Ideation/Innovation Director - Surrey - TL/HQ000338378_0671

Job Description:
Ideation Director, Blue Chip Company, Surrey.

The initial incumbent of this role will play a key part in the establishment of the new global division of the group.

Job Purpose and Key Responsibilities:

* Accountable for the development and delivery Innovation Pipeline to achieve Growth
* Building on Brand Growth Roadmap, this role starts with leading the development of the Innovation Growth Targets and 5-2-1 Innovation Strategy with the 4D Team
* Create and inspire a shared vision of category growth and innovation, owns the development of the futures vision board with the VP (Global Marketing).
* Portfolio management of a broad mix of pipeline projects (including new products, claims and packaging) to deliver annual targets.
* Remit from Innovation Strategy to idea, to ePDB (Exploratory Product Development Brief) and handover (including business case).
* Evaluates new 'heartbeat' methodologies, including owning I*3 (Ideation) meetings for the category.
* Lead idea development from Insight Investigation, Idea Generation, Idea Development and Volumetric Testing using a mix of Creative Tools / Workshops, Qualitative and Quantitative testing.
* Oversees commercial input to Research & Development (Scientific) progression of EPDB.
Prepares and delivers the final PDB (inc. business case) with Innovation Director for launch approval. Hand off Point to Innovation is PDB approval.
* Measured by the VALUE of approved PDBs delivered and the ability of the pipeline to meet the "sales from innovation" annual targets. This also includes the qualitative and quantitative strength of those PDBs as defined by consumer research data.
* Establishes appropriate and robust market research techniques enabling a reliable and timely evaluation of opportunities.
* Actively facilitate the generation of novel products and claims
* Seek opportunities that step change the category via licensing, acquisition or joint venture initiatives.
* Acts as key contact to World Wide Business Development and technical licensing to evaluate, quantify and drive opportunities to decision point.
* Work with Ideation Centre of Excellence to ensure a cohesive and common approach to best practice.
* International travel as the business requires.

Key contacts will be SVP, Future Group, VP R&D, Senior Management of Consumer Healthcare, Core Market representatives and matrix Future Group teams including Ideation Centre of Excellence.

As Ideation Director you will play a leading role in determining the overall global strategy for the brand strategy and the longer term vision.



Essential Requirements:

* Commercial awareness, acumen and judgment
* Solid in market experience (inc. P&L delivery).
* Solid Innovation launch track record
* In-market country experience at the manager level.
* Excellent capability in Strategy; Brand and Innovation
* Excellent capability in the creation and development of ideas to business case
* Degree or equivalent experience.
* Best in class brand marketing capability with a demonstrable track record in helping to build global brands through insight discovery and application, strategic planning and execution, as well as innovation creation, development and launch.
* Proven management, project management, business development, and presentation and communication skills.
* Sophisticated marketing skills - ability to identify new business opportunities, ability to analyse the brand, competition and the consumer and expert relationship in order to identify future brand opportunities, as well as overall industry trends.
* Ability to influence and develop strong working relationships in a global matrix environment with GMS and R&D.
* Excellent leadership skills with the ability to influence without authority in a matrix environment.
* Ability to manage multiple projects and people.
* Ability to work effectively in an empowered environment.
* Ability to develop strong relationships both with internal and external stakeholders and customers
* Strong analytical skills

Desirable Requirements:

* Global brand experience including experience in 2 or more markets.
* Beverage market experience.
* US or International market experience.
* Knowledge of global markets with strong internal networks.
* World class brand management experience including experience in global launches
* Significant proven track record of globalising and growing a brand.
* Science based marketing experience
* Experience in emerging markets