HEAD OF INNOVATION in London

JENKI is on a mission to redefine the matcha and functional beverage category through flavour-driven innovation and authentic product development. As Head of Innovation, you will lead the end-to-end food and beverage strategy, long-term innovation, ensuring operational excellence across all sites, and embedding systems that scale with the brand’s growth.

This role is highly strategic, you will be setting the vision for JENKI’s product pipeline, anticipating trends seasons in advance, and translating these into commercially successful and operationally viable launches. You will play a critical role in heading up the team which shapes the brand’s future, overseeing everything from recipe creation and testing, systemisation, bar execution, cross-functional collaboration to quality assurance and consistency.

Head of Innovation owns where JENKI's product offering is going, why it matters commercially and culturally, and ensures the team and systems exist to deliver it at scale.

• Strategic Innovation
  • Design and lead the long-term innovation strategy for JENKI, gaining input from the team and translating this into an actionable plan that aligns with the business strategy.
  • Own and drive the seasonal and long-term menu calendar, planning launches and innovations.
  • Lead JENKI’s flavour-forward product strategy, identifying and capitalising on emerging food, beverage, and wellness trends.
  • Develop new product formats and categories for Retail, D2C and subscriptions, ensuring they align with JENKI’s brand values.
  • Drive innovation through R&D with both ingredient and packaging suppliers.
  • Manage the recipe development team responsible for recipe and process documentation as well as testing, quality and costs.
  • Own and lead the monthly innovation forum, communicating the innovation funnel (pipeline) at different stages of development to ensure the right projects are being worked on at the right time.
  • Be responsible for final sign off on every new product that we launch as well as recommending go/no go for new products to pass through the various NPD stages.
• Operational Systems & Standards
  • Own the systems and standards required to efficiently manage NPD roll out along with training and quality execution.
  • Drive the understanding of operational challenges in scaling recipes and launches and approve preventative systems that drive quality and consistency.
  • Design and own team structure and objectives, evolving roles and responsibilities as the business grows.
  • Guide, manage and develop the Culinary Innovation Manager, ensuring clear objectives, support, and professional growth.
  • With the Culinary Innovation Manager, have final sign off on all new ingredients for quality, taste and performance.
  • Provide strategic leadership to kitchen operations and test kitchen team, ensuring seamless handovers and preparation processes.
  • Work closely with CPU Manager, Head of Ops and Supply Chain Manager to take ownership of each new product and embed product standards through training, coaching, and feedback.
  • Act as a cultural leader in promoting JENKI’s values of authenticity, innovation, and quality.
• Performance Reporting & Commercial Focus
  • Lead on ingredient costings, margin analysis, and menu profitability, embedding regular performance reporting cycles.
  • Proactively identify opportunities to optimise recipes, reduce costs, or enhance efficiency without compromising quality.
  • Feed commercial and operational insights into the long-term food and beverage strategy.
  • Responsible for margin targets by category.
  • Accountable for innovation ROI.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Define and communicate product narratives & flavour intent for all JENKI products.
  • Partner with Marketing to define product stories and ensure innovation is translated clearly and consistently across all consumer touch points.

• 10+ years’ experience in product research and development, food innovation, or beverage strategy.
• Proven track record of developing and launching new products at scale, including systemising processes across multiple locations and channels.
• Staying ahead of market and cultural trends, anticipating consumer needs and emerging opportunities to shape an innovative, future-focused product strategy.
• Strong commercial acumen with experience in costings, profitability analysis, and supplier collaboration.
• Deep understanding of flavour development, ingredient performance, and wellness-led consumer trends.
• Highly proactive, strategic thinker with the ability to plan seasons ahead and adapt quickly to changing market dynamics.
• Exceptional communicator and collaborator, able to influence cross-functional teams and inspire creativity.
• Passionate about authenticity, quality, and innovation, with an appreciation for matcha heritage.