Head of Innovation, Europe

Head of Europe Innovation

Glanbia Performance Nutrition, UK

Join this dynamic team focused on delivering better nutrition for every step of life’s journey

The Opportunity

We have an ambitious brand building agenda in GPN with Innovation and consumer centricity at the heart of the plan, enabling strong and healthy brands that are “First to mind” and “First to find”.

Reporting directly to the Senior Director – International Innovation, the Head of Europe Innovation will lead Innovation for UK, Ireland and Continental Europe which is the biggest part of GPN’s International region $260M in 2023. The International business is projected to grow to over $850 in 2026 with a clear growth ambition that will come from a mix of profitable organic sales growth and expansion of market presence within specific geographies, as well as potential acquisitions and strategy.

The focus will specifically include responsibility of the innovation pipeline and strategy for key brands like ON, Isopure and SlimFast. The role will need to take into consideration varied consumer preferences, channel shifts, category evolution and competitor movements across a wide portfolio of markets to drive innovation in Europe. Partnership with the local regional teams, R&D, global innovation and the Insight and analytics function will be crucial to using innovation to drive 1) Sustainable business growth 2) Brand equity and 3) Category leadership through fewer, bigger, better ideas. This is a unique opportunity in an exciting category with a multi-market context.

Key Responsibilities

• Developing consumer centric regional product pipeline through multi-market initiatives for key GPN Brands focus on ON, Isopure and SlimFast (+BSN, Amazing Grass, Nutramino).
• Collaborate with the Global Innovation Function on agreed strategic digsites and long-term strategic focus areas on an upstream 3–5-year innovation horizon at the top of the innovation funnel.
• Fill the mid-lower innovation funnel with a concrete 24-month product innovation pipeline for Europe, partnering closely with R&D, I&A and local market teams.
• At the bottom of the funnel (~12 months before launch), handoff of conceptualised idea, final product, USP’s to central Brand team/in market teams to drive marketing plan.
• Drive impact of the innovation function and create an innovation driven culture throughout the organisation particularly the in-market teams and the London office.
• Represent Europe innovation in appropriate marketing forums.
• Establishing pipeline sufficiency metric for Europe.
• Partnering with finance on Pipeline sufficiency, product design CM%, and analytics to highlight and solve pipeline issues.
• Managing post launch analytics with markets and reporting to ensure accountability of regions in execution.

The skills you will bring to the team

Experience

• 10+ years’ experience in product/innovation leadership roles, preferably within FMCG/ consumer goods.
• Experience in key markets of UK, France, Germany + Nordics preferred.
• Expert-level experience in innovation strategy development, using insights and competitor analysis to anticipate future opportunities.
• Passion for the category and GPN brands, understanding of sports & lifestyle nutrition and a strong passion for sport and healthy lifestyle.
• Highly articulate and able to build relationships influencing stakeholders across a variety of functions.
• An optimistic and resilient team player, confident to voice opinions & challenge mindsets, always leading with consumer insights and passionate to foster this culture across an organisation.

Why this is a great role!

• The world’s No1 sports nutrition company.
• Great future career growth potential, both locally and internationally – Glanbia has business units in 32 countries with over 6000 employees globally.
• Our Smart Working model advocates wellbeing by providing you with a greater choice in how you work and live, giving you a better work-life balance.
• Booming category rooted in a macro trend.
• Opportunity to make a difference, to challenge thinking and make a real impact with a business that is open to change.
• A supportive and collaborative team environment.
• Competitive salary and benefits package.

Where and how you will work

The opportunity will be based in our office based in Vauxhall, London with a requirement to work in the office a minimum of 1 day per week with flexibility to be available to come onsite 3-4 days per week when required.

What we would like to offer you!

The opportunity to develop your career on a global stage, continuous learning through an on-demand learning platform, and a competitive compensation package.

About Glanbia

The Glanbia Group comprises three divisions: Glanbia Performance Nutrition , Glanbia Nutritional’s , and Joint Ventures . Collectively and with our partners we offer an incredible breadth of expertise in nutrition. We employ a team of 6,000 people, work with global food and beverage companies, and sell our award-winning and market-leading products in 130 countries worldwide.

At Glanbia, we celebrate diversity, because we know that our individual strengths make us stronger together. We welcome and encourage interest from a variety of candidates, we will give your application consideration, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender perception or identity, national origin, age, marital status, protected veteran status, or disability status.

At Glanbia, our culture celebrates individuality, knowing that together we are more.

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