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Nicholas Howard are delighted to be recruiting for a new and exciting role as an Innovation Manager.

Based in St Albans – Hybrid 50% WFH, 50% Office based:

• We are looking for a talented innovator to help drive our client’s ambitious pipeline forward on one of their brands. With a focus on delicious and authentic meals, this brand has major growth headroom to be untapped through expanding the range in line with consumer trends.
• You will be responsible for supporting the Innovation Controller in development, and delivery to market of the innovation pipeline, which also includes exciting expansion into new segments.
• Much of the innovation pipeline is an incremental growth driver to the Cooking Sauces business over the next few years, growing the brands’ penetration, usage and relevance within and beyond traditional occasions. This role is a chance to be at the centre of this exciting journey, with a hands-on opportunity to make a meaningful, visible impact on their success.

You will:

• Identify big innovation opportunities by partnering with the Innovation Controller to support the development of the pipeline strategy.
• Facilitate internal ideas generation with cross functional teams to create winning concepts.
• Own NPD projects from concept to launch; seeking out the optimised solution of product, pack and execution as you work closely with a cross-functional team.
• Be accountable for the successful pipeline delivery through the business gate cycle and commercial targets.
• Within the Cooking Sauces team, you will work alongside the Brand Managers, Controller and Director, reporting to the Innovation Controller.
• You will play a critical role in identifying the next exciting product opportunities by partnering closely with Insights and R&D.

Do you offer:

• 3+ years successful experience within a leading FMCG or other brand-led organisation.
• A mix of innovation experiences including innovation development and project ownership.
• Strong bias for action, a high degree of personal accountability and an entrepreneurial spirit.
• Track record of working cross-functionally and leading projects to successful results in market.
• Strong analytical skills, comfortable digging under the surface to uncover insights, reach logical conclusions and recommend actions back to the business in a compelling way.
• An individual who has a track record of getting the best out others with a collaborative and inclusive style.
• Hungerfor winning and personal development.

Whatyou’ll be doing:

• Contribute your ideas to the long-term pipeline. Helping to create a funnel of qualified activities, winning concepts and strong rationale.
• Play a key role in the development of the pipeline through the exploration of consumer insight and market trends.
• Help shape the commercial strategy to form winning ideas, by identifying opportunities from category and trade lenses, and applying base understanding to a P&L.
• Take accountability for the successful launch of NPD projects, working to delivering on time and in full against the business targets:
• Own the business case through the gate stage process
• Influence timeline targets
• Lead project meetings from an innovation / brand lens
• Product: brief and review of recipes with R&D; support validation with Insight & Sensory teams
• Design: brief origination through to repro sign-off
• Budget: Process Pos
• Supporting external sell-ins: creating sell stories; organising samples
• Supporting internal communication of projects: support / build content for Sales Conference
• Support the Innovation Controller to drive a strong business case for the strategy within our cycles i.e., strategy reviews and annual sales conference.

What’s on offer in return?

• Bonus
• 25 days holiday, with the option to purchase more
• Up to 7.5% pension
• PMI
• Life assurance
• Wide range of online and in-house training
• Employee discount scheme, with access to hundreds of nationwide retailers

To be considered for this position please apply below.