Innovation Project Manager

Here at DS Smith, we are looking for an experience Innovation Project Manager to join our Group Innovation Team.
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About DS Smith

DS Smith are a leading provider of sustainable packaging solutions, paper products and recycling services in more than 30 different countries. 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.

About the role

Sitting within the Group Innovation, this team is dedicated to developing new growth platforms for DS Smith, Innovation being a key driver of the DS Smith growth strategy. Concepts developed by Group Innovation typically combine innovation in the product (e.g. a radically new pack design or box construction), process (e.g. modular manufacturing, on customer-site fulfilment), route to market (e.g. digital platform) and the business model (e.g. ‘As a service’).

As the Project Manager you will play a key role within the Programme and Project Management function of Group Innovation, responsible for delivering projects within the innovation programme to specification, on time and within budget. You will define the projects within our innovation team and in doing so; set out the scope of activities or workstreams and manage innovations through the product development stage gate process (Development, Pilot, MVP and MSP).

You will use your experience to ensure clarity on objectives, scope and deliverables on each project and create task level project plans and RACI matrices. You will demonstrate continuous progress monitoring, budget tracking, risk management, go/no-go management as well as lessons learnt analysis and reporting. As this role will have multiple touch points across the business and with external suppliers, you will demonstrate excellent stakeholder engagement skills.

About you 

• Highly experience in project management within manufacturing, retail or a consultancy environment

• Extensive experience of managing a varied project portfolio with many concurrent activities

• University-level education, recognised Project Management qualification Prince2, Agile, APM or equivalent

• Innovation management qualifications considered an advantage

• Ideally complemented with experience in R&D and Innovation, including New Product Development, Design Thinking, Lean Start-up and/or Agile working capabilities.

• Proven track record of collaborative working and building strong relationships, negotiating and influencing effectively to achieve business goals. 

Benefits

• Competitive salary 

• Company bonus

• Pension scheme

• Life assurance

• Income protection

• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays 

• Annual Cycle to Work Scheme