Location: Flexible (Ireland)
Reporting to: Founders
Level: Junior - Minimum 3 years experience
Role Overview
The NPD & Innovation Activation Manager will play a vital role in supporting the growth and profitability of Foxes Bow Irish Whiskey. This position offers a unique blend of new product development (NPD), operations optimisation, e-commerce expansion, and marketing/trade execution. The successful candidate will be a strong project manager with commercial awareness, comfortable working in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment, and happy to take clear direction from the founders and commercial manager, while owning delivery and execution.
Key Responsibilities:
PRODUCT INNOVATION
New Product Development (NPD)
* In line with the company’s business plan, brand strategy, and innovation pipeline, execute the end-to-end process for new product development, from concept brief to product launch readiness.
* Coordinate with distilleries, suppliers, and packaging partners to deliver products on time, on budget, and to spec.
* Conduct market and competitor research to identify category trends and innovation opportunities.
* Ensure all new products reflect Foxes Bow’s brand positioning and maintain quality standards.
* Manage timelines, samples, and regulatory compliance across all NPD projects.
PROCESS INNOVATION
Operations & Profitability Enhancement
* Research and recommend cost-saving opportunities across raw materials, packaging, and logistics.
* Negotiate with suppliers and logistics partners to improve Foxes Bow’s COGS and overall profitability.
* Review and enhance freight solutions and other route-to-market efficiencies across domestic and export markets.
* Track and analyse operational data to identify areas for cost reduction and process improvement.
E-commerce Expansion
* Research and recommend innovative, cost-effective e-commerce solutions to expand Foxes Bow’s reach in Europe.
* Collaborate with US e-commerce partners to improve sales performance and profitability in the US market.
* Monitor e-commerce sales data and performance, providing insights and recommending actions to improve conversion and ROI.
* Identify new marketplace opportunities and DTC platforms to drive growth across key markets.
* Taking the brand plan and the budget developed by the founders, tactically bring the brand to life, executing marketing activations, ensuring all activity is delivered to brief, on time, and on budget in line with the brand plan.
* Manage the production and delivery of marketing assets (POS materials, event kits, sampling collateral, influencer packs).
* Coordinate sampling campaigns, events, press engagement and influencer partnerships, ensuring smooth delivery and brand alignment.
* Track, report on, and continuously improve executional performance based on data and feedback.
Trade Marketing Execution
* Ensure top class, ground-breaking execution that generates cut-through versus key competitor brands.
* Support the commercial manager and founders in executing trade marketing activations across both on-trade and off-trade channels.
* Support the commercial manager in ensuring trade materials and promotions are effectively delivered and executed for key accounts and distributors.
* Create new artwork for POS and media (event kits, sampling collateral, etc).
* Coordinate POS rollouts, in-store tastings, and account-specific promotions in line with the trade marketing strategy.
* Monitor and report on trade activation performance, capturing learnings to inform future activity.
Skills & Experience:
* 3 years+ experience in NPD, operations, trade marketing, and/or brand activation, ideally in the drinks, FMCG, or premium consumer goods sectors.
* Experience working with suppliers, distributors, and third-party partners across product development, logistics, or activations.
* Strong project management skills – able to keep multiple projects on track and manage stakeholders effectively.
* Familiarity with e-commerce platforms (DTC, Amazon, marketplaces) and experience improving online sales performance is a plus.
* Comfortable taking direction and working closely with founders/senior leadership to execute their vision.
* Good understanding of cost management and supplier negotiation.
* Proficient in performance tracking and reporting, using data to refine future plans.
Seniority level
Mid-Senior level
Employment type
Full-time
Job function
Marketing and Sales
Industries
Manufacturing
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