Innovation Manager in London

Innovation Manager in London

London Full-Time 54000 - 66000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead innovative projects from concept to launch, transforming consumer insights into impactful products.
  • Company: A caring company focused on people, products, and the environment with a collaborative culture.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, bonus, 24 days leave, pension, life assurance, and health cash plan.
  • Other info: Flexible working with up to 3 days remote; dynamic role across multiple European markets.
  • Why this job: Make a real difference in Beauty & Personal Care while shaping the future of our portfolio.
  • Qualifications: Experience in innovation within consumer goods, preferably in Personal Care, with strong project leadership skills.

The predicted salary is between 54000 - 66000 £ per year.

A collective energy and ambition. A place where you can make a real difference.

We’re a company that genuinely cares about our people, our products, our consumers and the environment.

Our unique, informal culture champions courage, determination and collaboration.

Knowing we have an open and supportive team means each of us has the freedom to take responsibility and ownership.

We have a shared passion to work hard, innovate and push boundaries.

United by the belief that when we strive for growth, anything is possible.

While we might not be the largest company in our industry, we believe we can have the biggest impact because: Together We Have the Power to Win.

Are you passionate about innovation?

Do you love uncovering consumer insights and transforming them into products that drive growth?

Ready to make your mark in Beauty & Personal Care across Europe?

If that sounds like you, we have an exciting opportunity for an

Innovation Manager to join our European Marketing team and play a key role in shaping the future of our Personal Care portfolio.

Working closely with the European Head of Innovation, you'll lead the development of consumer-led innovation programmes that bring meaningful new products to market and deliver sustainable growth.

This role is based in our London Office and allows for home working up to 3 days per week.

As Innovation Manager, you'll be responsible for identifying consumer needs, spotting market opportunities, building compelling product concepts, and leading projects from idea through to launch readiness.

This is a highly collaborative role working across Marketing, R&D, Sales, Finance, Procurement and international markets to deliver commercially successful innovation.

Key Responsibilities

  • Lead innovation projects from concept development through to launch readiness.
  • Identify consumer insights, market trends and unmet needs to generate winning innovation opportunities.
  • Manage qualitative and quantitative consumer research programmes.
  • Translate insights into compelling product propositions, claims and development briefs.
  • Build robust business cases covering commercial, financial and operational considerations.
  • Partner with Marketing, R&D, Sales and external agencies to develop scalable concepts.
  • Lead packaging development and support Stage Gate processes.
  • Present recommendations and project updates to senior stakeholders.
  • Manage project budgets and ensure innovation programmes are delivered on time and to a high standard.

Education & Experience

  • Significant innovation experience within a regional, international or global consumer goods business.
  • Personal Care experience strongly preferred, with haircare experience highly desirable.
  • Proven track record of leading consumer insight-led NPD projects from concept through to launch.
  • Strong understanding of consumer research, concept development and commercialisation.
  • Experience developing business cases, managing project budgets and working cross-functionally.
  • Understanding of the technical, operational and manufacturing considerations involved in Personal Care product development.

We're looking for a creative and commercially minded innovation professional who thrives on turning insight into action.

You'll be a confident project leader with strong consumer understanding, excellent communication skills and the ability to influence stakeholders across multiple functions and markets.

Curious, resilient and highly organised, you'll enjoy balancing consumer needs, commercial opportunity and operational feasibility to deliver successful innovation programmes.

This role offers the opportunity to work on exciting innovation projects across Europe, helping to shape the future of our Personal Care portfolio while collaborating with talented teams across multiple markets.

This role works Monday – Friday, 37-hours per week.

In return we offer a competitive package, including a bonus, 24 days annual leave, a pension matched up to 9%, life assurance cover and membership of a health cash plan.

Ready to create the next generation of consumer-loved products?

Join us and play a key role in developing innovations that delight consumers, drive business growth and strengthen our brands across Europe.

Apply today and be part of our innovation journey.

