Twinings
Head of Product Development
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Application Deadline: 6 October 2022
Department: International Marketing
Location: Andover
Description
Are you searching for a career with bags of variety, in an environment that celebrates differences and empowers collaboration, which values individuals and will encourage you to make an impact? Do you want the freedom to explore, and the opportunities to find new ways and to innovate? If so, TwiningsOvo delivers.
We’re looking for people who don’t just come here to get the job done, but who have a real passion for the brand and a desire to do the best job they can. In return, we offer an inspiring package of employee benefits - to show just how much we value you. This role will offer you the scope for growth and the tools to aim high.
The Head of Product Development will play a pivotal role in leading Twinings’ innovative and agile NPD team, creating an exciting environment where the team can thrive and others want to be part of, or collaborate with.
The Head of Product Development will work in partnership with other areas of the team to ensure the department delivers a continuous pipeline of differentiated, innovative and great tasting product solutions in the wellbeing drinks/ experience space. The role requires a strategic approach to innovation management and an ability to deliver creative solutions against an ambitious agenda, by finding new ways and thinking differently.
Excellent influencing and communications skills are a key enabler to this role; as is ensuring the department is driven by leading edge thinking, consumer & market insight and trend-led needs.
Key Responsibilities
NPD Delivery:
- Work in partnership with the Packaging Innovation Team and local Marketing teams to devise new and innovative products that continually evolve the Twinings brand into a leader in the wellbeing drinks arena, delighting our consumers.
- Working directly or through experts, provide technical expertise to support the delivery of a differentiated innovation pipeline.
- Ensure the Product Development Team work agilely and flexibly across different types of innovation project, supporting the philosophy of testing and experimentation.
- Ensure product ideas are feasible, safe and compliant working in collaboration with other internal functions. Highlight any potential issues during the product development process that could result in a negative impact on product quality; product integrity; product safety and/or brand image.
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Team Leadership:
- Build a high performing team, ensuring individuals continues to develop and excel; putting career development, succession, and talent management at the heart of team leadership.
- Create an exciting, highly performing team that others are inspired to be part of or want to collaborate with.
- Work with the Director of Innovation to build and embed a culture of continuous improvement and innovation. Role modelling our innovation behaviours (see below) and the company values.
Thought Leadership:
- Drive the team to continuously monitor new and emerging trends in the drink and wellness market, sharing these across Team NPD and all interested parties.
- Through others, continuously build the team’s knowledge of latest developments within the drinks and wellness industries.
- Manage and grow the expert panel to ensure it is fit for purpose and future looking.
- Build and maintain a network of external expertise through suppliers and other institutions.
- Dedicate at least 10% of working time to working on look outside activities to stay fresh and up to date.
Stakeholder Management:
- Build and maintain an internal network of positive and productive relationships both within Team NPD and with other departments including Regulatory, Legal and Tea Supply Chain, working collaboratively with them to get the best outcome for the business.
- Engage with all stakeholders to create excitement and ‘buzz’ around the work of the Product Development Team, demonstrating how the team are an enabler to Twinings’ future growth that they want to engage with.
- As a leader within the International Marketing and NPD Team, collaborate with peers across the team to strengthen ways of working across all parts of the team.
Skills, Knowledge, and Expertise
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- Food Science degree.
- Extensive experience working in food or drink new product development in particular leading an NPD project from end to end; experience in pharmaceutical and/or functional food and drink highly beneficial.
- Effective management of sensory teams.
- Demonstrable experience of translating NPD briefs into fantastic tasting products - A track record of success!
- Extensive experience of working with external suppliers, universities and partners to deliver innovative product solutions.
- Experience of working with different countries and cultures.
- Awareness of supply and commercial environment and considerations.
- Herbal and botanical knowledge advantageous.
- Excellent communicator and influencer.
- Strong leader of people.
- Passionate about new trends and developments in food and drink market.
- Unquenchable curiosity about everything food, drink and wellbeing related.
- Creative thinker who challenges perceptions about what the future of healthy drinks could look like.
- Understands the commercial landscape of the business and the market and the impact of their role on this.
- Ability to manage multiple projects.
- Ability to problem solve.
- Computer literate in Microsoft packages.
- Ability to work under own initiative.
- Ability to develop and maintain strong relationships.
- Ability to work well under pressure and to tight timescales.
- Comfortable dealing with ambiguity and a fluid matrix structure.
- Comfortable presenting to a wide variety of stakeholders.
Benefits
- Yearly bonus based on personal contribution and financial performance
- Flexible working options
- 25 days holiday plus 8 bank holidays and the option to buy and sell holidays
- Onsite Gym and Wellbeing Centre
- Perkbox – employee discount scheme with discounts online, in high street stores, cinema, holidays, restaurants and many more
- Pension scheme with your contributions matched for up to 10% of your salary
- Cycle to work scheme
- SimplyHealth Cash plan
- Onsite Staff shop and online staff discounts
- Bupa Private Medical Insurance
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