Fragrance Innovation Senior Associate

About us

Vestacy is a standalone company (carved out from Reckitt) with a clear purpose: to transform houses into homes.

We’re home to some of the world’s most trusted brands (Air Wick, Calgon, Cillit Bang, and Mortein) helping millions of people care for the spaces they live in every day.

Backed by Advent, a leading global private equity firm, we have the freedom to think big and move fast.

With almost 3,000 colleagues across 20+ countries, we see every person as a Founder, empowered to make bold decisions and shape what’s next.

We care for our company the way you care for your own home: with energy, passion, and pride.

Here, you’ll find space to grow, opportunities to lead, and the support to thrive.

Together, we’re building something extraordinary.

Research & Development

In Research and Development, we're full of highly skilled talents - all working to create cleaner homes.

We continually seek out new opportunities by using science, our entrepreneurial flare and our fearless innovation to develop and enhance our existing portfolio, never compromising on quality or performance.

We do the right thing, always, by ensuring we act with responsibility and integrity, by complying with regulatory legislation across the globe, whilst ensuring our products are safe for our consumers and are to the highest quality.

The size of our organisation means you'll have the opportunity to learn and work in different functions within R&D, giving you exposure to different disciplines, teams and environments.

You will also have access to our Research and Development Academy, designed to develop our team and allow you to grow in our great organisation.

About the role

This position is a 12 month FTC Senior Associate, Fragrance Innovation role is to cover the Fragrance Innovation lead period of maternity leave.

The role comprises of managing existing upstream innovation projects, this includes internal and external development partners and relationships & key stake holders within the Vestacy organisation.

The role will report to the Head of Air Care whom will provide guidance and support.

This role will also require close relationships between Global and local regulatory, safety and sustainability teams to ensure compliance across our portfolio.

Your responsibilities

• Take a proactive and entrepreneurial approach to engaging with cross-functional category leads and key R&D colleagues, adopting an integrated and agile mindset as a critical partner in delivering the multi-category innovation pipeline.
• Manage the end-to-end scoping, planning and execution of multi-category innovation projects and pipeline activities.
• Support the end-to-end delivery of portfolio initiatives and front-end innovation opportunities, ensuring projects are optimised and successfully brought to market through effective stakeholder and development partner collaboration.
• Support the development, refinement and amendment of innovation briefs, ensuring best-practice briefing principles are followed to maximise outcomes from fragrance house partners and internal teams.
• Ensure all fragrance briefs and recommendations comply with current safety and regulatory requirements, partnering closely with functional experts to achieve a right-first-time approach and align with global fragrance partner frameworks.
• Collaborate across R&D to ensure sensory, consumer and performance testing best practices are applied when validating new innovation concepts and product developments.
• Work closely with the Fragrance Innovation Manager, Sensory Enrichment, R&D and Global Marketing Design teams to enable the rapid execution and roll-out of innovation initiatives across multiple categories and brands.
• Support fragrance evaluation activities, including olfactive assessment and performance reviews throughout product stability programmes.
• Coordinate project activities and timelines, ensuring milestones are achieved and stakeholders remain aligned throughout the innovation process.
• Prepare and manage supporting project documentation, including safety paperwork, fragrance submissions, olfactive triangle testing, presentations and project reviews.
• Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders including Fragrance, Consumer Science, Insights & Analytics, Marketing, R&D, Regulatory, Safety, Quality and Supply Chain teams, as well as external fragrance house partners.
• Support the development and execution of innovation pipeline strategies that deliver differentiated consumer experiences and commercial value across the portfolio.
• Maintain awareness of evolving safety, regulatory and technology landscapes to support compliance and future innovation opportunities.
• Effectively manage complex stakeholder interfaces, timelines and key milestones, operating successfully within a global matrix environment.

The experience we're looking for

• Minimum 5 years + experience within a Flavour or Fragrance House and/or 5years + experience working within FMCG environment working on global brands, innovation or product development.
• Ideally with experience applying product innovation, preferably within a fragrance or flavour led brand - for consumers across both developed and developing markets.
• 5 years + of proven Project Management experience within a cross-functional, international and multi-cultural environment.
• 5+ years fragrance evaluation experience ideally with personal care and/ or home fragrance and/ or laundry.
• Strong influencing, networking, partnership and communication skills.
• Strong business experience including commercial/marketing strategy, consumer understanding and sensory testing.
• Experience in vendor / supplier relationship management.

What we offer

We believe great work deserves great rewards.

That’s why we offer numerous local benefits and global benefits designed to help you grow and thrive, such as career mobility opportunities, a referral program, access to our online learning academy, mental wellbeing support, and short-term bonus incentives.

Equality

We believe the best teams are built like great homes: on strong foundations and room to grow.

That’s why we hire for potential as well as experience.

If you resonate with our purpose, we encourage you to apply, even if you don’t tick every box.

We’re committed to equal opportunity for all, regardless of age, ability, background, identity, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Together, we create a space where everyone can thrive.