Innovation Lead - Gypsum
5 days ago
Loughborough
Innovation Lead- Gypsum\n\nSaint-Gobain Interior Solutions (SGIS)\nOn-site, 5 days per week\n\nAbout the role\n\nWe're looking for an experienced Gypsum Innovation Lead to shape and drive innovation across our gypsum portfolio at Saint-Gobain Interior Solutions.\n\nThis is a senior leadership role, responsible for leading a team of Solution Developers and managing a portfolio of innovation and development projects aligned to SGIS and Saint-Gobain strategic goals. You'll play a key role in concept development, innovation strategy and continuous improvement, ensuring we deliver meaningful value to customers and maintain our competitive edge in the construction market.\n\nWhile this role is not hands-on technically, it is deeply connected to physical products, systems and customer outcomes. You'll work closely with sector teams, central functions and external partners to turn insight into scalable, compliant and commercially successful solutions.\n\nWhat you'll be doing\n\nLeading, developing and inspiring a team of Solution Developers to deliver innovation excellence\nOwning the gypsum innovation portfolio, ensuring projects align with business strategy and growth objectives\nDriving concept development, from early insight through to robust business cases\nWorking closely with sector teams to identify opportunities for innovation and improvement\nClearly communicating innovation strategy, priorities and progress to senior stakeholders\nChampioning customer-led innovation, ensuring customer needs are at the heart of decision-making\nIdentifying opportunities for Continuous Improvement (CI) and enabling progress across the organisation\nFostering a strong learning and innovation culture, encouraging curiosity, collaboration and knowledge sharing\nEnsuring solutions are delivered in line with compliance, safety, sustainability and regulatory requirements\nRepresenting SGIS externally with customers, partners, trade bodies and industry forums as requiredAbout you\n\nYou're a people-focused innovation leader with a strong background in managing teams and delivering change in technically complex environments. You're comfortable operating at both strategic and operational levels and thrive in environments with ambiguity and evolving challenges.\n\nYou'll bring:\n\nAt least 5 years' experience managing people, ideally in Product Management, R&D or a similar technical environment\nExperience leading innovation, development or improvement initiatives involving physical products\nA working knowledge of product development and innovation toolkits (e.g. design thinking, outcome-driven innovation)\nStrong stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to influence at all levels\nA collaborative leadership style that brings teams together and enables progress\nA problem-solving mindset, with resilience and adaptability in complex organisations\nThe ability to translate customer insight into clear innovation priorities and plans Nice to have (but not essential):\n\nExperience in gypsum or construction-related products\nHigher degree in science, engineering or design\nProfessional memberships or compliance-related knowledgeAbout us\n\nAre Saint-Gobain Interior Solutions and Saint-Gobain inclusive employers?\n\nSaint-Gobain is a worldwide leader in light and sustainable construction, following our purpose of 'Making the World a Better Home'. We play a part in improving daily life through high-performance solutions. From wherever you are, let your unique personality and our values guide you every day to invent a more sustainable world.\n\nWe understand that a diverse workplace is not only a more enjoyable place to be, but also facilitates better decision making and innovation. So, whoever you are, and whichever Saint-Gobain business you join, you can be sure of a warm welcome with us.\n\nAnd what about flexibility?\n\nAt Saint-Gobain, we're always open to new ways of working. Everyone has different needs and commitments. We'll happily discuss any need you might have for this role. Whilst we can't promise to meet every request when we're recruiting, we do promise to listen.\n\nIf you match our criteria, we will be in touch to discuss your experience and more about you as a person - we look forward to hearing from you