Portfolio Manager – Makes Friendly Stuff

Hybrid | Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire | Full-time, Permanent

At Ella’s Kitchen, we make food that helps little ones grow up happy, healthy and loving food. We’re now looking for a Portfolio Manager to take ownership of an exciting part of our range and help shape the future of Ella’s across the UK and international markets.

This is a brilliant opportunity for an experienced FMCG product or brand manager who loves turning insight into winning products, building ranges that perform, and putting kids and families at the heart of every decision.

Who we are

Ella’s Kitchen was founded by Paul Lindley with one big mission:
to improve children’s lives through better relationships with food.

From our Barns near Henley-on-Thames, our team of just under 80 people has grown Ella’s into an £80m+ brand, sold across the UK, Scandinavia and the BeNeLux. We’re proud to be:

• A certified B Corp
• In the Sunday Times Best Companies Top 100 for five years running
• Part of the Hain Celestial Group

We’re entrepreneurial, purpose-led and guided by strong values — and we’re looking for someone who shares that mindset.

About the role

Reporting to the Group Portfolio Manager, you’ll own a segment of the Ella’s portfolio, shaping and delivering a best-in-class range that meets the needs of parents and carers today and in the future.

You’ll be responsible for building a 3-year innovation and renovation strategy, leading new product development, and ensuring our ranges are set up for commercial success with our retail partners.

This is a hybrid role, based from our beautiful Barns in Oxfordshire.

What you’ll be doing

Portfolio leadership

• Own and shape the 3-year EPD & NPD strategy for your part of the portfolio
• Use category, shopper and performance data to identify opportunities, gaps and risks
• Track commercial performance and recommend range changes, delists and optimisation
• Turn consumer insight and trends into clear portfolio decisions

Innovation & product development

• Own and lead projects within your sub-segment, from idea to launch
• Create compelling, insight-led product and pack propositions
• Work with the Innovation team to develop strong 8P briefs
• Lead the delivery of stand-out packaging and formats
• Own on-pack messaging and claims, ensuring they are compliant, clear and motivating
• Always champion our consumers — Kids First, always

Ready-to-sell & launch excellence

• Partner with the Group Portfolio Manager to create inspiring retailer sell-in stories
• Own the portfolio playbook and lead NPD handovers to Sales, Comms, CX and Shopper teams
• Build and deliver post-launch performance reviews using commercial, consumer and operational data

Being part of the Friends Team

• Own and maintain portfolio induction materials
• Champion portfolio performance across the business
• Collaborate, contribute and bring your passion to the wider Friends team

What we’re looking for

You’ll bring:

• Product or portfolio management experience within FMCG
• A strong ability to use data, insight and trends to guide decisions
• A creative, imaginative approach to innovation and problem-solving
• Excellent stakeholder influencing and communication skills
• The ability to manage multiple projects with pace and precision

And just as importantly, you’ll:

• Be a true team player who loves working cross-functionally
• Live and breathe our values: Win Together, Own It, Be Curious, Foster Inclusion, We’re Childlike
• Care deeply about Ella’s mission to help children build healthy relationships with food

What you’ll get

• Bucket loads of training and development
• Competitive salary
• Discretionary bonus
• Box of Treats — our brilliant benefits package
• A genuinely fantastic place to work, whether in our Oxfordshire Barns or working remotely

If Ella’s Kitchen feels like your kind of place, and this role ticks your boxes we’d love to hear from you - click Apply Now.