At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead innovation in Pest Control and Hygiene, driving growth through strategic direction and technical expertise.
- Company: Join Rentokil Initial, a global leader in pest control and hygiene solutions.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, hybrid working, 23 days holiday, and comprehensive health benefits.
- Other info: Embrace diversity and inclusion in a supportive work environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by leading cutting-edge projects and collaborating with industry experts.
- Qualifications: Degree in a scientific field, with 5+ years in product development or technical management.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 £ per year.
The purpose of this role is to give strategic direction and drive growth in our global Pest and Hygiene & Wellbeing science teams through technical brilliance and innovation, whilst ensuring the Global Centres of Excellence are aligned to the group strategy. You will lead by example in the three key areas of customer support, innovation, and technical expertise. You will lead the early innovation in the Pest Control and Hygiene & Wellbeing categories by formulating, sourcing, exploring and developing ideas to Proof of Concept stage whilst taking decisive decisions to ensure timely delivery. To identify, provide information and insight, evaluate and, where appropriate, bring developments to technical readiness. Bring in leading edge external technologies which provide differentiation and potentially exclusive IP for RI’s global Pest and Hygiene & Wellbeing categories via a combination of external partnerships, open innovation and new technology development initiatives.
Tasks
- Customers
- Build and maintain strong relationships with external stakeholders, including innovation partners, key industry bodies and academia.
- Provide technical field support for those infestations that require deeper investigation or where traditional or current methods have been proven to have failed.
- Provide technical insight and direction for International Key Accounts bids and tenders where required.
- Innovation
- Identify gaps in the portfolio, and new product requirements working directly with the relevant Category Marketing lead, and in collaboration with the Head of Pest Innovation, Hygiene & Wellbeing Innovation and Chemical PD to develop opportunities to meet key sector needs with M&I and business colleagues.
- Liaise closely with all M&I teams to ensure alignment of our product development activities.
- Attending and participating in regular meetings such as category boards and updating on the innovation funnel.
- Running of innovations sessions within Rentokil Initial and showing tangible outcomes to Proof of Concept.
- Establishing and maintaining a link with the Technical Leadership Team to provide technical inputs to strategic problems.
- Supporting the Innovation and Product Development Director with the presentation of materials and insight to the Technical Leadership Team and category boards.
- Implement and manage the project management process within the Science team.
- Work closely with marketing colleagues to provide new and novel claims support and selling support information to support product deployment.
- Play an active leadership role on both the Pest Control category board, the Hygiene & Wellbeing category board, and the Innovating for the Future board.
- Expertise
- Responsible for maintaining technical support relationships for colleagues dealing with customers and suppliers.
- Representing Rentokil at key conferences and relevant exhibitions and to positively promote Rentokil Initial in the external environment.
Qualifications
- A minimum of a good honours degree in a scientific or similar discipline; post-graduate qualification a plus.
- Relevant know-how and experience in the product development or technical management field. Excellent technical knowledge of current Pest or Hygiene & Wellbeing products (or directly-related) fields and services. Experience with biocides and / or pesticides preferred.
- Innovation, creativity training or experience.
- A natural team leader with proven experience of leading, developing and broadening specialist technical staff.
- A minimum of 5 years of experience within a Pest or Hygiene & Wellbeing (or directly related) industry working at a global level.
- I.T. Literate with working knowledge of the full Google suite, Microsoft Excel, Word and PowerPoint.
- Able to make sense out of large sets of data and communicate in a compelling manner.
- Proven ability to communicate technical results data and their significance, to peers, non-technical colleagues and commercial sponsors of work.
- Ability to work to tight deadlines within a structured project management framework.
- Proven experience of working across borders, regions and culture; frequent travel likely.
Benefits
- Competitive salary and bonus scheme
- Hybrid working
- Rentokil Initial Reward Scheme
- 23 days holiday, plus 8 bank holidays
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Death in service benefit
- Healthcare
- Free parking
At Rentokil Initial, our customers and colleagues represent diverse backgrounds and experiences. We take pride in being an equal opportunity employer, actively encouraging applications from individuals from all walks of life. Our belief is that everyone irrespective of age, gender, gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disabilities, religion, or beliefs, has the potential to thrive and contribute. We embrace the differences that make each of our colleagues unique, fostering an inclusive environment where everyone can be their authentic selves and feel a sense of belonging.
To ensure that your journey with us is accessible if you have any individual requirements we invite you to communicate any specific needs or preferences you may have during any stage of the recruitment process. Our team is available to support you; feel free to reach out to joanna.sharpe@rentokil-initial.com if you need anything.
Be Yourself in Your Application! At Rentokil Initial, we value innovation, but we want to see the real you! While AI can help with structure and grammar, make sure your application shows your true passion and understanding of the role. A personal touch will help you stand out.
Head of Science & Innovation employer: Rentokil Initial Group
At Rentokil Initial, we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration. Our commitment to employee growth is evident through our comprehensive training programmes and opportunities for advancement within the global Pest and Hygiene & Wellbeing sectors. With competitive benefits, including hybrid working options and a supportive environment that values diversity and inclusion, we empower our team members to thrive and make a meaningful impact in their roles.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Science & Innovation
✨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 Rentokil Initial Group.
✨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 Rentokil Initial Group.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Science & Innovation
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 Rentokil Initial Group 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 Rentokil Initial Group 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 Rentokil Initial Group
✨Show Off Your Innovative Thinking
In an Innovation R&D Management role at Rentokil Initial Group, 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 Rentokil Initial Group 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 Rentokil Initial Group, 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.
