Assistant Manager - Innovations

Designation

Assistant Manager – Innovations, Packaged Foods

Function
Marketing
Location
Mumbai
Reporting To
VP – Innovations, Packaged Foods

Job DescriptionWhat are the Key Deliverables in this role? Financial OutcomesEvaluation and Validation: The incumbent will be responsible for

• Managing the medium/long term pipeline of new products in-line with the business goals .

• Conduct rigorous testing and validation of innovation P&L by liaising with Finance, R&D, Factory etc

Customer Service:Consumer centric mindset

• Closely track the category for competition mapping and new trends for growth and plan innovation pipeline

• Leverage different idea generation platforms to identify the trends, conversations and input it in the NPD process

• Conduct consumer connects to mine consumer insights and work collaboratively with R&D team to launch new products

Internal Processes

• Project Management, Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing:

• Drive the NPD agenda in line with business priorities - initiatives that will deliver on targets for NDP as a % of turnover

• Manage the innovation funnel stage gate process for key projects in line with business KPIs

• Work closely with cross functional teams to deliver on the strategic pillars of the NPD funnel; drive ownership and accountability across the organization for NPD projects

• Develop the product specifications in consultation with the consumer insights, marketing, sales, packaging, regulatory and the R&D teams

• Draw the GTM strategy along with brand team for the NPD brands and lead the launch of the products

• Lead research processes both qual and quant for all NPD projects

• Lead the launch for NPD in case of new products / brands successfully transition to marketing team at a later stage – work closely with sales & category teams to see projects through to the market execution stage

• Responsible for all marketing activities for the related Portfolio – interaction with agency in product & communication development, promotions

• Assist in the IO/PO Creation and execution

Innovation and Learning

• Support the process of shoot/asset creation by close partnership with agency partners and freelancer ecosystem

• Building Claims tool kit - building a ready toolbox backed with defendable evidence to support Scientific /Technical /Marketing Claims through Commissioned Studies - Kantar, Clinical, Retail, etc. Laison with R&D /technical team to test

• Support Lead, design & deliver on impactful consumer facing 360 degree activation campaigns across platforms

• Help Proving superiority at Point of Sale - Implementing efficient and scalable superiority activation programs customizable for market type/channels.

What are the Critical success factors for the Role ?

• Educational Qualification – MBA or non MBA with experience in innovations role works well

• 2-5 years of relevant work experience

• Great inter-personal, presentation & communication skills

What are the Desirable success factors for the Role?

• Have worked in BTL / Event led role / organization with some creative development

• Fluent in Excel working with ability to run varied formulas

• Fluent in oral and written communication & ability to deliver multiple tasks under timelines

• Experience in brand management preferred