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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead innovative food projects from concept to launch, driving impactful solutions.
- Company: Join apetito, the UK's leading food supplier dedicated to health and social care.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, 25 days holiday, pension scheme, and more perks.
- Why this job: Be part of a mission-driven team making a real difference in people's lives.
- Qualifications: Experience in food innovation and project management; degree in a relevant subject required.
- Other info: Flexible part-time hours with a focus on creativity and collaboration.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 ÂŁ per year.
Overview
Part time, 15 / 22.5 hours per week (2 / 3 Days) on a 12 month fixed term contract. Innovation has been at the heart of our commercial success for the last 25 years and continues to be at the core of our strategy for growth. Reporting to the Head of Product Innovation and working alongside another Product Innovation Manager, you will have a key role in creating a dynamic pipeline of innovation initiatives. You will uncover insights through research, identify new opportunities, evaluate emerging technologies, and develop compelling ideas and proposals. This hands-on role will require you to design, test, and develop innovative solutions, guiding projects through each stage of the innovation process from the exploration phase through to launch. This role demands agility in both conceptual and practical thinking, the ability to adapt to evolving information and challenges, and the vision to transform ideas into actionable product and system opportunities. It would suit someone with experience in the food industry delivering innovation, either in product development or in processes. You will need strong project management skills, an inquisitive mindset, and the drive to deliver impactful innovation. This role is based at our UK Headquarters in Trowbridge Wiltshire.
apetito is the UK\’s leading food supplier to the health and social care sectors serving more than 1,300 care homes, health care and education settings. Our meals are expertly crafted by our dieticians and chefs, and then frozen to lock in the goodness. Wiltshire Farm Foods, our sister company, is the UK\’s largest ready meal supplier cooking and delivering over 330 different delicious frozen ready meals across the UK.
Responsibilities
- Support the development and delivery of a forward-thinking innovation programme, cultivating a robust pipeline of compelling product and system concepts.
- Lead innovation projects from initial exploration through to post-launch review.
- Identify and implement innovative new food and system opportunities that create competitive advantage and sales growth.
- Research and identify product, ingredient, equipment and technology developments as enablers for delivering innovation.
- Identify and evaluate emerging consumer needs, market developments and trends to uncover unmet needs and whitespace opportunities.
- Collaborate internally and externally (e.g. academic, industry partners and start-ups) to extend the reach and impact of our innovation activities.
- Support ideation and innovation activities.
- Support on the design and development of concepts & products.
- Undertake research and concept testing and refine product or proposition.
- Build project proposals and gain stakeholder support.
- Support other projects assigned by the Head of Product Innovation.
Essential
- Experience delivering food related innovation
- Proven track record in leading and delivering successful projects from initial idea through to launch
- An inquisitive, creative thinker with a strong entrepreneurial mindset
- The ability to derive insights from consumer data, observations and new technologies and translate them into meaningful growth opportunities
- Good commercial acumen
- An empathy with the customers and markets that apetito serves and our “making a real difference” mission
- Degree in a relevant subject
Desirable
- Experience in a product development, project management or business development role in the food industry.
- Competitive salary – accredited Living Wage employer
- 25 days holiday per year, plus bank holidays
- Option to purchase up to 5 additional days holiday per year
- Discretionary annual bonus scheme
- Pension scheme – employer matched contributions up to 4%
- Life assurance scheme worth at least 1x annual salary
- Subsidised canteen
- Free parking
- Free turkey or voucher at Christmas
- apetito perks scheme including salary sacrifice options and retail discounts
As a family-owned business, we take great pride in being a company that makes a real difference and is dedicated to creating outstanding meals to be proud of. We develop a range of products designed to enhance health and well-being for all our customers. We are driven by a passion for service and dedicated to feeding some of the UK’s most vulnerable people. We proudly support British food and farming, focusing on using the best ethical and sustainable produce in alignment with our goal to reach Net Zero by 2040. Our ethical standards are recognised by the ETI and we are an accredited Living Wage employer. Learn more about apetito’s commitment to a more sustainable future. We embrace inclusion, empowering individuals from diverse backgrounds. Our commitment to making a real difference extends to customers, communities, and staff and we\\\’re on a mission to build an inclusive workplace where everyone reaches their full potential.
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Product Innovation Manager employer: apetito UK
Contact Detail:
apetito UK Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Product Innovation Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the latest trends in food innovation and technology. This will not only help you understand the market better but also allow you to speak confidently about how you can contribute to our innovation pipeline during interviews.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the food industry, especially those involved in product development and innovation. Attend relevant events or webinars to make connections that could provide insights or even referrals for your application.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss specific examples of past projects where you've successfully led innovation initiatives. Highlight your project management skills and how you've turned ideas into actionable products, as this aligns closely with what we’re looking for.
✨Tip Number 4
Showcase your inquisitive mindset by preparing thoughtful questions about our current innovation strategies and future goals. This demonstrates your genuine interest in the role and helps you stand out as a proactive candidate.
We think you need these skills to ace Product Innovation Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in food-related innovation and project management. Use specific examples that demonstrate your ability to lead projects from idea to launch.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for innovation in the food industry. Mention how your skills align with the responsibilities outlined in the job description, particularly your experience in identifying consumer needs and developing innovative solutions.
Showcase Your Research Skills: Include examples of how you've conducted research to uncover market trends or consumer insights. This could be through previous roles or academic projects, demonstrating your inquisitive mindset and ability to derive actionable insights.
Highlight Collaboration Experience: Emphasise any experience you have working collaboratively with internal teams or external partners. This is crucial for the role, so provide examples of successful collaborations that led to impactful innovation.
How to prepare for a job interview at apetito UK
✨Showcase Your Innovation Experience
Be prepared to discuss specific examples of how you've delivered food-related innovation in the past. Highlight your role in leading projects from concept to launch, and be ready to explain the impact of your contributions.
✨Demonstrate Your Research Skills
Since the role involves uncovering insights through research, come equipped with examples of how you've identified market trends or consumer needs. Discuss any methodologies you used and how they led to successful product development.
✨Emphasise Your Project Management Abilities
The position requires strong project management skills, so be ready to talk about your experience managing timelines, resources, and stakeholder expectations. Use specific instances to illustrate your organisational skills and ability to adapt to challenges.
✨Align with Company Values
Familiarise yourself with apetito's mission and values, particularly their commitment to sustainability and making a difference. Be prepared to discuss how your personal values align with theirs and how you can contribute to their goals.
