Innovation Manager - Quick Meals,Snacks & Soups
Innovation Manager - Quick Meals,Snacks & Soups

Innovation Manager - Quick Meals,Snacks & Soups

St Albans Full-Time 43200 - 72000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead innovation projects and develop consumer-centric initiatives for quick meals, snacks, and soups.
  • Company: Join Premier Foods, a leading UK food company with a rich heritage and ambitious growth plans.
  • Benefits: Enjoy hybrid work options, bonuses, pension schemes, and employee discounts at nationwide retailers.
  • Why this job: Be at the forefront of innovation, making a real impact on products loved by millions.
  • Qualifications: 3+ years in FMCG with strong marketing, innovation, and analytical skills required.
  • Other info: Embrace a culture of inclusion and authenticity where your ideas are valued.

The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.

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Date: 6 Aug 2025

Location: St Albans, GB

Permanent

Based in St Albans/Hybrid work from home 50%

Premier Foods is a business with great momentum, with a purpose to enrich people’s lives through food. We’ve been doing it a long time – many of our much-loved brands have been part of UK life for more than a century. We have an ambitious vision for growth driven by Innovation, targeting 10% of the Company’s turnover to be driven by Innovation each year.

  • We are looking for talented individuals to help drive our ambitious pipelines.
  • You will be responsible for supporting the Innovation Leads in the creation, development and delivery to market of the innovation pipeline. This includes a range of essential EPD projects, as well as challenging NPD Big Bets.
  • This role is a chance to be at the centre of our company’s growth journey, with a hands-on opportunity to make a meaningful, visible impact on our success.

You will…

  • Develop consumer centric initiatives that enables Premier Foods to win in those focus areas
  • lead innovation projects through the Gate process, aligning business leaders and securing the required resource
  • take accountability for the P&L on those innovation projects, ensuring they are scalable and profitable for the business
  • lead the wider cross-functional team to deliver success including R&D, Factory, 3rd Party & Commercial stakeholders
  • stay connected to the external landscape & available technologies and apply this knowledge to our pipeline.

We have exciting momentum and big ambitions, therefore need a strong leader who is up for and energised by the challenge to operate at pace, aim high, make our vision a reality.

What we need from you…?

  • We are looking for individuals with proven marketing, innovation and commercial skills and a strong track record of results. You will need to be a capable strategic thinker, comfortable analysing and deriving insights from different sources of consumer and retail data. You will have a passion for creating new ideas and bringing them to life. You will be a strong team player with the ability to engage with a diverse set of stakeholders to achieve success.
  • 3+ years successful experience within a leading FMCG or other brand-led organisation.
  • A mix of innovation experiences including innovation development and project ownership.
  • Strong bias for action, a high degree of personal accountability and an entrepreneurial spirit.
  • Track record of working cross-functionally and leading projects to successful results in market.
  • Strong analytical skills; comfortable digging under the surface to uncover insights, reach logical conclusions and recommend actions back to the business in a compelling way.
  • An individual who has a track record of getting the best out others with a collaborative and inclusive style

What you\’ll be doing…?

  • Contribute ideas to medium and long-term pipelines. Helping to create a funnel of winning concepts backed by strong rationale.
  • Play a key role in the development of the pipeline through the exploration of consumer insight and market trends.
  • Help shape the commercial strategy to form winning ideas, by identifying opportunities from category and trade lenses, and applying base understanding to a P&L.
  • Take accountability for the successful launch of EPD/NPD projects, working to delivering on time and in full against the business targets:
  • Own the business case through the gate stage process
  • Influence timeline targets
  • Lead project meetings from an innovation/brand lens
  • Product: brief and review of recipes with R&D; support validation with Insight & Sensory teams
  • Design: brief origination through to repro sign-off
  • Budget: Process POs
  • Supporting external sell-ins: creating sell stories; organising samples
  • Supporting internal communication of projects: support/build content for Sales Conference
  • Support Innovation Leads to drive a strong business case for the strategy within our cycles i.e. strategy reviews

What we offer you in return…?

