Innovation Manager

Unternehmensgruppe Theo Müller S.e.c.s.; Market Drayton; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading dairy manufacturer in Market Drayton is seeking an experienced Innovation Manager to drive innovative projects across its brands. You will lead cross-functional teams to deliver new ideas from concept to launch, collaborating closely with various departments. The ideal candidate will have at least 4 years of marketing experience, particularly in FMCG, and a strong analytical mindset. This is a full-time permanent position with hybrid working options and numerous employee benefits.

Benefits

Private medical healthcare

Contributory pension plan

Life Assurance

Employee Assistance Programme

Generous annual leave increasing with service

Qualifications

• Minimum 4 years in marketing (FMCG preferred) including exposure to innovation launches.
• Proven leadership experience or through extracurricular activities.
• Strong analytical skills and a passion for data-driven decision-making.

Responsibilities

• Lead innovation projects from idea to scale-up.
• Deliver new innovation projects across all Müller brands.
• Project manage innovation launches through the stage gate process.

Skills

Marketing Experience

Leadership

Analytical Mindset

Change Maker

Team Spirit

Education

Degree-level qualification (2:1 or above) in a relevant subject

Job description

Müller UK & Ireland is wholly owned by Unternehmensgruppe Theo Müller which employs over 31,000 people throughout Europe. In the UK, Müller develops, manufactures and markets a wide range of branded and private label dairy products made with milk from 1,300 farmers in Britain. Müller is ranked within the top 20 in The Grocer’s Top 100 list of Britain’s Biggest Brands and is picked from shelves millions of times each year. Müller UK & Ireland includes:

Müller Milk & Ingredients which aims to be Britain’s private label dairy leader and produces branded and private label fresh milk, cream, butter and ingredients products. It boasts a network of dairies and depots servicing customers throughout the country.

Müller Yogurt & Desserts which is the UK’s leading yogurt manufacturer which aims to create millions more Müller moments for its consumers. It is responsible for major brands like Müller Corner, Müllerlight, Müller Bliss, Müller Rice, FRijj and Müller Kefir Smoothie and produces chilled desserts under licence from Mondelez International. It also supplies the UK private label yogurt market from a dedicated, state of the art yogurt facility.

Location: Market Drayton (Hybrid)
Contract Type: Permanent
Working Pattern: Full Time

At Müller, we’re proud to be a business that’s driven by purpose and powered by people. We’re passionate about creating products that meet real consumer needs and deliver category growth. As an Innovation Manager, you’ll play a key role in shaping the future of our brands by leading the development of new ideas from concept to scale-up.

Your Role

You’ll be responsible for delivering innovation across all Müller brands, aligned to strategic priorities and consumer need states. Working cross-functionally, you’ll lead projects through our stage gate process, build compelling business cases, and ensure successful handover to brand teams.

What You’ll Do

• Lead innovation projects from idea to scale up, prior to a collaborative handover with the brand teams
• Deliver new Innovation projects across all Müller brands, which are inline to strategic, category and consumer need states.
• Project manage innovation launches through the stage gate process and internal approval project reviews and gate approval meetings, building strong business cases for new projects
• Project manage innovation projects from idea to scale up, prior to a collaborative handover with the brand teams
• Lead and drive cross-functional teams to deliver validated concepts to market.
• Manage project timelines including a critical path of activities that will be used to drive delivery by cross-functional teams to key milestones
• Challenge and proactively seek out new consumer needs and opportunities that deliver solutions for consumers
• Work closely with the Consumer Insights team to validate concepts and provide compelling consumer rationale for innovation projects
• Work with Procurement, Packaging and Engineering to identify how to make new ideas viable across our Muller and co‑man network or source new solutions
• Monitor consumer trends to help inspire future thinking
• Line management of a Marketing Graduate, including supporting with personal development

What You’ll Bring

• Marketing Experience: Minimum 4 years in marketing (FMCG preferred) including exposure to supporting a business with Innovation launches and concept creation
• Academic Excellence: Degree‑level qualification (2:1 or above) in a relevant subject, or qualified by experience.
• Leadership: Proven leadership experience—whether in‑role or through extracurricular activities.
• Curious: An open mindset with an interest in the latest trend and new product launches.
• Analytical Mindset: Strong analytical skills and a passion for data‑driven decision‑making.
• Change Maker: Embrace and drive change with energy, displaying the ability to challenge the ways things are done and opportunities to improve.
• Team Spirit: A true team player—supportive, honest, and passionate about winning together.

What You’ll Receive

In return for your commitment, drive and enthusiasm, we offer our employees numerous benefits as part of your employment, including:

• Private medical healthcare
• Contributory pension plan
• Life Assurance
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Generous annual leave increasing with service.
• In addition, our employees have access to a Rewards Benefits Programme, giving you a range of discounts across 800 retailers online and in store.