Innovation Manager - Burton Latimer in Ashland
The Weetabix Food Company Ashland About the role
At Weetabix, we believe that diverse teams drive better ideas, stronger decisions, and a more inclusive workplace for everyone. We're committed to building an organisation where people from all walks of life feel they belong, where different voices, experiences, and backgrounds are valued and respected.
Closing date: 28th July 2026
Interview process: Two Stage Interview Process
Working pattern: You'll spend three days a week in the office, creating great opportunities to collaborate, strengthen team connections and build high-impact working relationships face to face. We're happy to make reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process. Just let us know how we can support you.
Weetabix is on an exciting growth journey, and many of the opportunities we are recruiting for are newly created roles. These positions reflect our investment in people, capabilities and innovation as we continue to build for the future.
The Recipe (About the Role)
As Innovation Manager, you will identify and deliver consumer-led innovation and renovation opportunities that drive brand growth, profitability and category expansion. Working cross-functionally, you will turn insight into successful products and propositions, managing projects through to business case approval. You will also use data, emerging technologies and agile ways of working to accelerate innovation, improve success rates and build a sustainable pipeline for future growth.
- Use consumer insights, market trends, brand strategy and business needs to identify new opportunities, uncover gaps and spot emerging growth areas.
- Own idea generation sessions and translate opportunities into clear, prioritised concepts aligned to brand and business strategy.
- Build and manage a balanced innovation pipeline, ensuring strong alignment with commercial goals.
- Develop consumer-focused concepts with clear, compelling benefits and defined propositions, including format, pricing and customer opportunity.
- Test, refine and strengthen concepts using insight and cross-functional collaboration.
- Conduct early feasibility assessments to determine viability and progression.
- Create robust business cases supported by volume, sales, margin and cost assumptions.
- Develop clear project briefs for technical, packaging, supply chain, procurement and capital teams, ensuring brand requirements are accurately represented.
- Work with the Innovation Project Manager and cross-functional teams to manage governance and stage-gate processes.
- Own projects through Stage Gate Three (Business Proposal stage) with accountability for business case delivery, product and packaging readiness, and customer planning.
- Ensure products and packaging are fully ready for launch, with confirmed costs and supply plans in place.
- Partner with Brand and Commercial teams to prepare launch plans, customer materials and success measures.
- Apply post-launch insights to continuously improve future innovation projects.
- Build partnerships with brand teams throughout the project lifecycle to ensure alignment and smooth handover.
- Engage senior stakeholders at key decision points to resolve challenges and secure approvals.
- Work with the Project Management Office (PMO) to track progress, manage risks and provide clear reporting.
The Ingredients (What we need from you)
- Experience in innovation, new product development, brand, or category roles within fast-moving consumer goods or consumer goods.
- Understanding of Stage-Gate processes and cross-functional project delivery.
- Commercial awareness with the ability to build business cases and assess concept viability.
- Experience in concept development, testing, and refinement using data and insights.
- Effective stakeholder engagement and cross-functional project leadership.
- Highly organised, able to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
- Growth mindset with a commitment to continuous learning.
Your Bowl of Perks (Benefits)
- Competitive salary & Annual Flexible benefits.
- Annual bonus.
- Double-matched pension scheme (up to 12% from us).
- 25 days annual leave increasing with service.
- Annual Salary review.
- Healthcare plan.
- Discounted Weetabix products.
To support our employees, we also offer:
- Continued investment in your personal development.
- Balance, whether it's for family, rest or simply time for you. As well as your holiday entitlement, you can purchase up to 5 days of additional annual leave.
- Access to 24/7 counselling service (via Grocery Aid partnership).
- The freedom of Flexible Work Opportunities.
- Enhanced Maternity / Paternity / Adoption Leave.
- Additional Time Off for Fertility Treatment and Neonatal Care.
- Working Parents Support Group.
- Fully stocked kitchens filled with our delicious products for you to enjoy.
Please note: We benchmark roles based on your skills and experience, so we do not advertise fixed salary ranges. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide sponsorship for this position; therefore, we are seeking candidates who do not require sponsorship.
Your tasks
Lead innovative projects to create consumer-driven products and drive brand growth.
Your profile
Experience in innovation or product development within fast-moving consumer goods is essential.
What's also included
Enjoy competitive salary, annual bonus, flexible work, and personal development opportunities.
Tech stack & ways of working
Innovation Manager - Burton Latimer in Ashland employer: The Weetabix Food Company
At Weetabix, we pride ourselves on fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment where every team member feels valued and empowered. Located in Burton Latimer, our collaborative culture encourages innovation and personal growth, supported by a comprehensive benefits package that includes flexible working policies, a double-matched pension scheme, and opportunities for professional development. Join us to be part of a company that not only prioritises your career but also your well-being and work-life balance.
View The Weetabix Food Company profile
Your perspectives
Make a real impact by turning insights into successful products that consumers love.
StudySmarter Expert Advice
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 The Weetabix Food Company.
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 The Weetabix Food Company.
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 The Weetabix Food Company 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 The Weetabix Food Company 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 The Weetabix Food Company
Show Off Your Innovative Thinking
In an Innovation R&D Management role at The Weetabix Food Company, 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 The Weetabix Food Company 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 The Weetabix Food Company, 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.
Locations
- Ashland
