Activation Manager

Northampton Business Directory; Northampton, Thirsk, Crick; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative pet nutrition firm is seeking an Activation Manager in Northampton to manage activation campaigns and foster retailer relationships. The role requires a degree caliber individual with strong project management and influencing skills. The successful candidate will plan impactful promotions and digital campaigns while collaborating closely with sales and marketing teams. With a mission of creating workplace happiness and driving brand growth, this position offers extensive employee benefits including holidays and a pension scheme.

Benefits

8% employer pension contribution

25 days holiday + bank holidays

Medicash plan

Cycle-to-work scheme

Enhanced colleague discounts

Free onsite parking

Dog-friendly offices

Qualifications

• Demonstrable experience in activation or shopper marketing role within FMCG.
• Experience with major UK grocery retailers.
• Proven track record of driving brand growth.

Responsibilities

• Plan and execute high-impact activation campaigns.
• Own retailer media plans and digital promotional activities.
• Build and maintain relationships with key grocery retailers.

Skills

Influencing skills

Project management

Creative thinking

Commercial awareness

Education

Degree calibre

Job description

Activation Manager - Thirsk or Crick | Fixed Term (until September 2026) | Hybrid

We're excited to be recruiting an Activation Manager to bring our brands to life across our major retail partners. This is a commercially impactful role where you'll shape, manage, and deliver standout activation plans that engage shoppers, elevate brand visibility, and drive category performance.

You'll be responsible for planning and executing retailer media, promotions, POS and digital campaigns, ensuring brilliant activation both in-store and online. Working closely with our Sales and Marketing teams, you'll turn shopper insight into compelling execution that drives conversion. This is the perfect opportunity for someone creative, commercially astute, and energised by driving brand growth through exceptional activation.

If you're proactive, organised, and ready to make a meaningful impact on how pet parents experience our brands, we'd love to hear from you.

About us

INSPIRED Pet Nutrition is an innovative, well-established, and award‑winning pet food manufacturer employing over 1,200 colleagues across the UK and Europe. Our family of brands includes Harringtons, Wagg, Barking Heads & Meowing Heads, AATU, Blink, Butcher's, Classic, Pro‑Nutrition, and Ultra Premium Direct, along with a number of partner brands that trust us to produce food on their behalf.

Our kitchens in Thirsk, Kinmel, and Crick produce a wide range of dry, wet, and baked foods enjoyed by dogs and cats all over the world. Our ambition is simple: to become a global leader in pet nutrition.

Our Purpose: To Create Happiness

We're on a mission to set a new standard of workplace happiness within the pet nutrition industry‑one that looks like no other and feels like no other. Our culture is built on INSPIRED's unique behaviours and colleague experience, creating an environment that excites, empowers, and puts people and pets at the heart of everything we do.

Key Accountability

• Plan and execute high‑impact activation campaigns that engage shoppers and boost conversion
• Own retailer media plans, POS, coupons, and digital promotional activity
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key grocery retailers and media agencies
• Track and manage activation spend, measure ROI, and optimise performance
• Act as the link between Sales & Marketing, embedding shopper insight into all plans
• Lead activation delivery for Deployment Days and Brand Days, ensuring standout brand theatre

About You

• Degree calibre, with further business‑related study advantageous but not essential
• Demonstrable experience in a similar activation or shopper marketing role within FMCG
• Experience working with major UK grocery retailers and their media planning ecosystems
• Commercially astute with strong influencing skills across internal and external partners
• Proven track record of delivering activation that drives brand and commercial growth
• Excellent project management capability with the ability to manage multiple deadlines
• Creative, energetic, and passionate about pets and brand connection

What are we offering?

• 8% employer pension contribution (3% employee via salary sacrifice)
• 25 days holiday + bank holidays
• Medicash plan
• Cycle‑to‑work scheme
• Enhanced colleague discounts
• Free onsite parking
• Dog‑friendly offices
• A wide range of wellbeing, lifestyle, and development benefits

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

INSPIRED Pet Nutrition is committed to building an inclusive workplace that reflects the diversity of the colleagues and communities we serve. We believe everyone should feel valued, respected and able to be themselves at work.

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and do not discriminate on the basis of age, disability, gender identity or expression, marital or civil partner status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation. We make hiring decisions based on talent, potential and the experience you bring.

We are also committed to providing reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process and in the workplace, ensuring equitable access and opportunity for all. If you need any adjustments or support to take part in our recruitment process, please contact (email address removed)

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