Head of Innovation
Slough
2 x direct reports
Join our snack-loving team! We're looking for a Head of Innovation to join our team at KP Snacks. Fancy being part of a group where your ideas matter and your growth is celebrated? Keep reading – this might just be your next adventure!
As Head of Innovation, you will be responsible for driving the development and execution of our innovation strategy. You’ll lead a talented cross-functional team, working closely with R&D, marketing, and commercial teams to identify market trends, consumer insights, and technological advancements that will inspire the next generation of snacking products. This is a pivotal role, where your leadership will directly influence the future growth of the business. You'll be a key contributor via your positions on the Marketing and Extended Leadership Teams.
What you will be doing
- Develop and lead the innovation pipeline, ensuring alignment with business goals and market opportunities
- Lead cross-functional innovation teams, fostering creativity, collaboration, and an entrepreneurial mindset
- Lead & develop compelling business cases for NPD, including capital investment projects, to support our growth ambition
- Partner with Intersnack Group Marketing (our parent company) on Blockbuster innovation initiatives & to shape category strategies
- Identify emerging trends and consumer needs in the snacking category, translating them into actionable insights for new product development
- Monitor the competitive landscape, ensuring our product portfolio remains differentiated and ahead of trends
- Partner with marketing and commercial teams to ensure seamless execution of product launches, driving awareness and trial
- Collaborate with R&D to explore and integrate new technologies, ingredients, and packaging solutions to enhance our product offering
- Build relationships with external partners, including suppliers, co-manufacturers, and industry bodies, to stay ahead of the curve
- Manage the innovation budget, ensuring projects are delivered on time, within scope, and to cost & P&L expectations
Who are we?
Glad you asked! We're KP Snacks, proud to be part of the Intersnack family. Picture this: over 15,000 of us, spread across more than 30 countries, all working together to create the snacks you love. From Hula Hoops to McCoy's, we're the team behind your favourite munchies.
Here in the UK, we're about 2,400 strong, spread across seven factories and our Slough HQ. But don't let our size fool you – we're as close-knit as they come. We believe in speaking our minds, celebrating our differences, and pushing boundaries together.
Diversity isn't just a buzzword for us. We're on a mission to create a workplace where everyone belongs. So, even if you don't tick every box, we want to hear from you! Your unique perspective could be just what we need. Also, if there's anything we can do to make this process easier for you, just give us a shout.
What’s in it for you?
We believe in giving back and making sure you're happy and thriving. Here's a taste of what we offer:
- Competitive salary, depending on the skills and experience you can bring
- Car allowance
- Bonus scheme - with an excellent track record of over-achievement
- Annual Salary Review
- Medicash health cash plan
- Private healthcare (role/grade dependent)
- Digital GP service and Best Doctors (2nd Medical Opinion service)
- Cancer care
- Company sick pay (eligibility criteria exist)
- Holiday buy scheme
- Electric Vehicle Scheme
- KP4ME - online benefits, discounts, prizes, competitions and information platform with access to mental, physical and financial wellbeing information and tools
We'd love to hear from you if you are a passionate innovator with a strong background in food manufacturing, a love for snacking and can evidence the following knowledge, skills and experience:
- Proven experience in a marketing innovation or product development leadership role within the food manufacturing sector, ideally within snacking
- Strong understanding of consumer trends, market dynamics, and the competitive landscape within food and snacking
- A strategic thinker with the ability to balance creativity and commerciality
- Excellent project management skills, with a track record of bringing successful products to market
- Strong leadership and team management abilities, with a collaborative and motivating style
- Ability to communicate and influence at all levels of the business
- A passion for food and snacking, with a finger on the pulse of emerging trends