Group Innovation Leader- FMCG Job in Home Counties/Essex, Southern UK
Our client, a leading FMCG business requires a Group Innovation Leader. This senior leadership role is to manage the team that purpose is to investigate, discover and develop winning technical solutions across the business to inspire, inform and deliver core brand strategies.
Key responsibilities include:
1. Own and develop the group technical intelligence process, including the evolution of the technology roadmap, and identify leading edge technical opportunities
2. Accountability for the prioritisation of activities in the funnel, and take decisions on which technologies to progress during the ‘exploration’ phase, ensuring ideas progress with pace and rigour
3. Prove technologies through prototyping, sampling and trials
4. Lead cross functional teams to conduct feasibility studies leading to the development of business cases
5. Ensure projects are technically managed effectively
6. Secure long term competitive advantage by protecting intellectual property
7. Champion the innovation vision and strategy internally
8. Develop and maintain strong working relationships with internal senior teams, particularly Group technical, marketing procurement
Experience Skills Required:
- Experience within a technical innovation environment (product development)
- Management of Intellectual property, including patenting licensing
- Management of activity through suppliers, consultants, agencies and research bodies including contract negotiations
- Cross functional project management experience with a successful track record of bringing products to market
- Partnership working with colleagues across supply chain, marketing and commercial functions
- Proven experience within a Branded FMCG environment operating in multiple geographies
- Well developed interpersonal skills, specifically with an ability to inspire
- Commercially savvy – ability to spot profitable ideas
This is an outstanding opportunity to join a fantastic business with big plans to grow both UK and internationally.