For more information on our company, our brands and our culture visit us at http://www. churchdwight. co. uk/

When applying for a role and sending your cv, you understand that the Company will hold your personal data in relation to your prospective employment and will process that data for legitimate business reasons within the requirements of UK data protection laws currently in effect and as they become applicable, including the Data Protection Act 1998, the General Data Protection Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2016/679)) and any successor legislation.

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Innovation Manager in London employer: Church & Dwight

At Church & Dwight, we pride ourselves on fostering a dynamic and inclusive work environment where innovation thrives. As a Junior Project Manager, you'll be empowered to lead impactful projects in a supportive culture that values collaboration and personal growth. With competitive benefits, including generous annual leave and a performance-related bonus, this is your opportunity to make a meaningful contribution while advancing your career in a global FMCG leader.

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Contact Details:

Church & Dwight Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Innovation Manager in London

Leverage Innovation Hubs

Tap into local innovation hubs and research centres. These places often host events and workshops where you can meet like-minded people and industry leaders. Plus, they might have job openings that aren't widely advertised, so keep your ears open!

Showcase Your Projects

Turn your past innovation projects into compelling stories. Create a portfolio showcasing your creativity and problem-solving skills. This can give hiring managers a real flavour of what you can bring to the table at companies like Church & Dwight.

Connect at Industry Conferences

Make it a point to attend industry conferences and seminars focused on R&D and innovation management. These events are fantastic for networking and often have job boards or career fairs where you can connect directly with firms looking for talent.

Use Your University’s Resources

If you're fresh out of university, don't forget to tap into your institution's career services. They often have exclusive partnerships with companies seeking new talent in R&D, especially for full-time roles. It's a good shortcut to landing a gig at places like Church & Dwight.

We think you need these skills to ace Innovation Manager in London

Innovation Management
Consumer Insights
Market Analysis
Product Development
Project Leadership
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Qualitative Research

Some tips for your application 🫡

Showcase Your Creative Thinking:In innovation and R&D management, it's all about thinking outside the box. Make sure your CV highlights any projects or experiences that showcase your creative problem-solving skills. Use specific examples to illustrate how you've developed and implemented innovative ideas in previous roles.

Tailor Your Experience to R&D:When you're crafting your CV, focus on your experience in research and development. Highlight any relevant projects you've worked on, including methodologies used and results achieved. This will show us at Church & Dwight that you understand the R&D process and can contribute meaningfully to our projects.

Let Your Passion Shine in the Cover Letter:For a full-time role like this, your cover letter should reflect your genuine passion for innovation and development. Share your excitement about the opportunity to work at Church & Dwight and touch on how your goals align with our mission. This helps us see your motivation for wanting to join our team!

Quantify Your Achievements:Numbers speak volumes in R&D! Whenever possible, quantify your achievements in your CV. Whether it’s a percentage improvement in project outcomes, the budget size you’ve managed, or the number of successful products you've launched, these figures will help paint a clearer picture of your impact and capabilities.

How to prepare for a job interview at Church & Dwight

Show Off Your Innovative Thinking

In an Innovation R&D Management role at Church & Dwight, they're going to want to see how you approach problem-solving. Be ready to discuss previous projects where you introduced a new idea or process. Highlight your ability to think outside the box and provide examples where your innovations drove significant results.

Familiarity with Tools and Technologies

Make sure you're clued up on the latest tools and technologies related to innovation management, such as project management software and data analysis platforms. Being able to discuss specific tools you’ve used or have experience with will show Church & Dwight that you’re ready to hit the ground running.

Demonstrate Collaboration Skills

Since this is a full-time gig, emphasising your teamwork skills will be essential. In innovation, collaboration often sparks the best ideas, so be ready to talk about how you've worked effectively within cross-functional teams in your past roles. Have concrete examples at the ready!

Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions

Expect some scenario-based questions in your interview that reflect real challenges you might face in the role. £At Church & Dwight, they might want to see how you handle tight deadlines or manage conflicting ideas within a team. Prepare some responses that demonstrate your critical thinking and decisiveness in high-pressure situations.