Senior Innovation Manager - (Internal Applicants Only)

*Internal Applications Only*

We are looking for a Senior Innovation Manager to join our Central Development Team on a full time basis (40 hours per week - Monday - Friday), This role is located at our Newton Abbot site. This is an essential role in the co-ordination of the Innovation Development team to deliver multi customer product launches across multi categories to enable best-in-class innovation for our customers.

Under the direction of the Head of Product- Own label, the Senior Innovation Manager will be responsible for the leadership of the Innovation Development function at Yeo Valley. This role is required to empower, lead & prioritise the workload of the innovation function, to successfully launch & evaluate the new & existing products within the categories of ice cream and desserts, ensuring innovation team delivers the strategic demand pillar plans with rigor and pace.

This individual will work collaboratively with senior leadership peers from across the business to deliver best in class, trend setting, insight led innovation concepts that are aligned with customer & business strategies.

The role requires the ability to oversee the development process with the customer and the internal functions from Gate 0 to 2 kitchen approval.

Using advanced project management skills to solve complex problems and deliver highly complex projects:

• Encourage creative and WOW innovation that pushes boundaries
• Make “Better Impacts” through innovative product & new technologies
• Lead Capital Projects

• Empower and lead Yeo Valley Innovation Development and be the senior contact for all internal and external projects associated with Innovation Development
• Lead the Innovation Team for all NPD projects from Gate 0 approval to Gate 2 and to identify potential platforms for new food opportunities, ensuring the relevant stakeholders are involved at the right stage and aligned, including chairing gate meetings and embedding best practice.
• Lead oversight and accountability for multiple project critical paths across multiple timelines, including project and stakeholder management, identifying risks and developing mitigation strategies to ensure launches are delivered on time & in full across the portfolio
• To work collaboratively with Head of Process, R&D Team, Technical, Sourcing and Operations teams on new products, raw materials, packaging & factory processes
• Drive a passion for food and creativity to support NPD Pipeline planning for the future and getting ahead of the curve
• To drive down all aspects of Direct/Indirect costs to make a continual and sustainable improvement in profitability in areas that can be impacted by clever concept development. Influence other departments to adopt best in class procedures and ways of working
• Accountability of the teams performance to meet BRC and ISO accreditation standards adopted by the business and legislative standards
• Have overall accountability of the results and performance of Innovation Development with regards to NPD success and reaching targets/objectives

Essential:

• Technical Skills – Expertise in product trends, foodie vision
• Project Management - Experience in managing multiple product development projects simultaneously, with a focus on meeting deadlines and managing resources effectively 
• Knowledge of Ingredients - Strong understanding of the functional properties of yogurt, desserts & ice cream
• Teamwork – Ability to work well with a collaborative, cross-functional team environment and lead in own area of expertise. Ability to encourage & lead within own team
• Problem solving – Excellent troubleshooting skills and ability to analyse complex technical challenges & implement solutions.  Support & mentor team members to reach solutions
• Communication - Excellent verbal & written communication skills with the ability to present ideas and data clearly to technical & non-technical stakeholders

• Food qualification or previous food manufacturing or catering experience
• Minimum 8 years of experience in a food NPD role, preferably within dairy, desserts or ice cream. Essential people management experience

• Industry Knowledge - Strong knowledge of Brands, values & processes as adopted by the retailers. Working knowledge of relevant legislation criteria and food production industry standards/HACCP
• Large Scale Capital Projects - Ideally experience in managing or supporting

• Detail-Oriented – Meticulous attention to detail in both product development and documentation
• Adaptability – Able to work in a fast-paced environment and adjust to changing priorities & project timelines.  Resilience and supporting others is key
• Analytical Thinker – strong, analytical skills, capable of interpreting data to guide decision-making processes
• Tenacious & “can do” attitude
• Self-driven with a growth mindset & can use initiative
• Desire and ability to influence & drive change
• Hands on & practical approach to working
• Good IT skills - Microsoft and database systems
• Influential - Ability to pull cross functional teams in one direction with right level of data and detail to make decisions

We’re independent, British and proud to be making the highest quality yogurts, desserts and ice cream under the Yeo Valley brand and for many of the UK’s major retailers. Operating from four dairies and two logistics centres in Somerset and Devon, we employ over 1900 staff and produce more than 25% of the UK’s packaged yogurt.

We’re sure you don’t need convincing, but there’s a whole host of benefits that we offer. It goes without saying that you'll have access to free parking. You'll also receive the following:

• Competitive holiday allowance
• non-contributory pension scheme
• life cover
• healthcare cash back plan
• cycle to work scheme
• subsidised Yeo Valley products and services
• preferential rates with our partners
• learning and development opportunities; we’re committed to ensuring all of our employees have the chance to grow