Innovation Manager – Mat Cover

Position Overview

We’re on the look out for an Innovation Manager/NPD Manager to join our growing Marketing team on a fixed term contract.

This is a chance to work on exciting and innovative projects within the Pet care category that make a real impact!

Location

Blackburn, Hybrid

Company Overview

Pets Choice is a leading pet food manufacturer whose industry knowledge spans over 135 years. Based in Blackburn, Lancashire, the Pets Choice portfolio of brands offers a variety of products for pets and wild animals under its brands; Webbox, TastyBone, Meatiful, Spike’s World, Goodwyns, Davies, Oceanic and Vitakraft. Each brand offers a unique insight into animals from dogs to ducks and produces high-quality products that cater to a wide variety of consumer needs. As a trusted partner, Pets Choice provide private label goods including extruded food, wet food and retorted trays, and baked fresh meat treats. The business also offers additional services such as packaging design, fulfilment and logistics. With a broad range of capabilities and distribution channels worldwide, Pets Choice are proud to be a major supplier to the UK grocery, independents and pet speciality sectors.

Role:

• Lead the development and execution of NPD projects from concept to launch.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including R&D, brand, and sales to ensure successful product development and market introduction.
• Conduct market research to identify trends, consumer needs, and competitive landscape.
• Develop and implement innovative marketing strategies to support new product launches.
• Manage project timelines, budgets, and resources to ensure timely and cost-effective delivery of new products.
• Monitor and analyse product performance post-launch and make data-driven recommendations for improvements.
• Foster a culture of innovation within the team and across the organisation.

Key attributes and skills:

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business, or a related field / or experience
• Proven experience in NPD and innovation management within the FMCG sector.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Creative thinker with a passion for innovation and problem-solving.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.