Key Responsibilities

• Manage and continuously improve the end-to-end innovation process, from idea to launch.
• Manage Stage-Gate governance, processes and decision-making frameworks.
• Maintain the innovation pipeline, providing visibility of project status, risks and timelines.
• Chair monthly Stage-Gate meetings and quarterly pipeline reviews.
• Track project progress and ensure timely progression through development stages.
• Coordinate activities across Category Management, R&D, Sales, Finance and Operations.
• Facilitate innovation forums, pipeline reviews and governance meetings.
• Establish and monitor key innovation KPIs, including pipeline value, time to market, conversion rates and resource allocation.
• Provide performance reports and insights to senior leadership.
• Identify project bottlenecks and drive corrective actions.
• Benchmark innovation processes against industry best practice.
• Champion process optimisation, continuous improvement and a strong culture of innovation.

Skills & Experience

• Third-level qualification in Business, Engineering, Food Science or a related discipline.
• Significant experience in innovation management, project management or process improvement, ideally within a large or matrixed organisation.
• Experience in FMCG, food manufacturing or another complex commercial environment is desirable.
• Experience managing structured innovation/project frameworks such as Stage-Gate or Agile.
• Professional project/programme management qualification such as PRINCE2, PMP or Agile Practitioner is desirable.
• Strong project and pipeline management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Excellent stakeholder management, influencing and cross-functional coordination skills.
• Strong analytical, organisational and problem-solving capabilities.
• Proven experience driving process optimisation, continuous improvement and successful project delivery.
• Ability to align innovation programmes with wider business strategy and commercial objectives.

• About Quorum Search Partners