Innovation Manager

Welcome to KFC.
Take one man with a big idea, add 11 herbs and spices, grit, ambition, and buckets of heart – you've got KFC.
Since 1939, we've been bringing finger lickin' good chicken to the world, and today we're proud to be in over 1000 communities across the UK & Ireland.
But without our people, none of it would be possible.
Just like our recipe, they're all original.
Join us.
Bring it.
And together, we can be part of something truly extraordinary.
Bringing it to the role.
As KFC's Marketing Innovation Manager, you'll lead the evolution of KFC UK's core menu by building data-driven, consumer-tested product pipelines that align with strategic growth goals.
From ideation to launch, you'll drive the end-to-end process, collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure every new product is on-trend, market-leading, and loved by customers.
What you'll do You will bring strong strategic thinking to help evolve the KFC UKI core menu over the short, medium and longer term.
You will take ownership of your categories and strategic areas, building strong product pipelines for growth underpinned by clear data and insight.
You will build consumer tested product pipelines.
Flexing your creative muscles to run ideation workshops, balanced with your strategic rigour and commercial grounding to result in winning product pipelines.
You will partner with the insight team to validate and test your ideas ensuring the optimum consumer loved concept is reached.
You will have unearthed why your ideas are loved and will hold that tight through cross functional briefings, bringing strategic clarity and excitement.
You will own and champion your ideas through the full end to end process; writing inspiring briefs for the NPD team in charge of all aspects of your product concepts; taste, texture, build, packaging, price, etc.
You will oversee the innovation process for your projects from start to finish, as projects move from concepts to being designed by our NPD team and through to being launched.
You will work closely with your colleagues to ensure strategic foundations remain sound and clear, and the launch is a success.
You'll be the go-to person for knowing the latest launches and competitor activity across the industry and around the world.
You'll have an always on eye on trends.
You'll bring consumer, food and flavour trends and turn them into actionable plans for KFC UK&I  You will set strategic direction and very used to taking people with you.
You will work collaboratively with stakeholders from across the business, retail & advertising, NPD, operations, supply chain, commercial   You will have a test & learn mindset, building hypotheses, testing, validating and revising.
What we'd love from you About You We're looking for someone with passion, energy and ideas who is ready to hit the ground running  You'll be a solution focussed person, a creative visionary.
You'd describe yourself as highly creative yet routed in strong strategic thinking and commercial acumen.
You are a leader with the potential to advance within the business and a strong ability to collaborate and take people with you, as you lead them towards your vision.
You see yourself as a people grower and team player and love to get stuck in.
Experience   This position combines creative thinking, strong commercial acumen, passion for food and focussed action-driving– so we're looking for someone who can balance their strategic and creative muscles, but also knows their way around a P&L. You'll have worked in innovation in QSR/food retail/restaurants, thus have a clear understanding of operational complexity and how and when to bring this into your ideas and strategic plans.
You will need a growth mindset that brings fresh thinking and connects the dots to make amazing things happen.
You'll be a team player and able to build strong relationships at all levels across the organisation   You'll be used to working with external agencies, internal insight teams and leading project teams through ambiguous projects.
Having the ability to cut through the jargon and speak fluent "consumer" but with our brand at the very heart of your ideas.
You'll be organised and a strong multi-tasker, able to spin lots of plates at once!
Be Original.
At KFC, everyone gets a seat at our table.
Since we landed in the UK in 1965, we've fed our people's potential – to be their best selves, make a difference and have fun.
Because it's not just what you do at KFC.
It's the way you do it.
Unapologetically you, undeniably original.
You'll work with colleagues who all bring their originality to the table: their energy, spirit and sizzle and make every day high flyin' and high fryin'.
As a multi-billion-pound business with over 1000 restaurants, we take ambition seriously.
You'll be treated with respect and supported in everything you do as you roll up your sleeves and play your part in bringing finger lickin' good chicken to our customers.
And whatever your journey looks like, we'll help you get there.
From flexible working to the chance to earn qualifications, we got you.
There are all kinds of opportunities at KFC.
Buckets of Benefits A career with KFC offers much more than just fantastic earning potential.
We reward achievement with amazing incentives and benefits, including: Flexible, hybrid working  with our Restaurant Support Centre located in Woking, Surrey – a 24-minute train ride from London Waterloo.
Depending on job requirement, travel across the UK & Ireland may be required.
Generous pension with up to 11% company contribution.
'Fri-Yay' time – finish up at 1pm every Friday, all year round.
Live Well Days - 5 days per year to disconnect from our day-to-day (in addition to 25 days annual leave and bank holidays).
o   You can buy or sell up to 5 extra days of your core annual leave allowance each year.
o   After 5 years' service, annual holiday allowance increases to 30 days.
Bonus – We work hard and do our best work to succeed together.
When the company and individual goals are reached, you'll be rewarded through our bonus scheme.
Wellness – We want you to be your best self, so you'll have access to lots of wellbeing initiatives and programmes, including Telus Health, and 1:1 Mental Health coaching sessions with our partner Sanctus.
Private healthcare , including access to Digital GP, with the option to increase to include family cover.
o   Flexible and Voluntary benefits including Dental Insurance, Health Screening and Gym Discounts.
Insurances – All colleagues are covered by our life and income protection insurance which provides protection and peace of mind.
Study Support may be available for job-related qualifications.
Parental Leave – We offer enhanced paid leave and flexible return to work options for those important times.
Colleague Discount – If you love KFC as much as we do, you'll received a 25% discount.
Our Commitment to You Our customers come from all walks of life and so do our teams.
We value, support, and celebrate the?things that make Team KFC authentic and original and all candidates – regardless of age, background, ethnicity, gender, ability, religion, or sexual orientation.
We welcome applications from underrepresented groups in our industry such as women, people with disabilities, ethnic minorities and members of the LGBTQ+ community.
To make your journey with us accessible and tailored to your needs, we encourage you to let us know if you'd like any additional support with your application, have a disability or condition that may affect your performance during your recruitment process, or any other requirements.
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Ready to apply?
If you are ready to bring your passion, skills, and dedication to KFC, we encourage you to apply now.
We look forward to welcoming you to our team and embarking on this extraordinary journey together.
Bring it.
Don't tick all the boxes?
Don't worry.
If you don't match all the criteria for the role and still think you'd be a great fit, we'd love to hear from you.