At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead innovation and product development for a global men's hair care brand.
- Company: Slick Gorilla, a dynamic and innovative men's personal care brand.
- Benefits: Remote work, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Join a fast-paced team with a strong brand identity and global reach.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of men's grooming trends and make a real impact.
- Qualifications: Experience in product development and a passion for personal care.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Company Description
Slick Gorilla began in the UK and has grown into a global men’s hair care brand, known for launching the first Men’s Hair Powder in 2016.
The company now operates in over 60 countries and sells on average one bottle of hair powder every minute.
With an industry-leading social media presence, best seller status and a strong brand identity as “Winner's Choice,” Slick Gorilla offers a dynamic environment for Men passionate about high quality personal care.
Role Description
The Head of Innovation & NPD (New Product Development) is a full-time remote role responsible for leading the end-to-end innovation and product development pipeline at Slick Gorilla.
This role oversees market and consumer research, idea generation, concept testing, and the development of new men's personal care products from initial brief through to launch.
The Head of Innovation & NPD collaborates closely with cross-functional teams, including marketing, supply chain, and external partners, to ensure products exceed brand standards, performance expectations and capture white space in categories.
The role also involves mentoring team members, championing vision and direction, and continuously scouting trends and technologies in the personal care industry.
- What You'd Be Doing In This Role
- Lead the brand vision for Product innovation and Development direction across all categories.
- Ensure brand is at the forefront of NPD harnessing a forward thinking mindset becoming leaders in categories.
- Be the senior lead on New Product Development projects from concept through to launch.
- Ensure successful project plans, timelines and critical paths across all NPD projects and initiatives.
- Actively monitor trends and capabilities within hair & beauty across tech, ingredients, components and all other relevancies.
- Monitor competitor activity, consumer trends and personal care market developments to identify opportunities for future product launches.
- Lead direction for the development of lifestyle products, gift-with-purchase (GWP) items and seasonal launches.
- Develop new product concepts across hair, skin and future product categories.
- Forecast and lead launch timelines and ensure alignment with wider team and stakeholders.
- Own packaging development, artwork approvals and product specification management.
- Work closely with suppliers, manufacturers and external partners throughout the product development process maintaining strong working relationships.
- Support internal team and stakeholders with product-related vision, updates and developments.
- Ensure all products comply with relevant regulatory requirements, legislation and industry standards across applicable markets and territories.
- Lead accurate and effective product testing, sampling, evaluation and performance reviews.
- Ensure correct and accurate product documentation and development records.
- Develop where required improvement initiatives across the NPD process.
Head of Innovation & NPD in Dartford employer: Slick Gorilla
Slick Gorilla is an exceptional employer that fosters a vibrant and innovative work culture, perfect for those passionate about men's personal care. With a commitment to employee growth and development, the company offers unique opportunities to lead groundbreaking product innovations in a dynamic remote environment. Join a team that values creativity and collaboration, while being part of a globally recognized brand that is at the forefront of the industry.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Innovation & NPD in Dartford
✨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 Slick Gorilla.
✨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 Slick Gorilla.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Innovation & NPD in Dartford
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 Slick Gorilla 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 Slick Gorilla 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 Slick Gorilla
✨Show Off Your Innovative Thinking
In an Innovation R&D Management role at Slick Gorilla, 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 Slick Gorilla 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 Slick Gorilla, 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.
