative handover with the brand teams
• Deliver new Innovation projects across all Mller brands, which are inline to strategic, category and consumer need states.
• Project manage innovation launches through the stage gate process and internal approval project reviews and gate approval meetings, building strong business cases for new projects
• Project manage innovation projects from idea to scale up, prior to a collaborative handover with the brand teams
• Lead and drive cross‑functional teams to deliver validated concepts to market.
• Manage project timelines including a critical path of activities that will be used to drive delivery by cross‑functional teams to key milestones
• Challenge and proactively seek out new consumer needs and opportunities that deliver solutions for consumers
• Work closely with the Consumer Insights team to validate concepts and provide compelling consumer rationale for innovation projects
• Work with Procurement, Packaging and Engineering to identify how to make new ideas viable across our Muller and co‑man network or source new solutions
• Monitor consumer trends to help inspire future thinking
• Line management of a Marketing Graduate, including supporting with personal development

What You'll Bring

• Marketing Experience: Minimum 4 years in marketing (FMCG preferred) including exposure to supporting a business with Innovation launches and concept creation
• Academic Excellence: Degree‑level qualification (2:1 or above) in a relevant subject, or qualified by experience.
• Leadership: Proven leadership experience-whether in‑role or through extracurricular activities.
• Curious: An open mindset with an interest in the latest trend and new product launches.
• Analytical Mindset: Strong analytical skills and a passion for data‑driven decision‑making.
• Change Maker: Embrace and drive change with energy, displaying the ability to challenge the ways things are done and opportunities to improve.
• Team Spirit: A true team player-supportive, honest, and passionate about winning together.

What You'll Receive

• Competitive Salary
• Bonus scheme
• Private medical healthcare
• Contributory pension plan
• Life Assurance
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Generous annual leave increasing with service.
• Flexible benefits programme
• In addition, our employees have access to a Rewards Benefits Programme, giving you a range of discounts across 800 retailers online and in store.

Contact Details

F.A.O. UK Recruitment, Mller UK & Ireland, Shrewsbury Road, Market Drayton, Shropshire, TF9 3SQ