ABOUT JENKI

JENKI is building the next chapter of matcha, redefining the category through flavour-led innovation, quality and consistency at scale.

THE ROLE

As Product & Innovation Lead, you will play a key role in shaping JENKI’s product direction across bars, retail and e-commerce. Working closely with the founders and wider leadership team, you will help drive the evolution of our food and beverage offering, identifying opportunities for innovation, supporting long-term product strategy and ensuring launches are commercially and operationally successful.

This is a hands-on, fast-moving role for someone who is highly curious, commercially aware and deeply engaged with the evolving food, beverage and wellness landscape. You will be responsible for helping translate trends, insights and ideas into products that feel exciting, relevant and distinctly JENKI.

Alongside this, you will help strengthen JENKI’s authority in matcha, supporting how it is expressed across menus, retail products and customer experience as the business continues to scale.

You will work cross-functionally across operations, supply chain, marketing and retail to ensure products are launched with consistency, quality and strong operational execution.

This role would suit someone ambitious and proactive who is excited by the opportunity to grow alongside a fast-scaling founder-led business and take increasing ownership over time.

WHAT YOU'LL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR

Product Innovation & Strategy

• Support the development of JENKI’s product and innovation strategy across bars, retail and e-commerce.
  
  

• Identify emerging food, beverage and wellness trends and translate them into commercially viable launches.
  
  

• Work closely with founders and the Culinary Innovation Manager to shape seasonal menus and future product opportunities.
  
  

• Help evolve how matcha is expressed across the brand through product, flavour and customer experience.
  
  

• Support innovation planning and prioritisation across the business.
  
  

• Contribute to the long-term development of new formats, categories and product opportunities.
  
  

Product Development & Launches

• Lead cross-functional coordination of product launches from concept through to rollout.
  
  

• Work closely with suppliers, operations and the culinary team to support successful product development.
  
  

• Manage launch timelines, testing processes and product documentation.
  
  

• Ensure launches are operationally viable, commercially considered and aligned with the JENKI brand.
  
  

• Support packaging and retail product development alongside design and supply chain teams.
  
  

Commercial & Product Performance

• Monitor product performance across bars and retail, identifying opportunities for optimisation and growth.
  
  

• Support pricing, costing and margin analysis across new and existing products.
  
  

• Translate sales and customer insights into clear recommendations for future innovation.
  
  

• Work closely with operations and finance teams to ensure product decisions support wider business goals.
  
  

Operational Excellence & Quality

• Support the development of systems and processes that maintain product consistency as JENKI scales.
  
  

• Ensure recipes, preparation methods and product standards are clearly documented and executed.
  
  

• Help identify operational challenges early and work collaboratively to improve efficiency and execution.
  
  

• Act as a key guardian of product quality and customer experience across the business.
  
  

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Marketing to help translate launches into compelling storytelling and campaigns.
  
  

• Partner with Operations, Retail and Supply Chain teams to deliver successful rollouts.
  
  

• Contribute to JENKI’s wider ambition of becoming Europe’s leading authority in matcha.

WHAT YOU'LL BRING

• 3-5 years experience within product development, innovation, hospitality, food or beverage brands.
  
  

• Strong awareness of food, beverage and wellness trends, with a genuine interest in premium consumer brands and hospitality.
  
  

• Commercially minded, with an understanding of pricing, margins and operational considerations.
  
  

• Highly organised and confident managing multiple projects simultaneously.
  
  

• Strong creative instincts with an eye for flavour, branding and customer experience.
  
  

• Proactive, curious and comfortable working in a fast-moving environment.
  
  

• Excellent communicator and collaborator across teams.
  
  

• Passion for craftsmanship, flavour and product excellence, with an interest in matcha and Japanese tea culture.

Inclusion

At JENKI, we believe different perspectives make brands stronger and communities richer. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities and experiences. Even if you don’t meet every requirement listed, we’d still love to hear from you if this role excites you.

Role: Product & Innovation Lead
Contract: Permanent, Full Time
Reporting to: Co-founder
Location: London
Salary: £60k+

• Cover letter
• CV