OverviewOur International Beverages, Dublin-based, Innovation team focuses on the end-to-end innovation strategy & pipeline development for our key growth platforms.
This role will lead the Innovation agenda for Hydration & Energy, two big opportunities moving ahead, to win with incremental consumers, in more occasions, by 1) expanding beyond the Sports Drinks audience and occasions synonymous with Gatorade, to offer a portfolio of solutions to meet wider Hydration needs within both "Functional" & "Tasty" Hydration, and 2) building Energy Drinks solutions to meet a wider range of "fuel" needs, across different dayparts and price tiers.
The Hydration & Energy Innovation lead will own the innovation strategy for both Hydration & Energy, as well as product and packaging format development for these areas of the portfolio, to inform the short, medium and long term pipeline.
This candidate requires a high degree of thought leadership as they will be responsible for the development of scalable solutions across our Anchor Markets and beyond, which is a complex task given the wide market footprint & therefore requires engagement with multiple market stakeholders to ensure locally relevant solutions, leveraging existing TM strengths, while also driving a cohesive global strategy.
We need a highly driven, collaborative, agile and consumer-centric approach to think outside of traditional CSD success criteria to build real understanding of what it takes to win with consumers in the Hydration & Energy categories and establish a scale and successful Hydration & Energy Drinks portfolio across markets.
ResponsibilitiesFast paced Portfolio expansion: Support geographic expansion of Sting Red, along with existing Functional & Tasty Hydration portfolios, across Anchor Markets with agility to meet IB expansion goalsStrategic Opportunity identification: Identify scale strategic and consumer demand-led opportunities within the Hydration & Energy categories that can unlock future growth by winning with incremental consumers and occasions- identifying lead product & packaging solutions; leveraging both lift and scale and create opportunitiesStrategy development: Develop consumer demand- led Innovation Strategy for Hydration & Energy including Where to Play/How to Win strategies, portfolio/TM architecture and Hz1-3 pipelineDevelop and manage development of new propositions: from idea generation to commercializationLead global testing of new product ideas; in close partnership with R&D, global & local Insights, brand and innovation teams, to identify lead ideas and opportunities for optimisationBuild 'Sell Story' for innovation platforms outlining a clear consumer opportunity and business case to win hearts and minds behind key programs.Develop brand playbooks (Visuals, packaging design, creative concept etc) to drive consistent execution and best practice application across marketsMonitor Consumer Trends & Competitive Activity, providing updates and identifying incremental opportunities or threats and implications for PEP with the Hydration & Energy categoriesLead & collaborate with wide Cross functional teams: to develop winning, scalable propositions and launch marketing strategies that ensure product success and scale, including team members from IB Commercialisation, Strategy, Brand Teams, Consumer Insights, Design, R&D, Finance etc, along with Anchor Markets and key external partners (Research, Creative Agencies etc)Stakeholder Engagement: engage senior stakeholders in Hydration & Energy agendas and key decisions as required, demonstrating clear and compelling communication skills, amongst marketing CMO & VPs in IB, CMOs of market BUs, R&D senior directors & VPs etcQualifications8-10 years of brand building experience in consumer products, including experience leading innovation workstreams.
Beverages experience preferred.
Hydration and/or Energy Drinks experience helpful but not essential.Preferred experience in key anchor markets across Asia, Middle East, and LATAM, with a proven track record in tailoring marketing strategies to local consumer needs, navigating complex market environments, and capitalizing on growth opportunities.Courageous leader and self-starter, who can lead from the front and drive actionCredible influencer, who can inspire, engage and manage senior stakeholdersConsumer centric, with a passion to really understand consumers needsStrong collaboration skills to launch new to the world innovationTenacity to adapt to change and ability to work through adversity & ambiguityUnderstands the global marketplace with sensitivity and awareness of social and cultural differencesStrategic mind with an ability to think broadly, refine questions and create clear and simple strategic recommendationsExperience managing projects with cross-functional teamsMBA preferred; BA requiredThe person should be comfortable working across time zones and willing to travel internationally 20% of the time
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