Agile Performance Manager - New Product Development - 12 months FTC

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 transforming the way we deliver Innovation to our customers. Part of this transformation involves deploying Agile principles, and new capabilities and behaviours within our business. Agile squads have been introduced to the Packaging Division to enable greater collaboration and quick decision-making to develop and scale strategic innovation products, and to bring them to market faster.

As a core part of the Innovation team, this role will further develop and drive performance of individuals and squads to the next level, to develop more innovative products in response to our customers’ needs and deliver greater growth and profitability for DS Smith.

Your role will be to increase performance across our innovation product development and commercialisation lifecycle to achieve a high performing Innovation capability across the business. You will support the central and regional leadership teams in embedding a high performing Innovation delivery approach, develop the teams and embed behavioral changes.

Your remit will include but not limited to :

Contribute to the achievement of the Strategic Innovation targets through improved performance of the innovation squads (New Product Development and Commercialisation)

Refine, develop, and embed Agile techniques to increase the pace of progress (including pausing or stopping) of products through an innovation process - including collective decision making, small groups, working in fast work cycles.

Develop the proactive behaviours and problem solving mindset to drive the changes required, and address challenges.

Standardise the approach and ways of working in the Strategic Innovation Squad Community (both Divisional and across the Regions)

Establish squad performance tracking measures including self and squad governing and empowerment, to drive wider team performance.

About you

Minimum requirements :

A deep understanding of Agile / Lean approaches and methodologies (Agile behaviours, Agile project governance, Agile processes and techniques), and their application in a New Product Development and Manufacturing environment

Experience in improving team performance through a ‘hands on’ change management approach. Including role modelling, coaching etc.

Ability to foster a collaborative culture across portfolio management, programme and project teams

A team player with exceptional team leadership skills

Ability to analyse, think quickly and resolve conflict

Strong communication, interpersonal and mentoring skills

Ability to adapt to a changing environment

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 – hybrid