  • Bonus
  • Up to 7.5% pension
  • Life assurance
  • Wide range of online and in-house training
  • Access to an employee discount scheme, with access to hundreds of nationwide retailers

Ready to apply…?

Click apply, submitting an up-to-date CV tailored to this opportunity. We look forward to hearing from you.

A great British food company

Premier Foods is one of Britain’s biggest listed food companies, employing over4,000 colleagues at 13 manufacturingsites and offices up and down the country.

Many of our brands have been part of UK lifefor more than a century and you’ll find them in 90% of British households.

At Premier foods we believe in inclusion, authenticityandindividuality.We aim to ensure all existingand futurecolleagues are given equitable opportunities and are respected, valued and encouraged to bring their true authentic selves to workno matter who they are, what they look like, who they love or what they believe in.Our culture is one where everyone is welcome.

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Innovation Manager - Quick Meals,Snacks & Soups employer: Premier Foods

Premier Foods is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in St Albans with a hybrid model that promotes work-life balance. With a strong focus on innovation and employee development, we provide extensive training opportunities and a collaborative culture that values diverse perspectives. Join us to be part of a company that not only enriches lives through food but also empowers its employees to make a meaningful impact on our growth journey.
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Contact Detail:

Premier Foods Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Innovation Manager - Quick Meals,Snacks & Soups

✨Tip Number 1

Familiarise yourself with Premier Foods' current product lines and recent innovations. Understanding their brand ethos and market positioning will help you tailor your discussions and demonstrate your genuine interest in contributing to their growth.

✨Tip Number 2

Network with professionals in the FMCG sector, especially those who have experience in innovation roles. Engaging with industry peers can provide valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities within the field, which you can leverage during interviews.

✨Tip Number 3

Stay updated on the latest consumer trends and technological advancements in the food industry. Being able to discuss how these trends could influence Premier Foods' innovation pipeline will set you apart as a forward-thinking candidate.

✨Tip Number 4

Prepare to showcase your project management skills by discussing specific examples of past innovation projects you've led. Highlighting your ability to work cross-functionally and achieve results will resonate well with the hiring team.

We think you need these skills to ace Innovation Manager - Quick Meals,Snacks & Soups

Strategic Thinking
Consumer Insight Analysis
Project Management
Cross-Functional Leadership
Entrepreneurial Spirit
Market Trend Analysis
Financial Acumen (P&L Management)
Collaboration and Teamwork
Creativity and Innovation Development
Strong Communication Skills
Analytical Skills
Stakeholder Engagement
Problem-Solving Skills
Time Management
Adaptability

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in innovation management, particularly within FMCG or brand-led organisations. Emphasise your achievements in leading projects and driving results.

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that showcases your passion for food innovation and your understanding of consumer insights. Mention specific examples of how you've contributed to successful product launches or innovation pipelines.

Highlight Analytical Skills: In your application, demonstrate your strong analytical skills by providing examples of how you've used data to derive insights and make informed decisions in previous roles.

Showcase Team Collaboration: Illustrate your ability to work cross-functionally by detailing experiences where you've successfully collaborated with diverse teams. Highlight your leadership style and how it fosters inclusivity and engagement.

How to prepare for a job interview at Premier Foods

✨Showcase Your Innovation Experience

Be prepared to discuss specific examples of innovation projects you've led or contributed to. Highlight your role in the development process and the impact your ideas had on the business.

✨Understand the Market Landscape

Research Premier Foods and its product lines, especially in quick meals, snacks, and soups. Familiarise yourself with current market trends and consumer preferences to demonstrate your knowledge during the interview.

✨Emphasise Cross-Functional Collaboration

Since the role involves working with various teams, be ready to share experiences where you successfully collaborated with different departments. Highlight how you engaged stakeholders to achieve project goals.

✨Prepare for Analytical Questions

Expect questions that assess your analytical skills. Be ready to explain how you've used data to derive insights and make informed decisions in previous roles, particularly in relation to P&L accountability.

Innovation Manager - Quick Meals,Snacks & Soups
Premier Foods

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