Product Innovation Manager
Product Innovation Manager

Product Innovation Manager

Full-Time 50000 - 60000 £ / year (est.) No home office possible
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead the creation of exciting new dairy products and categories from concept to launch.
  • Company: Join ALL THINGS, a modern British dairy brand with big ambitions.
  • Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, bonus, 25 days holiday, and free butter!
  • Other info: Dynamic startup environment with opportunities for rapid growth and creativity.
  • Why this job: Be at the forefront of dairy innovation and make a real impact.
  • Qualifications: 3+ years in product development, strong project management skills, and commercial awareness.

The predicted salary is between 50000 - 60000 £ per year.

We’re ALL THINGS, a modern British dairy brand founded by chef Thomas Straker and Toby Hopkinson. What started as All Things Butter (known for bold flavours and double-churned butter made from British cream) is now expanding into a wider multi-category dairy brand with lots of NPD and big ambitions. Our mission is simple: make dairy exciting again. This role sits at the heart of All Things’ next phase of growth.

This is a commercially-minded, technically literate product role that sits at the intersection of product development, supplier management, and project delivery across All Things’ expanding portfolio. Sitting within Strategy, this role will focus primarily on long-term innovation, new category development, and product launches, while also providing technical support to Operations on existing products where required.

You will own the end-to-end development of new products - from concept through co-manufacturer trials, scale-up, and launch - working closely with external partners to bring ideas to market quickly and effectively. You will be expected to run multiple NPD projects in parallel (typically 2-4 at different stages), moving at pace from concept to launch, with a strong bias toward rapid iteration and real-world validation over perfection.

What makes this role distinct is how it gets things done. Rather than being the deepest technical expert in the room, you will be the person who brings together the right experts (co-manufacturer technologists, suppliers, and external consultants) and translates their input into commercially viable, launched products.

Approximately:

  • ~80% of focus: Innovation, new categories, and product launches
  • ~20% of focus: Targeted technical support to Operations

What You’ll Own

  • Product Development & Innovation: Own the end‑to‑end development of new products and categories: concept, supplier engagement, trials, scale‑up, and launch. Translate category opportunities, culinary trends, and brand vision into clear product briefs for co‑manufacturers and suppliers. Support redevelopment of existing SKUs where commercially relevant (COGs, flavour, shelf‑life improvements).
  • External Partner & Supplier Management: Manage relationships with co‑manufacturers, suppliers, and external consultants. Run product development processes through partners - coordinating trials, gathering feedback, and driving iteration. Leverage external expertise effectively, ensuring strong outcomes without becoming dependent on it. Source and onboard new suppliers aligned to category strategy.
  • Pipeline & Project Management: Own critical paths across multiple concurrent NPD projects - coordinating across Strategy, Ops, Commercial, and Brand. Drive projects forward at pace, ensuring timelines, costs, and deliverables are met. Work closely with the Strategy Lead to prioritise the innovation pipeline. Own the commercial viability of new products, ensuring target margins, pricing architecture, and scalability are achieved prior to launch. Work closely with Commercial to ensure products are designed for successful retail sell‑in and long‑term velocity. Identify and stop low‑potential projects early, ensuring focus remains on the highest‑impact opportunities.
  • Technical Support (Ops Collaboration): Provide targeted technical support to Operations on high‑impact product or quality issues, without owning BAU product maintenance. Contribute to maintaining technical documentation (specs, HACCP, traceability, allergen data) in collaboration with Ops. Provide input into shelf‑life, testing, and product performance, ensuring alignment with technical standards. Work closely with Ops to ensure smooth transition from launch into BAU.

What Success Looks Like (12-18 months)

  • Successfully launch 4-6 new SKUs across 1-2 new categories.
  • Deliver products that meet or exceed target margins.
  • Build a scalable network of high‑quality co‑manufacturing partners.
  • Establish a repeatable NPD process that enables faster future launches.
  • Maintain strong alignment between innovation and operational execution.

Your Profile

  • Essential: 3+ years end‑to‑end NPD experience in chilled food (dairy adjacent welcomed). Proven ability to manage external technical relationships (co‑manufacturers, consultants, and supplier) and deliver results through them. Strong project management skills; comfortable owning multiple concurrent workstreams. Technical literacy sufficient to engage credibly with experts and make informed decisions. Commercial awareness - understands how decisions impact margin, cost, and scalability. Level 2 HACCP (minimum).
  • Highly Desirable: Experience in a startup or challenger brand. Exposure to fresh or cultured dairy. Degree or HND in Food Science, Food Technology, or similar. Level 3 Food Safety. Experience with shelf‑life testing, sensory evaluation, or microbiological considerations.

