New Product Innovation Lead (Pentland Brands)

PENTLAND; London; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global company is seeking a New Product Innovation Lead to drive creativity and collaboration across its brand portfolio. This exciting role involves leading projects, fostering consumer insights, and promoting innovative practices in a dynamic environment. Join a team dedicated to delivering exceptional products and experiences while enjoying flexible working and comprehensive benefits.

Benefits

Competitive salary + discretionary bonus

25 Days Holiday with options to purchase additional days

Generous enhanced parental leave policies

Health-related perks including medical cash plan, gym discounts

Commuting support like season ticket loans and electric car schemes

Flexible working and hybrid working options

Opportunities to join Charity, D&I and Sustainability networks

Qualifications

• Exceptional project management and organisational skills, leading projects through ambiguity.
• Experience in conducting and analysing research, using insights for informed decisions.
• Skilled communicator, capable of simplifying complex concepts.

Responsibilities

• Lead cross-functional teams to deliver innovative products from concept to market.
• Run consumer insight sessions to maintain a consumer-first approach.
• Champion a creative team culture supporting experimentation and collaboration.

Skills

Project Management

Communication

Problem Solving

Creativity

Team Collaboration

Job description

We're Pentland Brands; a dynamic, global family business, and proud owners and licensees of many iconic active and footwear brands. With a community of over 1,300 team members worldwide, we embrace diversity and inclusion, and champion growth and development. Our success is built on teamwork, courage, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to excellence.

WHAT'S THE MISSION FOR THIS ROLE?

We're looking for a New Product Innovation Lead to help shape what's next across our portfolio of brands. In this role, you'll lead experts from across the business to deliver future-facing, consumer-first propositions - from early-stage ideas through to tested, market-ready products. You'll bring rigour, whilst simultaneously nurturing a culture of creativity, curiosity and experimentation, and ultimately, drive exciting newness for our brands and our consumers.

WHAT DOES THIS ROLE DO?

As our New Product Innovation Lead, you will be responsible for:

• Expertly leading squads of cross-functional experts across an end-end innovation process to deliver real product into market. You will lead multiple projects at any given time, ranging from early exploration through to market launch.
• Running continuous consumer insight loops to maintain a consumer-first approach; from uncovering new exploration spaces to validating real concepts.
• Embedding a consumer-first mindset across the business by synthesising and sharing learnings across brands and business units on a rolling.
• Working closely with Head of NPI to co-develop innovation frameworks that deliver consistent, effective project delivery.
• Fostering a team culture that celebrates creativity, collaboration and curiosity.
• Championing a test-and-learn mindset that supports failure, feedback and transparency.
• Building strong relationships across a complex organisation to help drive progress and stakeholder alignment.
• Adopting an always-on approach to sharing consumer insights / project learnings / market trends to inform new opportunity spaces.

WHAT DO I BRING TO THE ROLE?

You just might be our next superstar if you have the following skills and experience:

• Exceptional project management and organisational skills, with proven experience designing and leading projects through ambiguity and complexity.
• You are confident managing large teams of contributors and stakeholders, strategically navigating complex dynamics and changing priorities to maintain progress and momentum.
• You bring experience conducting and analysing qualitative and quantitative research sprints. You can run consumer insight sessions; in-person and virtual. You are skilled at turning rich consumer insights into data-driven decisions and actionable next steps for project teams.
• You are an exceptional communicator, written and verbal. You can make the complex simple, and you have a talent for guiding teams towards clarity and momentum. People come to you because they know you can help them figure things out.
• You enjoy working in a fast-paced, creative environment, where no day is the same.
• You are a proactive problem solver, comfortable with ambiguity, and you love finding a way through. You know what it means to be a team player, but you can comfortably take the lead when needed.
• You are curious, open-minded, and a lifelong learner. You thrive off new experiences, you're not afraid to ask questions, and you love a new challenge.

We want you to live our company principles, bringing a strong consumer focus, while always looking for ways to improve and grow in your role. Take ownership of your work and be proactive in solving problems whilst communicating openly and treating everyone with respect and kindness. And, of course, let your creativity shine by bringing your unique style and individuality to the Pentland Brands Team.

New Product Innovation Lead | London | Permanent, full time

WHAT'S IN IT FOR ME?

• Competitive salary + discretionary bonus
• 25 Days Holiday: Increases with length of service and the option to purchase additional days to suit your needs.
• Discounts: Brand discounts (including friends and family and JD Sports), Sample Sales, and other retail discounts and perks.
• Family-Friendly Benefits: Generous enhanced parental leave policies
• Health Perks: Choose from a variety of health-related perks including medical cash plan, critical illness cover, life assurance, gym and fitness discounts, dental insurance, eye care, and health screening to maintain your wellbeing.
• Travel Perks: Take advantage of our season ticket loan, cycle to work schemes, electric car schemes, and discounts on home charging units to support eco-friendly commuting.
• Flexible Working: We offer hybrid working and flexible working hours, allowing you to start your day earlier or later to help with commute costs or personal commitments.
• Chance to join our Charity, D&I and Sustainability employee networks.

As an equal opportunity employer, we're committed to fostering diversity and creating an inclusive culture across our business, stores, and office environment.

We warmly welcome your application.