Product Development Expert (12 month FTC) London en-GB

Here at innocent, we're on a mission to make it easier for everyone to get more fruit and veg into their bodies. We started back in 1999 and since then we've gone from selling a few smoothies at a music festival to becoming one of Europe's biggest drinks companies with around 1,000 people (and the B Corp seal of approval).

It's nice to be able to say things like that but we're not patting ourselves on the back just yet. We want to show everyone that it's possible to be a successful business while looking after people and the planet too, so we're trying to get better in pretty much every way. And that's where this job comes in.

This role sits in the Innovation Ventures team - the part of the R&D team that develops new products to supercharge innocent into new categories and delivers 'R&D enabler' projects to pave the way to future innovation. Reporting to the Innovation Ventures Team Leader, this role combines hands on product development with driving enabler workstreams, aligned with innocent's strategy and values. The role also involves providing coaching and practical support to less experienced team members. Cross functional and collaborative working - with key internal and external stakeholders - is a key element to this role.

• Lead innovation projects from brief to delivery including:
  • Early-stage feasibility mapping
  • Setting up and delivering benchmarking sessions to map key in market competitor set
  • Planning and leading innovation safaris to stay abreast of relevant trends & share key findings across innocent function
  • Working to deliver against product brief including costings, nutrition, sensory and product safety
  • Kitchen recipe scoping and scalability testing
  • Planning, running and reporting on pilot and factory trials including QAS (Quality Attribute Sheets) creation and shelf life testing
  • Working closely with cross functional team including project managers, brand, insights, procurement and technical/regulatory colleagues to deliver product development projects through the Stage Gate process
• Lead R&D enabler projects including:
  • Creation and management of project aims and objectives, timelines and budgets
  • Close collaborative partnering with strategic suppliers, universities/research institutions and relevant teams within The Coca Cola Company to deliver against key project aims
• Delivering product tastings to support customer meetings and internal meetings e.g. product sign offs and updates with senior managers, product updates to marketing colleagues etc.
• Preparation and delivery of Innovation Ventures update presentations to a wide range of stakeholders and audiences.
• Coaching and guiding more junior team members

• A formal qualification in a relevant subject area, e.g. food science, food technology
• 5 years + experience in product development in the food and drink industry
• A good understanding and demonstrable practical experience of food safety, food quality and Good Manufacturing Practice
• Great taste buds and a creative flair for developing delicious, nutritious fruit and veg based drinks
• Great presentation skills and the ability to convey complex topics in simple terms to a wide range of stakeholders
• Prior experience that demonstrates problem solving skills and ability to manage multiple complex projects efficiently and effectively.
• Ability to work proactively and independently whilst consulting with and informing colleagues, your manager and Senior Managers.
• Proven ability to work with multiple cross functional teams internally as well as building and maintaining relationships with strategic partners.

We want innocent to be a great place to work, so we do lots of stuff to make people feel at home and try to make sure everyone's career is shaping up the way they want it to. There are plenty of opportunities to have a go at something new or take things further.

In exchange for helping us do business in the right way, you'll get a solid rewards package that includes a salary (phew), private healthcare, a target based bonus, and a bunch of other nice things like a day off on your birthday. And yes, you get free smoothies.

We also know that not all our drinkers come from the same background, or think the same - so why should we? At innocent, we want to be a great place to work where a diverse bunch of people from all backgrounds can turn up and thrive. When we hire, we want all the juice, bits, and pulp that make you who you are.

Even if you don't think you can tick all the boxes, if the job sounds right for you, come and throw your hat in the ring.

Probably best to get your skates on though, as we might close this early if we get loads of applications.