Director, Innovation Consulting (Food)

Shape the future of food innovation

oneUp is an innovation agency that helps companies create new value at speed. We combine speed with human creativity, judgment, and empathy to bridge the gap between strategy and rapid execution. Our clients value us for playing in the sweet spot between management consultancies and specialist solution builders.

As Director, Innovation Consulting (Food), you will be responsible for developing comprehensive innovation strategies for our clients while simultaneously validating and building business propositions according to Lean Startup and design thinking methodology. You believe in a data-driven, experiment-focused approach where the customer's perspective leads every decision. You deliver quality that exceeds expectations.

This role is specifically to work in oneUp’s food practice. The majority of our work is within ingredients, animal nutrition and CPG. To apply for this role you should have a passion for the food industry and strong relevant experience across the technical aspects of food innovation.

Candidates must be based in Amsterdam and have the right to work in the Netherlands. oneUp does not currently offer sponsorship.

Your skills and experience

Innovation strategy:

• Analyse market trends, competitive landscapes, emerging technologies, and industry disruptions
• Conduct comprehensive market research and technology assessments
• Perform desk research including portfolio analysis, competitor analysis, and market trend analysis
• Derive actionable insights from complex data sets and market intelligence
• Identify new market opportunities and assess strategic fit
• Perform quantitative performance analysis and data visualization using Excel
• Create business cases and financial models with P&L analysis
• Challenge assumptions and develop quantitative business cases
• Prioritise and size innovation opportunities based on strategic impact and feasibility
• Design governance structures and KPI frameworks for innovation programs

Innovation Execution:

• Prepare energetic kick-offs to understand challenges and establish optimal collaboration
• Conduct customer discovery through qualitative and quantitative research
• Conceive new solutions for prioritised problems with cross-functional teams
• Map assumptions and define success metrics
• Design, lead, and measure experiments to validate concepts
• Draw conclusions and provide strategic recommendations for next steps
• Act as entrepreneur-in-residence, guiding stakeholders through innovation landscapes
• Represent innovation initiatives across broader organisations

Your Super Powers

• Strategic Visionary: You excel at connecting market trends with business opportunities and can translate complex innovation concepts into actionable strategies
• Quant Analyst: You will be comfortable diving into P&Ls, creating excel models and visualising data
• Systems Thinker: You understand how innovation fits within broader organizational ecosystems and can design holistic transformation approaches
• Data-Driven Strategist: You combine analytical rigor with creative problem-solving to generate insights from market research and experimentation
• Entrepreneurial Leader: You bring startup agility while navigating corporate environments and can manage both strategic planning and hands-on execution
• Stakeholder Champion: You excel at communicating with senior executives who may be unfamiliar with innovation, building buy-in for transformative initiatives
• Methodology Expert: You are well-versed in innovation frameworks including Lean Startup, Design Thinking, Corporate Venture Building, and Strategic Innovation processes
• Change Catalyst: You foster learning cultures within teams and can navigate the complexities of corporate innovation and transformation

The Ideal Candidate

You are a true innovation consultant who knows how to combine rigorous strategy work with agile execution. You combine strategic consulting expertise with entrepreneurial execution capabilities. You thrive at the intersection of strategy and innovation, seamlessly moving between boardroom strategic discussions and hands-on innovation consulting activities.

Experience & Skills

• 10+ years in innovation consulting or strategy consulting
• Proven track record of developing and executing innovation strategies for large food companies
• Experience with financial modeling and business case development
• Hands-on experience with Lean Startup, Design Thinking, and Agile methodologies
• Previous success in following strategy through to execution and launching new products, services, or ventures
• Experience presenting to and influencing senior executives and board members
• Strong analytical skills with ability to synthesise complex information into actionable insights

What You Can Expect From Us

• Growth-Oriented Culture: A company environment that prioritises development, offering extensive training and learning opportunities
• Unique Impact Role: A truly distinctive position within our growing team, with freedom to shape your career and define the role according to your strengths
• Diverse International Environment: An inclusive workplace that respects diversity, equality, and individuality across our global client base
• Flexible Work Policy: Hybrid work policy balancing in person work with flexibility
• Innovation Leadership: Be at the forefront of corporate innovation, working with leading companies to shape the future of the food industry

Apply now and come with us on a journey to shape the future of the food industry.