Job Description
Your Opportunity as the Director, Innovation
This role has the unique opportunity of owning the development and execution of the innovation strategy for both the Coffee and Frozen Handheld & Spreads business units. Spanning both iconic brands such as Folgers, Dunkin', and Jif to high-growth brands such as Smucker's Uncrustables and Cafe Bustelo, there are tremendous opportunities for growth and opportunity to make a significant impact.
Location: Orrville, OH- Corporate Offices
Work Arrangements: Hybrid - onsite a minimum of 9 days a month primarily during core weeks as determined by the Company; maybe more as business need requires.
In this role you will:
Own the development and execution of the innovation strategy and pipeline to achieve Net Sales and Segment Profit targets established by each of the business units
Work with the business teams to size each concept and financially validate through testing, gross margin expectations, and long-range plan building blocks
Lead with a General Management mindset, balancing the need for creativity and an entrepreneurial approach with strategy and discipline
Build internal innovation capabilities and help to shape a culture of creativity, growth mindset, and innovative thinking
Develop validated concepts that deliver on key consumer needs, align to the brand strategy, and drive category growth
Partner with market research to deliver consumer testing at various points in the gate process, leveraging results to optimize concepts and/or deselect concepts
Lead a diverse, cross-functional best in class team who will be responsible for shepherding platforms and product concepts through the innovation process, considering strategic, consumer, technical and business viability
Champion innovation across multiple stakeholders including brand marketing, operations, research & development, finance, and retail customers to create organizational momentum and breakdown barriers
Gain customer buy-in by crafting a compelling innovation vision and category and customer story
Coach, develop and motivate a high-performing team of five individuals
Manage Portfolio-level Innovation performance metrics to ensure visibility and accountability for long term innovation health for the business
The Right Role for You
We are bold, kind, strive to do the right thing, we play to win, and we believe in a strong community that thrives together. Our culture is rooted in our Basic Beliefs, and we believe in supporting every employee by meeting their physical, emotional, and financial needs.
What we are looking for:
Minimum Requirements:
Bachelor's degree required, MBA preferred
12+ years of relevant work experience
8+ years in the consumer packaged goods industry
8+ years of brand marketing/innovation experience with proven innovation success; either new product development, creation of new business models, start-up experience or other entrepreneurial ventures (food industry experience preferred)
Excellent leadership skills combined with ability to influence cross-functional partners
Demonstrated expertise in understanding the P&L along with strong analytical proficiency with Nielsen/Circana data, Microsoft PowerPoint, Word and Excel
Understanding of how consumer insights drive the development of effective innovation concepts
Demonstrated experience with consumer research methodologies including statistics, research design, marketing, and product development applications
Proven experience in innovation management. Proposes and executes plans that add value and create competitive advantage based on knowledge of how the business works
Previous experience launching multiple new products, including major product launches / platforms from inception to launch
Demonstrated capabilities and competencies to effectively manage up, across, and down an organization, remove barriers and effectively problem solve
People management experience
Willingness to travel for work approximately 20% of the time
Additional skills and experience that we think would make someone successful in this role:
Sets a high standard for performance and pursues goals with purpose and a sense of urgency
Persistent despite setbacks with ability to gain acceptance for ideas
Ability to rally team (both internally and externally) behind a vision
Comfortable with ambiguity and ability to envision future opportunities
Capability to lead across multiple brands, projects, and complex pipelines
Passion to take initiative and drive change
Highly collaborative mindset; team player
Strong communication skills and ability to craft compelling story to communicate vision and ideas
Learn more about working at Smucker:
Helping our Employees Thrive
Delivering on Our Purpose
Our Continued Commitment to Ensuring a Workplace for All
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The J. M. Smucker Company (the “Company”) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. No person will be discriminated against in hiring or in any other aspect of their employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, transgender status, marital status, familial status, disability, genetic information, protected veteran/military status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local law.
