Innovation & Growth Manager
We are hiring Rockstars to join our Sauer Brands team!
Overall Goal of the Innovation & Growth Manager Position:
The Spice Business Unit Innovation & Growth Manager is accountable for delivering growth in new channels/new placements/new usage occasions via product innovation, line extensions, and merchandizing/display innovation. The Innovation & Growth Manager reports to the Spice Business Unit Brand Marketing Manager. Key stakeholders include Brand Management, Sales, Revenue Operations, R&D, Finance, Supply Chain and Operations. The Innovation & Growth Manager position will be required to manage the delivery of creative, fact-based solutions and thought leadership that will help build Sauer Brands and help make OurRecipe@SauerBrands.
Innovation & Growth Manager Job Summary:
Responsibilities include managing the innovation process from ideation to commercialization, developing data-based business cases, utilizing brand and shopper strategies and translating them into action for all retail customers, project management of all growth initiatives and market research.
Key Duties and Responsibilities of the Innovation & Growth Manager:
- Develop growth strategies:
- Identify innovation opportunities including line extensions and disruptive ideas by partnering with Category Insights Manager, Brand Team and 3rd Party research companies.
- Identify growth strategies and vehicles for existing items outside of traditional aisles, including product innovation, line extensions, and merchandizing/display innovation.
- Own market research for innovation, partnering with 3rd party agencies to run research to validate and improve upon ideas.
- Ownership of Innovation Stage Gate process and project management of all Spice Business Unit projects to keep the development on time and budget:
- Manage project meetings and own toolkit including timelines and stage gate documentation.
- Drive accountability with cross-functional team members.
- Identify and create action plans for risks on deliverables.
- Manage Innovation Project Pipeline, working with Stakeholders to prioritize projects, allocate resources, and communicate pipeline view to Stage Gate keepers and project teams.
- Own Stage Gate documentation and tracking.
- Own and track KPI for project timelines.
- Own Business Case and Go-To-Market support for all innovation and growth projects:
- Own business case development for any new project, partnering Insights, Brand and Sales team to develop forecasts and with Revenue Operations team to get inputs on pricing and profitability.
- Support Brand Team with pitch deck development for innovation, turning consumer and shopper insights into sell stories.
- Accountable for Innovation and Channel Growth KPIs.
Innovation & Growth Manager Performance Standards (the criteria that will be used to evaluate performance):
- Meets expectations on deliverable timing and quality
- Ability to juggle a large amount of projects and wear multiple hats while flawlessly executing
- Able to hit the ground running: quickly learning company processes, strategies and priorities in order to effectively steer and lead growth initiatives
- Ability to influence cross-functionally
- Comfort with driving accountability
- Ability to lead teams in problem-solving through ambiguity
- High attention to detail and accuracy
- KPI support/alignment/attainment. KPIs Include:
- Business Unit Net Sales Revenue
- Innovation Net Sales
- Growth in new channels and new aisles
- Innovation timeline KPI
- What you do and how you act (Be yourself!)
- Leadership and comfort in your own voice
- Personal Effectiveness-meeting timelines and productivity requirements (quantity and quality of work)
- Personal interaction, communication and teamwork with internal and external parties, consistent with company values and guiding principles
What We Are Looking For in an Innovation & Growth Manager:
- Personal Characteristics
- Highly quantitative and data-driven individual
- General Manager Mindset that assumes “ownership” of assignments
- Entrepreneurial drive and the desire to “build a business”
- Is comfortable with a high level of accountability.
- Energetic and results oriented personality.
- Self-starter, comfortable working independently with limited direction
- Overall confidence in one’s abilities and comfortable communicating the facts
- Smart, creative, and inquisitive
- Organized and strong willed in the face of inertia
- No excuses mindset
- Dependable team player with positive attitude
- Personal values that mesh with SBI values
- Passion for marketing brands
- Performance History
- Documented history of making improvements in assigned work area/responsibilities
- Stellar references based on contributions and performance
- Demonstrated proficiency in the following Skills
- Project management
- Developing business cases
- Developing growth strategies
- Innovation experience is a plus but not a requirement if have brand and/or consulting experience
- Communication
- Organization and time management
- Ability to work and thrive under time constraints and prioritize responsibilities.
- Working collaboratively with other functional disciplines to drive company goals
- Education & Experience:
- BS/BA degree required. MBA welcomed.
- Minimum 5-7 years CPG Brand Management or Consulting
- Food industry experience desired, but not required.
- Other:
- 50% remote/ 50% in-office hybrid.
- This position is located and based in Richmond, VA. Candidates not local must be able to be in the office 50% of the time.
- Some travel required (5%-10%)
What Is In It For You?
Our company acknowledges talented people are attracted to companies that provide competitive pay, comprehensive benefits packages and outstanding advancement opportunities. For this reason, we offer a Comprehensive Benefits Plan that includes the following:
- 401K
- Medical/Dental/Vision Coverage
- Vacation, Sick Days and Holidays
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Employee and Dependent
- Life Insurance
- Voluntary Disability Insurance
- Other Voluntary Insurance Options
Sauer Brands, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
Other details
- Pay Type Salary
- Travel % 10
- Required Education Bachelor’s Degree