Innovation and Portfolio Manager

Institute of Project Management; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - GBP 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading plant-based food business is seeking a Portfolio & Innovation Manager in London. This hybrid role focuses on driving innovation and renovation across their product portfolio. Ideal candidates will have at least 5 years in FMCG project management, excelling in trend mapping and project leadership. This high-visibility position offers opportunities for growth and requires strong cross-functional influence. If you're passionate about food innovation, apply to join a company shaping the future of a growing international portfolio.

Qualifications

• 5 years’ experience in FMCG portfolio, innovation or food NPD project management.
• Proven strength in trend mapping, category scouting and building innovation pipelines.
• Commercially sharp, able to turn insight into business cases and margin-positive launches.

Responsibilities

• Shape and steer the innovation & renovation roadmap.
• Spot trends, unlock white space & turn insight into pipeline projects.
• Balance bold NPD with smart renovation & SKU optimisation.

Skills

FMCG portfolio management

Trend mapping

Category scouting

Innovation pipelines

Cross-functional influencing

Job description

Overview

Portfolio & Innovation Manager | Plant-Based Food/Drink | London (Hybrid)

Looking for your next build-the-future role in FMCG innovation? We’re working with a fast-growing, purpose-led plant-based food business that’s scaling across multiple international markets. With an established UK challenger brand and another market-leading brand in the portfolio, this role sits right at the centre of shaping what comes next. This is not a maintenance role. It’s about defining where the portfolio goes, identifying white space, and building a commercially robust pipeline that delivers against an ambitious 3-year growth plan.

Responsibilities

• Shape and steer the innovation & renovation roadmap
• Spot trends, unlock white space & turn insight into pipeline projects
• Balance bold NPD with smart renovation & SKU optimisation
• End-to-End Innovation
• Lead NPD from concept → launch (on time, on budget, on strategy)
• Craft strong briefs & clear USPs grounded in data
• Align Marketing, Sales, Supply, Technical & partners
• Remove blockers, manage risk & keep projects moving
• Track performance vs. financial targets
• Ensure clear communication of product & packaging updates

About You

• 5 years’ experience in FMCG portfolio, innovation or food NPD project management
• Proven strength in trend mapping, category scouting and building innovation pipelines (this is the differentiator)
• Commercially sharp, able to turn insight into business cases and margin-positive launches
• Comfortable navigating ambiguity in a fast-moving, multi-market environment
• Confident influencing across functions and cultures

This is a high-visibility, high-impact role with scope to grow into future people leadership. Hybrid London-based (2–3 days in HQ) with supplier and manufacturing travel.

About Company

If you’re a genuinely curious foodie who enjoys building strategy and executing at pace — and you want to shape the future of a growing international portfolio — we’d love to receive your application.