London - full time hybrid role, three days per week in the office
£60,000-£65,000 plus bonus and benefits
This is not an innovation role where you develop a concept and hand it to somebody else.
It is an opportunity to take commercially exciting ideas and make them happen from identifying the opportunity and building the business case through to working with manufacturers, navigating stage gate, launching the product and measuring its success.
We are partnering with a rapidly growing pet care group with an impressive portfolio of established food and treat brands. Following significant growth and continued investment, the business is strengthening its central growth function and creating a highly influential role for someone who combines innovation delivery with real commercial thinking.
You could support either the Food or Treats portfolio, depending on your experience and where you will add the most value.
The opportunity
You will take ownership of high-priority commercial projects across innovation, pricing, promotions and portfolio strategy.
Innovation will be at the heart of the role. You will help turn opportunities into commercially viable products, bringing together Brand, Category, Sales, Finance, Supply, Technical, Nutrition and external manufacturing partners to deliver from concept through to launch.
This is a fast-moving environment where priorities can change as the business and market evolve. You will not be restricted to one brand or handed a narrow list of responsibilities. Instead, you will work on the projects that can make the greatest commercial difference across the portfolio.
That could mean progressing a major new product through stage gate, negotiating with a third-party manufacturer, assessing price-pack architecture, reviewing an underperforming range or preparing a commercial recommendation for senior leadership.
What you'll be doing
- Leading NPD and EPD projects from initial opportunity through development, commercialisation, launch and post-launch review
- Using market, customer and commercial insight to identify opportunities for profitable growth
- Building robust business cases, forecasts and recommendations
- Working directly with third-party manufacturers and suppliers to develop viable product solutions
- Partnering with Technical and Nutrition colleagues on recipes, claims and product requirements
- Owning project P&Ls and making informed decisions around pricing, margin, cost and investment
- Supporting pricing, promotional and price-pack architecture projects
- Reviewing portfolio performance and leading SKU rationalisation or simplification projects
- Bringing Sales into the process early and creating compelling sell-in stories and toolkits
- Coordinating cross-functional teams and keeping complex projects moving through to delivery
- Presenting clear recommendations to senior leaders and influencing decisions across the business
- Tracking performance after launch and using the results to improve future activity
Your background could be in innovation, brand, commercial strategy, category, portfolio management or NPD. What matters is that you have personally helped deliver innovation through to market.
You will need:
- Proven experience delivering NPD or EPD from concept through to commercial launch
- Experience working through a stage-gate or similarly structured innovation process
- Strong project management skills and the confidence to drive cross-functional delivery
- Commercial awareness, including an understanding of P&Ls, pricing, margin and forecasting
- Experience working with manufacturers, suppliers, Technical, R&D or product development teams
- The ability to turn complex information into clear, persuasive recommendations
- Confidence influencing Sales, Marketing, Finance, Supply and senior stakeholders
- A proactive, hands-on approach and the willingness to take genuine ownership
- The judgement to make good decisions even when every piece of data is not available
- The confidence to challenge constructively and express your own point of view
You do not need to be a pet nutritionist or technical product expert. The business has specialist Technical and Nutrition teams to provide that expertise. What you must bring is the ability to lead the process, commercialise an opportunity and make things happen.
Why join?
This is an ambitious and acquisitive pet care business with significant plans for continued growth.
You will gain exposure across multiple brands, functions and commercial challenges, working closely with senior leaders in a business where good ideas can move quickly. You will have the autonomy to shape recommendations, influence decisions and see the direct results of your work.
It is an excellent opportunity for someone who has learned their craft within FMCG but now wants greater ownership, broader exposure and the chance to make a visible impact.
The package
- £60,000-£65,000 salary
- Company bonus
- 28 days' holiday plus bank holidays
- Pension
- Employee discount
- Income protection
- Hybrid working, with three days per week at the London office
- Occasional travel to other UK offices, customers and external partners
- Significant exposure and progression within a growing pet care group
If you are interested but do not meet every requirement, please still apply. We are committed to an inclusive recruitment process and welcome conversations about any support or adjustments you may need.
