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- Tasks: Lead innovation in the meat industry, creating value-added products from concept to launch.
- Company: Join a fast-growing, private equity-backed meat business in Australia.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, relocation support, superannuation, and performance bonuses.
- Other info: Opportunity for career growth and strategic influence in a thriving sector.
- Why this job: Shape the future of meat innovation and make a real impact in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in food/meat NPD and proven success in launching innovative products.
Relocation to Australia. Food/Meat NPD experience is essential for this role. If you are genuinely strong on innovation pipeline development, turning insights into commercially successful value-added products, this is a rare opportunity to build something from the ground up in a high-growth meat business. This is not a standard NPD leadership role. The business is private equity-backed, growing quickly, and already operationally strong. What they need now is someone who can take ownership of innovation, define where to play, and build a pipeline that drives real commercial growth across retail and foodservice.
The Head of Innovation will be responsible for setting a 3 to 5 year innovation roadmap, with a clear focus on value-added categories. You will lead the full process from insight and trend analysis through to product development, launch, and scale, ensuring ideas translate into tangible commercial outcomes. You will inherit an 8 person NPD team, but this role goes beyond team leadership. It’s about raising the bar, building capability, creating structure, and embedding a more strategic, insight-led approach to innovation.
Within the first 90 days, you will be expected to define a clear innovation strategy, build a prioritised pipeline, and establish a framework for how the business evaluates and delivers new opportunities. UK experience is highly valued, particularly exposure to more advanced value-added meat categories and competitive retail environments.
What you’ll be doing:
- Build and deliver a long-term innovation pipeline across value-added meat categories
- Use consumer, customer, and market insights to identify and prioritise opportunities
- Lead end-to-end innovation from concept through to commercial launch and scale
- Develop and elevate the NPD function, improving structure, pace, and output
- Work closely with retail and foodservice customers to align innovation with market demand
- Play a central role in shaping the future direction of the business
What you’ll need:
- Food Industry NPD/Innovation background - ESSENTIAL
- Meat Industry NPD/Innovation background - DESIRABLE
- Proven experience building and delivering innovation pipelines, not just managing projects
- Strong track record of launching successful value-added products into retail or foodservice
- Ability to translate trends and insights into commercially viable product opportunities
- Strategic mindset, but also hands-on enough to drive execution
- Confident engaging at a senior level and influencing both internally and externally
Head of Innovation - Meat - Relocate to Australia in Basingstoke employer: Redhook Global Talent
Contact Detail:
Redhook Global Talent Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Innovation - Meat - Relocate to Australia in Basingstoke
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to industry contacts, attend relevant events, and engage on platforms like LinkedIn. We can’t stress enough how important it is to make connections that could lead to opportunities.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its competitors. Understand their innovation strategies and be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their goals. We want you to shine in those interviews!
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your achievements! When discussing your past roles, focus on specific examples of how you’ve driven innovation and delivered successful products. We love seeing tangible results that demonstrate your impact.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. We’re here to help you land that dream job in Australia!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Innovation - Meat - Relocate to Australia in Basingstoke
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your NPD Experience: Make sure to highlight your food and meat NPD experience in your application. We want to see how you've turned insights into successful products, so share specific examples that demonstrate your innovation pipeline development skills.
Be Strategic Yet Hands-On: This role is all about balancing strategy with execution. In your application, let us know how you've successfully led projects from concept to launch while also being involved in the nitty-gritty details. We love a candidate who can think big but also roll up their sleeves!
Align with Market Demand: We’re looking for someone who understands the retail and foodservice landscape. In your written application, mention how you've worked closely with customers to ensure your innovations meet market needs. Show us you can connect the dots between consumer insights and product development.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website for a smoother process. It helps us keep track of applications and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take that extra step!
How to prepare for a job interview at Redhook Global Talent
✨Know Your NPD Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your food and meat NPD experience. Be ready to discuss specific examples of how you've developed innovation pipelines and launched successful value-added products. This role is all about turning insights into commercial success, so have your stories ready!
✨Showcase Your Strategic Mindset
Prepare to talk about your approach to setting long-term innovation strategies. Think about how you would define a 3 to 5 year roadmap for the company. They want someone who can not only think strategically but also execute hands-on, so be ready to demonstrate both sides.
✨Engage with Market Insights
Familiarise yourself with current trends in the meat industry and how they impact consumer behaviour. Be prepared to discuss how you would use these insights to identify and prioritise opportunities for innovation. Showing that you can align innovation with market demand will set you apart.
✨Leadership Beyond Management
This role involves more than just leading a team; it's about raising the bar and building capability. Think about how you would elevate the NPD function and improve its structure and output. Be ready to share your vision for developing the team and embedding a strategic, insight-led approach.