Manager R& D

ABOUT THE ROLE

The R&D Manager is a crucial role in leading and driving new growth and expansion opportunities for International Consumer Brands. This role will lead strategic new expansion projects and a team of technical direct reports. You will foster a culture of creativity to lead idea conception to launch, collaborating closely with marketing, supply chain and consumer insights. The ideal candidate will have a solid understanding of consumer products, market dynamics and consumer behavior along with strong leadership and project management skills.    

Strategic Thinking and Portfolio Management:

• Holistic Understanding: Drive a comprehensive understanding of the consumer product portfolio within the context of consumers, the category, customers, and the company.  

• Strategic Recommendations: Make strategic recommendations for innovation based on this understanding grounded in consumer experience. 

Project Management and Cross-Functional Collaboration:

• Project Oversight & Leadership: Oversee and implement projects with cross-functional partnerships and lead from inception to implementation.  

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Manage projects and relationships across RD&E, Supply Chain, Procurement and External Manufacturing (i.e. fragrance houses, raw material suppliers, third party manufacturers, component suppliers) to drive the project and influence the leadership team.  

Consumer Insight and Concept Validation:  

• Consumer Concepts: Write and validate consumer concepts for innovations.  

• Idea Testing: Evaluate new product or service ideas in an iterative model with speed ahead of investing significant resources.  

• Prototypes and Mockups: Work with team to create prototypes, mockups, or detailed descriptions of product concept(s).  

• Feedback Collection: Seek feedback from potential consumers, industry experts, and stakeholders.  

• Iterative Process: Based on feedback, concepts are refined, adjusted, or discarded, ensuring that the final product aligns with consumer needs and expectations.   

• Tools Utilization: Proficiency in data analysis, project management tools, and innovation frameworks (eg. Design Thinking, Agile, Sensory Science- Product Guidance)  

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manage innovation in for growth portfolio platforms including but not limited to: aerosol spray, non-aerosol spray, lotions, body washes, hand soaps, sticks, and other on-skin product formats.   
• Manage external third-party partnerships working with supply chain and legal in bringing innovative solutions to market to serve consumer needs.  
• Focus on consumer centered innovation relying on astute insight applications.  
• Responsible for category sustainability leadership.   
• Manage a team of technical experts including project managers, product developers, formulators, packaging engineers, and process engineers. 
• Lead exploration of disruptive technologies and new business models with the potential to drive disproportionate incremental growth or value creation.  
• Leverage latest consumer frameworks (Jobs to Be Done) to identify underserved demand opportunities in collaboration with Marketing and CIBA.  
• Consumer first mindset - Translate consumer needs into technical problems to solve. Translate technical solutions into consumer benefits.  
• Integrate cross-functional for new products to identify new-to-category options that address underserved demand. 
• Strong understanding of market research, consumer insights and trend analysis.   
• Ensure scientific rigor and thought leadership in product test methodologies to drive competitive advantage and develop product design strategies including use of novel compounds & processes to achieve and maintain superior efficacy.  
• Lead and coach Intellectual Property efforts – Provide input and guidance to IP strategy across Pest control.  
• Keep abreast of emerging technologies/materials/test methods to build capabilities of our team.  
• Lead/mentor other technical professionals to promote technical curiosity.   
• May provide recommendation on budget/resources and apply resources to drive results  
• Demonstrate behaviors that reflect SCJ Success Drivers and establish a “Mindset to Win” Culture   

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE YOU’LL BRING

• Bachelor’s degree in science or engineering and a minimum of 8 years of experience of progressive RD&E experience in CPG or closely related industry or a master’s degree with 6 years of relevant experience.  
• Proven track record of managing innovation projects and successfully launching new products.  
• 2-3 years of experience in CPG innovation workstreams  

PREFERRED EXPERIENCES AND SKILLS

• 5 years’ experience in leading programs across functions  
• Strong collaboration and ability to influence leaders and peers from across RD&E Business Unit’s, Commercial Marketing, Global Supply Chain and Finance is key  
• Big picture thinking - Dealing with ambiguity by building programs and projects, ability to pivot as market dynamics change.  
• Possess strong leadership skills with the ability to influence and collaborate effectively with co-workers who are not direct reports  
• Ability to think creatively and outside the box and foster an environment of creative problem solving.  
• Attention to detail and passion for understanding consumer preferences.  
• Possess strong written and oral communication skills; ability to communicate accurately and concisely to all levels within the company  
• Possess complex problem analysis and problem-solving skills  
• Affinity for fragrance and using fragrance in your home.  
• Proven track record of forming external partnerships to drive business results  
• Proven program and project management skills  
• Ability to understand and integrate technical information into business decisions.   
• Proven track record in delivering commitments with significant impact to key business metrics and initiatives.  
• Ability to coach and influence at various levels in the organization  
• Possess key attributes such as: drive for results, decision quality, courage, interpersonal savvy, systems thinking, risk analysis, and contingency planning  

JOB REQUIREMENTS

• Full-Time, regular business hours, Monday-Friday   
• Remote work available once a week for eligible employees  
• Travel up to 5%