Head of New Product Development (NPD) - Dairy

At Yeo Valley, we're about more than just making great food - we're here to Nurture & Nourish People & Planet by Making Great Food the Right Way. Forever. As a co-owned business, we invest in our people, encourage growth, and believe in doing things properly.

We aim to be a successful, visionary and purposeful food and farming business powered by people who feel inspired by our purpose and valued as co-owners.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Head of Product - Dairy to join the Yeo Valley family in our Development team. The Head of Product - Dairy is the accountable lead for all activities relating to Dairy Product Development within Yeo Valley Farms Production. The purpose of this role is to work with the Senior Head of Innovation to set out the insight led, Innovation plan which delivers on our Demand Strategy. This role is accountable to delivering on the needs of our YVO brand and our Own Label Dairy business and is accountable to driving engagement with senior customer stakeholders to ensure our plans are well understood and valued.

• Leadership of the Dairy innovation teams for YVO and Own Label products
• Inspire the Dairy Innovations team through effective 121s and development plans with direct reports.
• Work very closely with the Senior Manager in charge of the Process team, to ensure priorities are aligned
• Work with the Dairy Brand Management leads, ensuring robust clarity on priorities for the short, medium and long term.
• As part of the Product leadership team, ensure alignment all of the Development teams on priorities
• Play a key role in helping the Senior Head of Innovation define our Innovation strategy, including where we want to invest to grow capability
• Engage with retailers at Senior Manager level on a quarterly basis, to ensure strategic alignment between our plans and our customers strategies.
• Ensure that the Innovation Managers are well organised to meet the critical path's required to deliver on our product ambitions
• Be an advocate for our category vision, and ensure we are bringing this to life in our innovation approach
• Regular meetings with Senior Development managers in our most strategic retail partners to ensure alignment through the teams on priorities for now and the future.

This role sits within the Central Development team and reports to the Senior Head of Innovation. The working hours are 40 hours per week Monday - Friday, and the role is based in our YVHQ offices in Blagdon, Somerset. Whilst we operate with flexible working principles, we expect our co-owners to be present in the office 2-3 days a week. This role comes with a company car allowance.