About You

You are a high‑agency operator who thrives on building new product lines from scratch and taking them to market at pace. You’re comfortable working across both innovation and technical environments - able to move quickly on new opportunities while maintaining a strong understanding of product quality and feasibility. You don’t need to be the deepest technical expert, but you know how to work with them. You ask intelligent questions, challenge where needed, and use external expertise effectively. You thrive in ambiguity, take ownership, and are motivated by building something new.

The Package

  • Competitive salary (DOE) + annual bonus (performance based).
  • 25 days holiday + your birthday off + UK bank holidays.
  • Monthly wellbeing allowance.
  • Free butter, always 🧈 + 25% off at Straker’s & ACRE restaurants.
  • 5% employer pension match.

Product Innovation Manager employer: All Things

At ALL THINGS, we pride ourselves on being a dynamic and innovative employer that fosters a collaborative work culture where creativity thrives. As a Product Innovation Manager, you will have the opportunity to lead exciting new product developments in a fast-paced environment, supported by competitive benefits such as a generous holiday allowance, performance-based bonuses, and a monthly wellbeing allowance. Our commitment to employee growth and a vibrant workplace, combined with unique perks like free butter and discounts at our restaurants, makes ALL THINGS an exceptional place to build your career in the dairy industry.
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Contact Detail:

All Things Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Product Innovation Manager

✨Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the dairy and food innovation space. Attend industry events, join relevant online groups, and don’t be shy about reaching out to potential colleagues on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!

✨Tip Number 2

Show off your passion for product innovation! When you get the chance to chat with hiring managers or during interviews, share your ideas about making dairy exciting again. Bring up trends you’ve noticed or products you think could work well. This will show them you’re not just looking for a job, but you’re genuinely interested in their mission.

✨Tip Number 3

Prepare for those interviews by knowing your stuff! Research ALL THINGS and their current product lines. Be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their goals, especially around NPD and supplier management. Tailor your examples to highlight your project management skills and technical literacy.

✨Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the team at ALL THINGS. So, get your application in and let’s make dairy exciting together!

We think you need these skills to ace Product Innovation Manager

Product Development
Innovation Management
Supplier Management
Project Management
Technical Literacy
Commercial Awareness
HACCP Level 2
NPD Experience
Relationship Management
Category Development
Market Launch Strategy
Data Analysis
Quality Assurance
Agility in Ambiguity
Cross-Functional Collaboration

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Your Passion for Dairy: When you're writing your application, let your love for dairy shine through! Talk about why you’re excited to be part of a brand that’s all about making dairy exciting again. We want to see your enthusiasm for product innovation and how it aligns with our mission.

Be Specific About Your Experience: Make sure to highlight your relevant experience in NPD, especially in chilled food or dairy. We’re looking for concrete examples of how you've managed projects from concept to launch. The more specific you are, the better we can see how you fit into our team!

Tailor Your Application: Don’t just send a generic application! Tailor your CV and cover letter to reflect the skills and experiences mentioned in the job description. Show us how your background in project management and supplier relationships makes you the perfect fit for this role.

Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team at All Things!

How to prepare for a job interview at All Things

✨Know Your Product Development Process

Make sure you understand the end-to-end product development process, especially in the context of dairy products. Be ready to discuss how you would manage multiple NPD projects simultaneously and what strategies you would use to ensure timely launches.

✨Showcase Your Technical Literacy

While you don’t need to be the deepest technical expert, it’s crucial to demonstrate your ability to engage with co-manufacturers and suppliers. Prepare examples of how you've successfully collaborated with technical teams in the past and how you’ve translated their insights into commercially viable products.

✨Highlight Your Commercial Awareness

Be prepared to discuss how your decisions impact margins, costs, and scalability. Bring examples from your previous roles where you’ve had to balance innovation with commercial viability, ensuring that new products not only excite but also meet financial targets.

✨Emphasise Your Project Management Skills

Since this role involves managing multiple concurrent workstreams, showcase your project management experience. Talk about specific tools or methodologies you’ve used to keep projects on track and how you prioritise tasks to focus on high-impact opportunities.

Product Innovation Manager
All Things
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