Innovation Programme Manager

About us

DS Smith is a leading provider of sustainable fibre-based packaging worldwide, which is supported by recycling and papermaking operations. We play a central role in the value chain across sectors including e-commerce, fast moving consumer goods and industrials. Through our purpose of ‘Redefining Packaging for a Changing World’ and our Now and Next sustainability strategy, we are committed to leading the transition to the circular economy, while delivering more circular solutions for our customers and wider society – replacing problem plastics, taking carbon out of supply chains and providing innovative recycling solutions.

About the role 

DS Smith is seeking to transform how we deliver Innovation to our customers and in doing so, we will introduce new ways of working to the organisation, focusing on how we develop and scale innovative products and services to our customers. It’s a very exciting time to join, as we have committed to investing in our future across our strategic growth enablers within Innovation (R&D), Sustainability and Digital & Data.

We are looking for an experienced Regional Innovation Programme Manager. Be a game changer as we invent, reimagine and redefine packaging!

As the successful candidate in this role, you will be part of the Sales, Marketing & Innovation (SMI) delivery team driving end to end delivery leadership and assurance for the scaling & commercialisation of innovations across the North Europe region.

Your remit will include but not limited to:

• Support the establishment of an effective approach to innovation scaling, ensuring portfolio objectives, targets and benefits are met

• Support the implementation of appropriate governance and assurance, managing risks and issues when they arise – escalating when needed and providing clear reporting on the portfolio status and health

• Support the roll out and embedding of a new end-to-end innovation lifecycle which includes exploration, ideation, development and commercialisation. Drive the delivery framework and innovation stage gate processes, templates and tools for effective and efficient regional innovation portfolio delivery.

• Allocate and ensure appropriate use of resource within the innovation portfolio, manage Delivery budgets on behalf of Regional and Country management teams, monitoring the costs against the delivered and realised benefits.

About You  

• Degree Qualified (ideally with MBA qualification), with professional experience in Innovation related areas

• Excellent Project/ Programme/ Portfolio Management skills and knowledge

• Experience in managing and deploying insight based, value focused innovation within a packaging/manufacturing environment, across wide and disparate geographies is preferred

• Excellent stakeholder communication and a collaborative approach to build effective communication between innovation sponsors and product scaling squads to ensure success

• Comfortable presenting and reporting regular updates to senior innovation leadership as well as working closely with squad members to ensure objectives and targets are met

• Able to work in a matrix organisation and with an international mind-set

• Outstanding interpersonal and networking skills.

Benefits 

• Competitive salary

• Discretionary bonus

• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays 

• Car allowance

• Pension scheme, life assurance and income protection

• Private medical insurance

• Salary sacrifice electric car scheme

• Employee Assistance Programme

• Employee Discounts

• Cycle to work scheme

Location:  UK – remote; or London (Paddington) – hybrid

Travel: c. 30% across Northern Europe

Application closing date: 21st January 2025