Senior Product & Innovation Manager

Trades Workforce Solutions; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A renowned FMCG company is seeking a Product Innovation Manager (12-Month FTC) to shape the future of its beloved cake portfolio. The role involves managing an existing portfolio, leading cross-functional projects, and leveraging consumer insights to drive innovation. Candidates should have solid experience in product management and the ability to work collaboratively with diverse teams. This position provides the opportunity to influence product development in an inspiring and supportive environment, with flexible hybrid working arrangements.

Benefits

Flexible working arrangements

Collaborative work culture

Opportunities for professional development

Enjoy cake and pizza at work

Qualifications

• Solid experience managing a product portfolio end to end.
• Ability to use data and research to build business cases.
• Strong people skills to nurture a talented team.

Responsibilities

• Shape the future of a much-loved cake portfolio.
• Manage existing portfolio and spot new opportunities.
• Lead cross-functional projects through full stage gate process.

Skills

Managing product portfolios

Uncovering consumer insights

Data analysis

Cross-functional teamwork

Problem-solving

Job description

Go on, treat yourself…

We’re recruiting on the lookout for a Product Innovation Manager(12-Month FTC) to join one of the UK’s most iconic FMCG businesses - the kind that’s been quietly shaping tea breaks, birthdays and Friday nights for decades.

You’ll be responsible for shaping the future of a much-loved cake portfolio, building a pipeline of insight-led innovation that keeps consumers excited and the category moving forward. That means managing an existing portfolio with a sharp commercial eye, spotting white space opportunities, and turning consumer, market and category insight into ideas that actually make it to shelf.

You’ll lead cross‑functional projects through the full stage gate process, balancing creativity with rigour, and making sure every idea stacks up from a brand, consumer and profitability point of view.

You’ll bring solid experience managing a product portfolio end to end, a strong grasp of how to uncover meaningful consumer insight, and the ability to use data and research to build robust business cases and persuasive sell‑in stories.

A positive, proactive mindset is key, along with the confidence to problem‑solve, influence and bring out the best in others. If innovation is your thing and you like seeing your ideas come to life in the real world, this one’s well worth a look.

You won’t be doing it alone either. Utilize your strong people skills to nurture a talented team into something really special. You’ll be working closely with colleagues across R&D, sales, operations and finance, influencing stakeholders at all levels and crafting compelling stories that land brilliantly with retail partners. It’s a role for someone who’s as comfortable in the data as they are in a creative brainstorm, and who enjoys joining the dots between insight, strategy and execution.

The culture is a real standout too. This is a global, family‑run business (run out of a lovely Leeds head office) where people are trusted, supported and encouraged to enjoy what they do. This is a flexible hybrid role, with two days a week in the office required.

You’ll gain proper experience working on brands found in over half of UK households and have a genuine input into shaping the future product portfolio… and yes, there’s a steady flow of cake and pizza along the way!

So what do you say?