Senior Innovation Manager - Packaged Foods

Placements24; Cape Town; Hybrid; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plan

Performance bonuses

Generous annual leave

Professional development

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a Senior Innovation Manager for a leading FMCG packaged foods business in Cape Town. You will drive new product development, identify unmet consumer needs, and translate them into commercially viable products, overseeing ideation through to launch and post-launch analysis.

The role requires a strong food science background, 7+ years in product innovation or R&D, and a proven track record of launching products.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field.
• Master's degree is advantageous.
• Minimum 7 years of experience in product innovation, R&D, or brand management within FMCG packaged foods.
• Proven track record of launching new food products from concept to commercialization.
• Strong understanding of food science, formulation development, and manufacturing processes.
• Excellent analytical, strategic thinking, and problem-solving skills.
• Deep knowledge of consumer behaviour, market trends, and competitive landscape in the food industry.
• Exceptional project management abilities with experience in managing complex cross-functional projects.
• Outstanding communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience working with external research partners and ingredient suppliers.
• Must be legally authorized to work in South Africa.

Responsibilities

• Identify and evaluate new product opportunities based on market trends and consumer insights.
• Lead ideation, brainstorming sessions, and development of innovative product concepts.
• Oversee development and execution of new product prototypes with R&D.
• Conduct consumer testing and validation studies for product-market fit.
• Develop business cases with market sizing, financial projections, and risk assessments.
• Collaborate with Marketing, Sales, Supply Chain, and QA throughout the lifecycle.
• Manage project timelines, budgets, and resources for timely launches.
• Stay abreast of emerging food technologies and processes.
• Contribute to the innovation strategy and roadmap for packaged foods.
• Present new product proposals to senior management.

Skills

Product innovation

R&D

Brand management

Project management

Stakeholder management

Analytical thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree in Food Science / Food Technology / Marketing / Business

Master's degree advantageous

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a renowned leader in the FMCG industry, is actively seeking an experienced and visionary Senior Innovation Manager to drive new product development within their packaged foods division. This critical role will focus on identifying unmet consumer needs and translating them into commercially viable and innovative food products. You will lead the entire innovation process, from ideation and concept development through to product launch and post-launch analysis. The successful candidate will possess a strong understanding of food science, consumer trends, market dynamics, and R&D processes. This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of our product portfolio and make a tangible impact on the market. The position is based in the picturesque and bustling city of Cape Town, Western Cape, a vibrant hub for culinary creativity and consumer engagement.

Key Responsibilities

• Identify and evaluate new product opportunities based on market trends, consumer insights, and competitive analysis.
• Lead the ideation process, facilitating brainstorming sessions and developing innovative product concepts.
• Oversee the development and execution of new product prototypes and formulations in collaboration with R&D.
• Conduct consumer testing and validation studies to ensure product-market fit and consumer acceptance.
• Develop comprehensive business cases for new product initiatives, including market sizing, financial projections, and risk assessments.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams including Marketing, Sales, Supply Chain, and Quality Assurance throughout the product lifecycle.
• Manage project timelines, budgets, and resources effectively to ensure successful and timely product launches.
• Stay abreast of emerging food technologies, ingredients, and manufacturing processes.
• Contribute to the overall innovation strategy and roadmap for the packaged foods category.
• Present new product proposals and updates to senior management and key stakeholders.

Requirements

• A Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Marketing, Business, or a related discipline.
• A Master's degree is advantageous.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in product innovation, R&D, or brand management within the FMCG packaged foods sector.
• Proven track record of successfully launching new food products from concept to commercialization.
• Strong understanding of food science principles, formulation development, and manufacturing processes.
• Excellent analytical, strategic thinking, and problem-solving skills.
• Deep knowledge of consumer behaviour, market trends, and competitive landscape in the food industry.
• Exceptional project management abilities with experience in managing complex cross-functional projects.
• Outstanding communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience working with external research partners and ingredient suppliers.
• Must be legally authorized to work in South Africa.

Benefits

• A competitive annual salary of ZAR .
• Comprehensive health insurance and retirement plan.
• Performance-related bonuses and incentives.
• Generous annual leave and paid time off.
• Opportunities for professional development, workshops, and further education.
• Staff discounts on a wide range of company products.
• A vibrant and collaborative work environment in beautiful Cape Town.
• The chance to innovate and lead in a rapidly evolving food market.
• Potential for career advancement within a leading global FMCG organization.
• Relocation assistance available for candidates moving to Cape Town.