Innovation Program Manager, New Products (CEA/Propagation & Young Plants)

Kekkilä-BVB is the European leader in horticulture. Provide products and services for professional greenhouse growers, retail, consumers and landscapers in over 100 countries worldwide. We have strong product brands within the professional and consumer growing markets, trading under the names of BVB Substrates, Kekkilä Professional, Brill Substrates, BVB Landscaping, Kekkilä, Hasselfors Garden, Terra Brill, Jardino and Florentus. Together with our customers, we bring performance to life. Kekkilä-BVB is part of Neova Group.

We are looking for an Innovation Program Manager, New Products (CEA/Propagation & Young Plants)

We are looking for a senior, self-driven professional to accelerate our Innovation strategy by bringing new products to market – initial focus on next-generation organic products for propagation and young plants.

In this role, you will be responsible for the entire journey from idea to successful market launch. You will lead the development of the value chain, define the right market fit, and manage customer trials and validation to ensure new products meet market needs. Working closely with our Business Areas, you will drive the successful commercialisation of new product concepts. You will manage end-to-end new product development and go-to-market projects, collaborating closely with colleagues across R&D, Commercial, and Operations. As a change leader, you will connect cross-functional teams, foster collaboration, and drive innovation to deliver results. By combining strong market insight with a customer-focused approach, you will not only bring successful new products to market but also ensure they achieve their targeted business case. Location: De Lier, the Netherlands, Venlo, the Netherlands, Vantaa, Finland

Your responsibilities

• Manage end-to-end development of new products from concept to commercial ramp-up

• Lead value chain creation across R&D, sourcing, production, and commercial teams

• Define target markets, positioning, and business case for new products

• Develop and execute go-to-market strategies (pricing, channels, customer segments)

• Plan and lead customer trials and product performance validation with key partners

• Translate market and customer insights into clear product requirements and portfolio decisions

• Act as a change leader, driving adoption of new product concepts internally and externally

• Influence and align stakeholders across functions and geographies

• Ensure successful handover to business operations after ramp-up

• Move on to lead the next prioritized Innovation development project

What you bring:

• Proven experience in leading complex product or innovation projects independently

• Strong background in propagation and young plants

• Experience with engineered / non-loose substrates (e.g. plugs, bonded media)

• Demonstrated ability to drive results in ambiguous, early-stage environments

• Strong change management skills – able to implement new concepts in established organizations

• Excellent persuasion, influencing, and negotiation capabilities

• Solid commercial mindset: business cases, pricing, and market entry strategies

• Customer-oriented with hands-on experience in trials, validation, and technical engagement

• Ability to work independently and deliver projects in complex environments

• High ownership, resilience, and entrepreneurial drive

• Fluent in English, other company languages are seen as an asset e.g., Dutch, German, Spanish, Finnish

Success metrics / KPIs

• Time-to-market & execution: Successful new product introduction/launch and operational handover of new product within agreed timeline and milestones.

• Commercial validation: Achievement of defined customer trial success rates, early adopter uptake, and validated product-market fit.

• Business impact: Delivery of target business case (e.g. revenue pipeline, margin level, or strategic portfolio fit) for developed product.

This role offers a unique opportunity to shape future growth areas and build a portfolio of new organic products for global offerings.

Please apply before 16th August 2026. We review the applications continuously and interviews will be held in August. More information: contact Päivi Martikainen, Chief Innovation Officer paivi.martikainen@kekkila-bvb.com