Product & Portfolio Lead

This is a high-impact, fast-paced leadership role at the heart of our product portfolio—including growing media, plant food, weedkillers where you'll drive both strategic vision and operational excellence. You'll own the product portfolio and strategy for powerhouse brands including Miracle-Gro, Levington, Roundup, Weedol, Clear, and Patio Magic.

To thrive you'll need to keep consumer and category insights and regulatory compliance front and centre, balancing the needs of today's business with tomorrow's opportunities. You'll craft clear 3–5 year portfolio strategies and product roadmaps in collaboration with Marketing, Sales and Category teams, while executing sharp, results-driven annual operating plans that deliver impact in market in time for peak season periods.

This role isn't just about managing — it's about leading change, navigating complexity, and making things happen on time in full. You'll work closely with the UK Commercial teams, as well as representing the UK in International Group Meetings, champion the UK agenda, and help shape the strategy for all our categories across markets
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What You'll Be Getting Up To:

• Take full ownership of our product portfolio across all categories — including powerhouse brands like Miracle-Gro and Roundup — and lead the charge in shaping their future and unlocking commercial growth
• Drive the product strategy for our Controls Category (Roundup, Weedol Clear and Patio Magic), unlocking growth and innovation.
• Champion category strategy and fuel momentum in our portfolio with bold plans and leading brands.
• Ensure every product meets legal and regulatory standards, managing change seamlessly in the market when required.
• Lead seasonal product launches through structured stage-gate processes and monthly Product Review Meetings.
• Oversee artwork development and manage all product assets using our artwork and product information tools to ensure timely, accurate information at all times.
• Build deep consumer insight — from gardening trends to product performance — and use it to shape everything we do.
• Be a culture champion, inspiring passion and pride in our products and brands across the business.
• Responsible for full Lifecycle management – including new product introduction as well as end of life and exhaust planning.
• Develop compelling Customer Sell In plans and ensure all product and trade assets are ready for launch
• Design and management of Quality standards and delivery across the portfolio

The Day-to-Day:

• Drive our expanding product portfolio and deepen connections with consumers and customers.
• Co-create the 3-year roadmap with Group Marketing — spanning NPD, brand maintenance, cost-efficiencies and packaging.
• Deliver compelling Situational Analysis to inform strategic and annual plans.
• Align strategies across growing and controls categories with brand and marcomms activity.
• Energise sales, cross-functional teams, and senior stakeholders around the roadmap — including impactful toolkits to empower Sales in-market.
• Partner with Project Management to land NPD and packaging updates on time and on budget.
• Lead annual Activity Plans with Category & Customer Marketing to hit targets.
• Track performance monthly and lead fact-based brand analysis.
• Ensure compliance and governance with legal and regulatory partners.
• Tackle operational challenges with clarity and pace.
• Be a visible, consumer-led marketing leader — offering thought leadership and support.
• Lead and develop a high-performing team.

Education/Qualifications:

Degree qualification and demonstrable relevant working experience

Knowledge & Experience – what you will bring

• Extensive experience in product and portfolio strategy
  , ideally within FMCG or consumer goods, with a strong commercial instinct and strategic mindset.
• Proven leadership capability
  , with a track record of motivating high-performing teams and driving results in fast-paced environments.
• A strategic thinker who's not afraid to get hands-on
  , balancing long-term vision with day-to-day operational leadership in a dynamic, medium-sized business.
• Exceptionally well-organised
  with the ability to manage multiple priorities and collaborate effectively across diverse functions and stakeholder groups.
• Deep familiarity with structured stage-gate processes
  , successfully guiding products from concept through to launch and lifecycle management.
• Strong expertise in product portfolio strategy
  , including simplification initiatives and cost engineering projects that deliver measurable impact.
• Solid project management experience
  , with a focus on delivery, stakeholder engagement, and continuous improvement.
• Working knowledge of artwork management tools
  , ensuring smooth execution of packaging and design workflows.
• Strong commercial acumen with an understanding of customer dynamics and product-level P&L ownership — able to translate insights into strategic decisions that drive growth and profitability.
• A genuine passion for gardening — or a strong desire to immerse yourself in the category,
  bringing curiosity and enthusiasm to the role.

Key Competencies/Skills Required:

• Strong commercial acumen and strategic thinking.
• Leadership experience with direct reports and cross functional stakeholders.
• Hands-on experience with structured stage-gate processes, driving products successfully from concept through to launch and beyond.
• You help shape the bigger picture, contributing to and championing the Vision & Purpose with clarity and conviction.
• You think big and dig deep — blending strategic thinking with sharp analytical skills to make smart, data-driven decisions.
• You're wired to win — results matter, and you bring the drive to deliver them.
• You lift others up — motivating teams with energy, clarity, and a shared sense of purpose.
• You bring order, staying brilliantly organised while juggling multiple moving parts.
• You're not afraid to get stuck in — you spend time in the operational reality, driving product portfolio projects with purpose and precision.Experience and responsibility for product information management
• Passion for gardening or a desire to immerse yourself in the category