At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead innovation projects and drive cross-functional collaboration to support business growth.
- Company: Join Weetabix, a diverse and inclusive company on an exciting growth journey.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, annual bonus, flexible work, and personal development opportunities.
- Other info: Flexible work options and a supportive culture for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a dynamic environment while working with innovative teams.
- Qualifications: Experience in innovation or project management within FMCG is essential.
The predicted salary is between 45000 - 50000 £ per year.
Description
At Weetabix, we believe that diverse teams drive better ideas, stronger decisions, and a more inclusive workplace for everyone
. Were committed to building an organisation where people from all walks of life feel they belongwhere different voices, experiences, and backgrounds are valued and respected.
Closing date
Interview process
Two Stage Interview Process
Working pattern
Youll typically spend three days a week in the office, providing regular opportunities to collaborate, build strong team connections, and develop effective working relationships in person
Were happy to make reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment processjust 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 Programme & Portfolio Manager, you will lead the delivery of our innovation pipeline, ensuring projects are effectively prioritised, governed and executed to support business growth.
You will oversee portfolio planning, drive cross-functional collaboration, and use digital tools and data-driven insights to accelerate innovation, strengthen brand performance and deliver commercially successful outcomes.
- Lead innovation and renovation projects, ensuring effective planning, governance and delivery.
- Continuously improve stage gate processes to support clear decision-making and cross-functional collaboration.
- Prioritise resources across innovation and NPD activities to deliver strategic objectives.
- Partner with the PMO to provide programme visibility, reporting and governance compliance.
- Optimise portfolio performance through SKU management and rationalisation initiatives.
- Balance consumer, brand and operational priorities to support sustainable growth.
- Align innovation plans with Integrated Business Planning (IBP) requirements.
- Improve processes and ways of working to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
- Drive adoption of digital tools, including PLM systems, to support innovation delivery.
- Maintain accurate product, technical and artwork data to support business operations.
- Act as Business Process Manager for Product Information Management (PIM) within D365.
- Use data and insight to identify risks, resolve challenges and inform recommendations.
- Ensure initiatives are commercially, operationally and strategically aligned.
- Apply consumer and market insights to support innovation and portfolio decisions.
- Drive continuous improvement to accelerate delivery while maintaining quality and compliance.
- Champion digital tools, automation and collaborative ways of working.
- The Ingredients (What we need from you)
Key Know How
- Proven experience in innovation, project, or portfolio management within fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) or consumer goods.
- Knowledge of end-to-end innovation processes, including Stage-Gate governance.
- Organised with the ability to manage multiple projects.
- Analytical mindset with the ability to interpret portfolio and performance data.
- Effective stakeholder management with the ability to influence senior leadership.
- Commercial awareness, including understanding of product lifecycle economics.
- Your Bowl of Perks (Benefits)
- Competitive salary & Annual Flexible benefits
We offer a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your wellbeing, career, and life outside work.
- 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
- We believe in 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
To learn more about life at Weetabix, visit our careers page
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.
We utilise our Preferred Agency Supplier Partners as and when we require additional support
#Have You Had Your Weetabix
Benefits
Check out our website for more information
- Annual bonus
- Double matched ER contributed pension scheme
- Annual Salary review
- Access to 24/7 counselling service (in partnership with Grocery Aid)
- Please
Note: Our company policy is not to advertise salaries as we want to benchmark all candidates based on skills and experience that need to be evidenced upon application and screening.
#Have You Had Your Weetabix
Innovation Programme & Portfolio Manager - Burton Latimer in Islip 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.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Innovation Programme & Portfolio Manager - Burton Latimer in Islip
✨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.
We think you need these skills to ace Innovation Programme & Portfolio Manager - Burton Latimer in Islip
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.
