Innovation Excellence Lead in Ryde

Innovation Excellence Lead in Ryde

Ryde Full-Time 54000 - 66000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
GWF

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead innovation projects and improve processes at Tip Top Bakeries.
  • Company: Join a leading brand known for wholesome bakery products.
  • Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, paid parental leave, and career development opportunities.
  • Other info: Be part of a diverse team that values inclusion and personal growth.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact by driving innovation and collaboration across teams.
  • Qualifications: Experience in project management and innovation within FMCG or related industries.

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

Lead the governance and delivery of Tip Top's innovation project portfolio. Drive continuous improvement of innovation processes, systems and ways of working. North Ryde based – Hybrid working, 3 days in office.

At Tip Top, innovation is at the heart of how we grow, evolve and delight consumers. We're looking for an experienced Innovation Excellence Lead to manage our innovation operating framework and help bring new products and ideas to market.

Reporting to the Head of Marketing, you'll play a pivotal role in managing Tip Top's innovation portfolio, ensuring projects are effectively governed, prioritised and delivered. Working across Marketing, Operations, Supply Chain, Finance and Commercial teams, you'll be the driving force behind bringing innovation to life and continuously improving the way we work.

Purpose of the Role
  • Own and continuously improve Tip Top's innovation operating framework and governance processes.
  • Lead the management of the innovation portfolio, ensuring projects progress effectively through the NPD lifecycle.
  • Facilitate key innovation forums, including Stage Gate reviews, IBP processes and portfolio governance meetings.
  • Provide leadership reporting, portfolio insights and recommendations to support business decision-making.
  • Drive innovation process adoption and project management capability building across the business.
  • Partner with site leaders and cross-functional stakeholders to identify and remove barriers impacting innovation delivery.
  • Lead continuous improvement initiatives that enhance project delivery, collaboration and commercial outcomes.
  • Manage innovation-related compliance activities, reporting requirements and budget oversight.
About You

The ideal candidate will have:

  • Experience leading innovation, commercialisation, NPD, PMO or project portfolios within FMCG, manufacturing or related industries.
  • Strong project management and governance capability, including exposure to Stage Gate or similar frameworks.
  • Proven experience influencing and collaborating across multiple business functions.
  • Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to drive outcomes without direct authority.
  • Experience identifying opportunities to simplify processes and improve ways of working.
  • Excellent communication, presentation and reporting skills.
  • A natural problem solver who thrives in a fast-paced and changing environment.
Why Join Us?

At Tip Top Bakeries, we're proud to produce an extensive range of wholesome sliced bread, muffins, crumpets, pies, and bakery snacks. Our purpose of ‘Everyday Moments of Goodness' represents the lives we touch and the difference we make. Those moments that bring a smile, make us proud, or keep us safe, are moments we strive for through our work.

We take pride in supporting our people to learn, grow, and develop throughout their careers with Tip Top Bakeries. We believe in the power of an inclusive and diverse workforce and invest in meaningful initiatives to remove barriers and enable our employees to have a satisfying and rewarding career with us. Our vision for Tip Top Bakeries is an organisation where everyone belongs, everyone is valued, and everyone has equal opportunity.

Join the team and be part of one of our iconic brands like Tip Top, Abbotts Bakery, Bürgen and Golden.

Working with Tip Top, we offer many benefits including:
  • Family-friendly policies including 12 weeks of paid parental leave, additional paid time off to ease back to work and ongoing superannuation contributions during unpaid parental leave.
  • Recognition and award programs, including access to our online rewards platform.
  • Health and wellbeing programs including access to our 24/7 Employee Assistance Program, and on-site physiotherapy services.
  • Flexible working options.
  • Access to an extensive range of internal trainings and development programs for your career.
  • Financial support for approved study pathways, as well as traineeship and apprenticeship programs.
  • Two paid volunteer days per year as part of our focus on Community Partnerships.
  • Novated Leasing Options.
Start the Conversation

If this role sounds like you and you’re eager to learn, grow, and help create everyday moments of goodness, we want to hear from you. To apply for this opportunity please submit your application by clicking on the ‘apply now' button.

Our Recruitment Process typically consists of a brief, prearranged telephone or video call, followed by 1-2 interviews in-person or over Zoom/Teams. We’re happy to adjust our recruitment process to support your accessibility needs. Let us know your needs in providing a positive, barrier-free recruitment process via phone on (02) 9168 4200 or email to ttpeopleservices@gwf.com.au.

Please do not call to enquire about this position as the phone number is for requesting accessibility needs only.

During the recruitment process you may be required to complete pre-employment screening which includes a medical (includes drug & alcohol testing) and a criminal record check.

At Tip Top we strive to create a place where Everyone belongs, Everyone is valued, and Everyone has equal opportunity. We encourage applications from people of all ages, nationalities, abilities, and cultures – including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, the LGBTQI+ community and people living with disability.

Important: We have been alerted to scam emails falsely claiming to represent George Weston Foods. Please note that we will never offer employment without a formal recruitment process, ask for payment, or request sensitive information via external links or unsolicited messages. All official communication will come from verified company channels.

Innovation Excellence Lead in Ryde employer: GWF

At Tip Top Bakeries, we pride ourselves on fostering a collaborative and high-performance culture that prioritises growth and innovation. Located in North Ryde, our hybrid working environment allows for flexibility while you contribute to iconic brands and impactful trade activations. We are committed to employee development, offering extensive training programs, family-friendly policies, and a strong focus on inclusivity, making us an excellent employer for those seeking meaningful and rewarding careers.

GWF

Contact Details:

GWF Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Innovation Excellence Lead in Ryde

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 GWF.

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 GWF.

We think you need these skills to ace Innovation Excellence Lead in Ryde

Innovation Management
Project Management
Governance Processes
Stage Gate Framework
Stakeholder Management
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Process Improvement

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 GWF 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 GWF 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 GWF

Show Off Your Innovative Thinking

In an Innovation R&D Management role at GWF, 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 GWF 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 GWF, 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.