Innovation Manager

Innovation Manager

Location: Market Drayton (Hybrid)

Contract Type: Permanent

Working Pattern: Full Time

Müller - Made By You

At Müller, we're proud to be a business that's driven by purpose and powered by people. We're passionate about creating products that meet real consumer needs and deliver category growth. As an Innovation Manager, you'll play a key role in shaping the future of our brands by leading the development of new ideas from concept to scale-up.

Your Role

You'll be responsible for delivering innovation across all Müller brands, aligned to strategic priorities and consumer need states. Working cross-functionally, you'll lead projects through our stage gate process, build compelling business cases, and ensure successful handover to brand teams.

What You'll Do

• Lead innovation projects from idea to scale up, prior to a collaborative handover with the brand teams
• Deliver new Innovation projects across all Müller brands, which are inline to strategic, category and consumer need states.
• Project manage innovation launches through the stage gate process and internal approval project reviews and gate approval meetings, building strong business cases for new projects
• Project manage innovation projects from idea to scale up, prior to a collaborative handover with the brand teams
• Lead and drive cross-functional teams to deliver validated concepts to market.
• Manage project timelines including a critical path of activities that will be used to drive delivery by cross-functional teams to key milestones
• Challenge and proactively seek out new consumer needs and opportunities that deliver solutions for consumers
• Work closely with the Consumer Insights team to validate concepts and provide compelling consumer rationale for innovation projects
• Work with Procurement, Packaging and Engineering to identify how to make new ideas viable across our Muller and co-man network or source new solutions
• Monitor consumer trends to help inspire future thinking
• Line management of a Marketing Graduate, including supporting with personal development

What You'll Bring

• Marketing Experience: Minimum 4 years in marketing (FMCG preferred) including exposure to supporting a business with Innovation launches and concept creation
• Academic Excellence: Degree-level qualification (2:1 or above) in a relevant subject, or qualified by experience.
• Leadership: Proven leadership experience-whether in-role or through extracurricular activities.
• Curious: An open mindset with an interest in the latest trend and new product launches.
• Analytical Mindset: Strong analytical skills and a passion for data-driven decision-making.
• Change Maker: Embrace and drive change with energy, displaying the ability to challenge the ways things are done and opportunities to improve.
• Team Spirit: A true team player-supportive, honest, and passionate about winning together.

What You'll Receive

In return for your commitment, drive and enthusiasm, we offer our employees numerous benefits as part of your employment, including:

• Competitive Salary
• Bonus scheme
• Private medical healthcare
• Contributory pension plan
• Life Assurance
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Generous annual leave increasing with service.
• Flexible benefits programme
• In addition, our employees have access to a Rewards Benefits Programme, giving you a range of discounts across 800 retailers online and in store.