Innovation Manager

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Date: 16 Apr 2026

Location: St Albans, GB

Company: Premier Foods

Based - St Albans, AL1 2RE (Hybrid 50%)

6 Month FTC, Full Time

Join Premier Foods — where people, brands and purpose come together.

We’re proud to be one of the UK’s largest listed food businesses, with over 4,000 colleagues across 13 sites shaping the future of some of Britain’s best‑loved brands, found in 94% of households nationwide, making us one of the UK’s top three ambient food suppliers. From much‑loved household names such as Mr Kipling, Bisto, Oxo, Batchelors and Sharwoods, to our recently welcomed brands Fuel10k and Merchant Gourmet, our portfolio is packed with iconic favourites — and continues to grow.

 

At Premier Foods, where passion meets purpose, every day brings new opportunities to grow, innovate and make a meaningful impact. We’re home to some of the UK’s best-loved brands and are driven by a clear purpose: to enrich people’s lives through food.

As our Innovation Manager – Global Cuisines, you’ll play a key role in shaping and delivering an ambitious innovation pipeline within one of our most exciting and high-growth areas of the business. This is a hands-on role where you’ll take ideas from concept to launch, working at pace with cross‑functional teams to bring delicious, authentic meals to market

 

What you'll be doing?

Reporting into the Innovation Controller, you’ll be at the heart of our Global Cuisines innovation journey. You’ll:

  • Own end‑to‑end NPD projects, from concept through to successful launch
  • Lead innovation projects through the business gate process, owning business cases, timelines and delivery against commercial targets
  • Work cross‑functionally with R&D, Insight, Sensory, Design, Supply Chain and Sales to deliver optimised product, pack and execution
  • Brief and oversee recipe development, packaging design and repro sign‑off
  • Build compelling sell-in stories, organise samples and support customer engagement
  • Support internal communication of projects, including content for sales conferences
  • Partner with the Innovation Controller to shape pipeline strategy and contribute ideas to the long‑term innovation funnel
  • Use consumer insight, category and market trends to identify winning opportunities and help shape commercial strategy

This is a highly visible role offering the chance to make a tangible impact on brand growth, penetration and relevance.

 

What we need from you?

We’re looking for a commercially minded, delivery‑focused innovator who thrives in a fast-paced, collaborative environment. You’ll bring:
  • 3+ years’ experience in innovation and/or project ownership within FMCG or a brand‑led organisation
  • A strong track record of leading cross‑functional projects and delivering results to market
  • A bias for action, personal accountability and an entrepreneurial mindset
  • Strong analytical skills, with the ability to uncover insights and translate them into compelling recommendations
  • A collaborative, inclusive leadership style with the ability to get the best from others
  • Hunger for winning — and for continuous personal development

 

What we offer you in return?

  • Competitive salary and bonus
  • Car Allowance
  • Up to 7.5% pension
  • Private medical insurance and life assurance
  • Hybrid working (50% home / 50% office or site)
  • Sharesave scheme and the option to purchase additional holiday
  • Extensive learning and development opportunities
  • Access to a wide employee discount scheme

 

Ready to apply?

Click Apply and submit your CV tailored to this opportunity. We look forward to hearing from you.

 

At Premier foods we believe in inclusion, authenticity and individuality. We aim to ensure all existing and future colleagues are given equitable opportunities and are respected, valued and encouraged to bring their true authentic selves to work no matter who they are, what they look like, who they love or what they believe in. Our culture is one where everyone is welcome.

We're proud to be a Disability Smart employer and are committed to supporting disability inclusion throughout our recruitment process. If you experience any access issues or require reasonable adjustments at any stage, please let us know so we can ensure you have the support you need. 

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