At a Glance
- Tasks: Support product development and maintain high standards in our Innovation Centre.
- Company: Join Iceland Foods, where innovation meets great food ideas.
- Benefits: Flexible hours, collaborative culture, and opportunities for personal growth.
- Other info: Fast-paced environment with a focus on teamwork and innovation.
- Why this job: Be part of a dynamic team creating exciting new products for millions.
- Qualifications: Full UK driving licence and strong organisational skills required.
The predicted salary is between 18900 - 23100 £ per year.
Location
Head Office - Deeside (North Wales) - Iceland Innovation Centre
Hours
- Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm (with flexibility between 8am-6pm to support business needs)
- Be Part of Where Great Food Ideas Begin
At Iceland Foods, innovation is at the heart of everything we do.
Behind every new product launch is a dedicated team working hard to bring exciting ideas to life for our customers.
We're looking for an enthusiastic and organised
Innovation Centre Assistant to join our Innovation Centre in Deeside.
This is a hands‑on role supporting our busy product development and innovation teams, ensuring our kitchens, panel rooms and sample areas are maintained to the highest standards and ready to support the creation of future Iceland products.
As the role involves regular travel to retailers and suppliers to source products and samples, a full UK driving licence is essential.
If you enjoy working in a fast‑paced environment, take pride in organisation and cleanliness and thrive on supporting a team to deliver great results, we'd love to hear from you!
What You’ll Be Doing
As an Innovation Centre Assistant, you'll play a vital role in ensuring the smooth day-to-day operation of our Innovation Centre.
- Your Responsibilities Will Include
- Supporting Innovation Activities
- Preparing kitchen and panel areas for product tastings, showcases, reviews and meetings.
- Ensuring all kitchens and panel rooms are fully stocked and presentation ready.
- Supporting Development Chefs and Product Development teams with kitchen set‑up and ongoing requirements.
- Shopping & Purchasing
- Sourcing products and samples from retailers, farm shops, foodservice providers and other outlets.
- Managing shopping requests and planning efficient shopping routes.
- Ensuring purchased samples are stored correctly and stakeholders are informed of any issues.
- Stock & Sample Management
- Monitoring inventory levels and ordering essential supplies.
- Supporting the organisation of sample storage areas.
- Maintaining clean, organised storage facilities.
- Assisting with sample clear‑outs and charity donations where appropriate.
- Providing cover for sample management activities during holidays, sickness and lunch breaks.
- Kitchen & Facility Standards
- Maintaining exceptional cleanliness across the Innovation Centre kitchens.
- Operating dishwashers and managing pot wash areas.
- Cleaning and sanitising utensils, equipment, pots and pans.
- Performing regular deep cleaning of kitchen equipment, including ovens, fridges, freezers and microwaves.
- Ensuring all kitchen and innovation areas are cleaned, stocked and prepared for the following day.
- Administration Support
- Maintaining petty cash records and processing receipts accurately.
- Supporting credit card reconciliation processes.
- Booking pool vehicles for shopping and sample collection activities.
- Reporting maintenance requirements and equipment issues promptly.
- What We’re Looking For
- Full UK driving licence is essential.
- Highly organised with excellent attention to detail.
- Proactive with ability to use initiative.
- Comfortable working at pace and managing multiple priorities.
- A strong communicator who builds positive relationships with colleagues and suppliers.
- Flexible and adaptable when priorities change.
- Positive, approachable and team focused.
- Ability to work independently whilst supporting a wider team.
- Confident using Microsoft Office applications.
About You
You're someone who
- Takes pride in maintaining high standards.
- Enjoys working in a hands‑on environment.
- Can remain calm and focused under pressure.
- Is eager to learn and continuously improve.
- Brings energy, enthusiasm and a positive attitude to work every day.
- Enjoys being part of a collaborative and innovative team.
Why Join Iceland?
At Iceland, we're proud of our unique culture and the opportunities we create for our colleagues.
You'll work alongside passionate food innovation professionals and play a key role in bringing exciting new products to life for millions of customers.
If you're organised, proactive and passionate about keeping things running smoothly behind the scenes, we'd love you to join our Innovation Centre team.
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Innovation Centre Assistant employer: Iceland Foods
Iceland offers an exceptional work environment for Refrigeration Engineers, providing autonomy and flexibility in your role while ensuring a supportive team atmosphere. With over 27 years of experience, we prioritise professional development through ongoing training and clear career progression paths, all within a secure in-house position. Enjoy competitive benefits, including a company van, generous holiday allowance, and exclusive discounts, making Iceland a rewarding place to build your career in Leicester or Coventry.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Innovation Centre Assistant
✨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 Iceland Foods.
✨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 Iceland Foods.
We think you need these skills to ace Innovation Centre Assistant
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 Iceland Foods 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 Iceland Foods 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 Iceland Foods
✨Show Off Your Innovative Thinking
In an Innovation R&D Management role at Iceland Foods, 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 Iceland Foods 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 Iceland Foods, 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.
