Innovation Marketing Manager

We’re looking for an ambitious and commercially minded Innovation Marketing Manager to lead the GB & International Innovation agenda for some of the UK and Europe’s most loved brands – including our iconic Strings & Things brand. This is a new role within an expanding function focused on delivering innovation that unlocks new growth opportunities for the portfolio.

The Innovation Marketing Manager is the end‑to‑end owner of the branded innovation agenda, responsible for setting the innovation vision, strategy and priorities, and ensuring delivery of a high‑quality, consumer‑led innovation pipeline that drives short, mid and long‑term growth. The role acts as the Innovation Lead, translating strategic growth ambitions into clear innovation platforms, pipelines and launch plans. Reporting to the Head of Innovation, Insights, Category Management & Transformation, the responsibilities include providing leadership, clarity and pace across the innovation funnel – from insight‑led opportunity identification through to in‑market execution – while developing and coaching a high‑performing innovation team.

The position is hybrid, with two days per week in our Staines offices (Tuesday & Wednesday) and requires occasional travel to London and other sites across Ireland and the UK.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Innovation Strategy & Leadership
  • Own and lead the Innovation Strategy, aligned to Business Strategy across priority portfolios
  • Define clear innovation platforms, guardrails and playing fields for brands and categories
  • Provide strong innovation leadership and direction, ensuring the business moves from participation to performance
  • Act as the senior innovation voice across the organisation, influencing key stakeholders at all levels
• Innovation Pipeline Ownership & Governance
  • Accountable for the health, quality and value of the innovation pipeline across short and long‑term horizons
  • Lead innovation forums ensuring gate discipline, pace and quality of decision making
  • Ensure innovation projects progress effectively from insight to launch readiness, balancing ambition, feasibility and commercial return
  • Maintain a robust, prioritised portfolio that reflects resource, capacity and strategic focus
• Consumer‑Led Proposition Development
  • Ensure all innovation is rooted in strong consumer insight
  • Oversee development of compelling concepts, propositions and brand‑appropriate solutions
  • Manage key agency and external partners to support breakthrough thinking, concept development and delivery
  • Bring outside‑in innovation inspiration and best practice into the business
• Commercial & Brand Impact
  • Ensure innovation supports brand equity growth and delivers against commercial KPIs (value, margin, success rate)
  • Shape innovation launch strategies, ensuring clear roles for brand, innovation and activation
  • Track in‑market performance and embed learning loops to strengthen future pipelines
  • Partner closely with Insights, Brand, Category, R&D, Finance and Commercial teams to translate ideas into winning, executable propositions
• Team Leadership & Capability Building
  • Lead, coach and develop the team including Senior Innovation Managers and Innovation Manager, setting clear objectives and development pathways
  • Create a high‑performing innovation team with strong standards, clear ownership and accountability where people feel empowered, supported and energised
  • Foster a culture of curiosity, pace and constructive challenge
  • Build innovation capability, mindset and confidence across the wider organisation

Success Measures

• Strength and value of the innovation pipeline (short, medium and long term)
• In‑market success rate of innovation launches
• Delivery of innovation contribution to growth targets
• Stakeholder confidence and alignment behind the innovation agenda
• Capability, engagement and progression of the innovation team

What You Can Bring To The Role

• Significant experience in Innovation, Marketing or Brand roles within FMCG (ideally food/dairy/chilled categories)
• Proven track record of leading complex innovation pipelines from insight to launch
• Experience managing and developing senior team members
• Strong commercial acumen with experience building and evaluating business cases
• Strategic thinker with the ability to simplify complexity
• Strong influencer with gravitas across functions and leadership teams
• Consumer obsessed, insight driven and commercially grounded
• Comfortable with ambiguity; able to set direction where it does not yet exist
• Collaborative, decisive and outcomes focused
• Curiosity, resilience and hunger to learn, grow and push boundaries

What We Can Offer

• 25 days annual leave (excluding bank holidays)
• Health Care
• Matched pension scheme
• Benefits platform offering discounts and cashback on major retailers

Equal Employment Opportunity

We are committed to fostering an inclusive culture where diversity, equality and respect are valued. We do not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, class, economic status, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, political beliefs, veteran status, marital status or any other protected characteristic.