This role is known for supporting the successful creation & delivery of a pipeline of consumer-led innovation Futures Core activities to deliver the financial targets of their innovation, GP, Future Core and in some cases Core Innovation. They ensure that both creating new opportunities for new spaces guided by Foresight future trends and innovation process to continue to delight consumers to remain relevant & competitive.

The key purpose of this role is to deliver defined RD Futures projects and programme. Delivery of the projects will require close collaborations within R&D and with colleagues in Marketing, Insights team, Supply Chain and the wider Commercial team.

APDM-Futures is expected to support actively implement the strategy development within their Strategic Nomad Foods medium/long-terms projects is accountable for developing & delivering the Innovation pipeline & associated R&D work programme to meet the Nomad growth.

We need someone who has the science & technology knowledge coupled with Culinary flair with passion about innovation out of box thinking, and who is curious about the role our products play in our consumers lives, and different routes to do this. They should have an appreciation of how our consumers behaviours differ across our markets and ways to reach consumers.

This person should be able to show the following behaviours: empathy, creativity, experimentation, work collaborative with internal and external partners and also understanding through the product/solution design process (one innovation).

They should have an appreciation of the marketing mix and be able to understand market solution (product) needs to ensure that product/solution are scalable (fewer, bigger, better).

We need a person who can business partner with Insights and Future Core marketing to create winning concepts & can partner with Culinary & their R&D colleagues to bring those concepts to life in the form of high quality kitchen, pilot & industrial prototypes. Has the understanding how we move from kitchen inspiration to pilot scale to an industrial scale solution.

External innovation is a critical element for delivery and the JH is expected to participate in external networks for delivery of the projects.

They should have a passion for food & a good technical understanding of new technology and materials, processes & supply chain within their category & continuously seeking new technologies to apply. Using the latest tools available, and be capable to connect with the outside world successfully. And has ability to identify solution globally that can be used for Nomad.

Finally, the role requires a good basic business awareness and commercial understanding to be able to appreciate the contributions of their projects & the implications of not delivering against the targets.

Governance & Ways of Working

• The JH is responsible for accurate & informative input to key milestones and project decision points
• The JH must ensure that all new developments are consistent with the CSR strategy and Nutritional targets
• Challenging the current WoW with entrepreneurial mindset

R&D Program and Delivery

• Lead key areas/activities for Future projects. Responsible for driving delivery and decisions according to agreed milestones and timings
• Leads on development of product prototypes
• Support Supplier relationships as agreed
• Lead by curiosity, the JH is expected to identify opportunities to secure competitive advantage and IP for Nomad Foods
• Using foresights, insights, trends and one innovation design thinking methodology build a central, for Future Core pipeline which meets consumer
• Effective business partnership

Product Strategy & Superiority

• Product strategies for key products in their portfolio to ensure they remain relevant and maintain competitive advantage
• Product superiority vs our key competitor

Develop Capabilities

• Support Strategy on current and future capabilities for Future Core.
• Support to create ecosystem and external partnerships to accelerate research and leverage fundings

• Must be qualified to at least degree level in a Technical subject, eg Food Science, Chemistry, Engineering, Biology, Physics
• Experience (1+ years) within the Food & Drink industry in a Technical / Product Development role
• Open Innovation and Design for Experience knowledge
• Eager to understand and anticipate consumer behaviour
• Experience of either concept development & rapid prototyping