Manager, Innovation

Innovation Manager

30 Eglinton ave. West

3 days on site, hybrid

Permanent, full-time

The Innovation Manager will have an unique and exciting opportunity to be at the forefront of the leading new product innovation process for Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP) business in Canada. Reporting to the Insights and Innovation Director, this role will support the creation of robust, long-term innovation pipeline for all new product categories, new platforms and brand extension lines. This role will drive the innovation agenda for the Cold Portfolio to help KDP Canada business achieve its growth objectives. Cold portfolio includes Dr Pepper, Crush, Schweppes, Clamato, Ready to Drink alcohol, Hydration brands at home and away from home channels

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Monitor trends, new products, competitor, and category innovation activity to inform 3 Year Innovation Strategy and ideation.
• Lead the development and alignment of the 3 year strategic plan for the cold innvoation portfolio and secure alignment with cross-functional teams
• Lead ideation and creation workshops that collide bold, lateral thinking with consumer insight, category data, trends and internal KDP experts, R&D engineers and food scientists
• Identify consumer-centric growth opportunities for KDP brands and category whitespaces
• Collaborate deeply with KDP strategy, brand marketing, RGM and commercial teams to scope and create business case for innovation investments and execute the innovation pipeline
• Optimize Innovation for Commercial P&L impact without compromising on the vision for the consumer proposition
• Provide guidance to cross-functional teams in the NPI process and assigns resources to teams
• Maintain cadence for Innovation operational meetings and adherence to project milestones. Lead and own the NPI process and deliverables to ensure timely execution of innovation
• Work closely with Supply Chain, Production, Demand Planning, Finance to ensure NPI milestones.
• Work closely with US IMO project teams, inform project timelines where necessary
• Continuously improve and adapt the NPI process to meet business' needs and goals
• Support commercial strategy, RGM, shopper marketing teams with innovation pitches and listing confirmation product presentations and innovation toolkit
• Track innovation performance, conduct postmortem analysis and lead cross-functional teams to present learnings to leadership
• Track the budget monthly and quarterly and ensure adequate funding for all critical innovations
• Manage and coach team of 1 innovation specialist to build innovation capability and foundation

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor`s degree in marketing with 8+ years experience in product innovation, preferably in the food, beverage or consumer packaged goods industries
• Seasoned innovation marketer with experience at a large CPG company, passionate and comfortable operating in an entrepreneurial environment.
• Knowledge and relevant experience in the areas of creativity and lateral thinking, and design-thinking or emergent strategy principles and ways of working.
• Ability to lead and develop a team of innovation specialists across multiple priorities
• Strong knowledge of product development life cycle, working closely with R&D, Regulatory & Legal, Supply Chain and Engineering, Finance, Sales, and Brand Marketing.
• Strong project management skills
• Self-motivated, results oriented with the ability to lead new projects in fast-paced environment
• Strong strategic, analytical skill and ability to drive actionable results using data and insights
• Strong collaborative skills to build stakeholder trust across multiple levels teams
• Tolerance for ambiguity and an ability to resolve complex issues with clear ideas and solutions

COMPETENCIES

Knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.)

Proficiency in Nielsen (Consumption, Panel, BASES)

Proficiency in MS Project; Project management certification is an asset

Keurig Dr Pepper (NASDAQ : KDP) est une entreprise de boissons moderne ayant une vision audacieuse qui vise à offrir croissance et opportunité.  Nous opérons avec un modèle d'affaires différencié et un portefeuille de marques de classe mondiale, alimentés par une équipe talentueuse, engagée et ancrée dans nos valeurs. Chez KDP, nous travaillons avec de grandes et passionnantes marques de boissons ainsi que le système d'infusion de café une tasse à la fois no 1 en Amérique du Nord, et nous prenons plaisir à le faire! 

Ensemble, nous avons créé une entreprise chef de file dans le domaine des boissons en Amérique du Nord, qui offre des boissons chaudes et froides à grande échelle. Quel que soit votre domaine d'expertise, chez KDP, vous pouvez faire partie d'une équipe fière de ses marques, de ses partenariats, de son innovation et de sa croissance. Aimeriez-vous vous joindre à nous? 

Nous nous efforçons d'être un employeur de choix, en offrant une culture et des opportunités qui permettent à nos quelque 28 000 employés de grandir et de se développer. Nous offrons de solides avantages sociaux qui appuient votre santé et votre mieux-être, et qui assurent votre bien-être personnel et financier. Nous offrons aussi à nos employés des programmes conçus pour vous permettre d'améliorer votre croissance et votre développement professionnels, et ce, tout en nous assurant que vous vous sentez valorisés, inspirés et appréciés au travail. 

Keurig Dr Pepper (NASDAQ: KDP) is a leading beverage company in North America, with a portfolio of more than 125 owned, licensed and partners brands and powerful distribution capabilities to provide a beverage for every need, anytime, anywhere. We operate with a differentiated business model and world-class brand portfolio, powered by a talented and engaged team that is anchored in our values. We work with big, exciting beverage brands and the #1 single-serve coffee brewing system in North America at KDP, and we have fun doing it! 

Together, we have built a leading beverage company in North America offering hot and cold beverages together at scale. Whatever your area of expertise, at KDP you can be a part of a team that’s proud of its brands, partnerships, innovation, and growth. Will you join us? 

We strive to be an employer of choice, providing a culture and opportunities that empower our team of ~28,000 employees to grow and develop.  We offer robust benefits to support your health and wellness as well as your personal and financial well-being. We also provide employee programs designed to enhance your professional growth and development, while ensuring you feel valued, inspired and appreciated at work.

Keurig Dr Pepper is an equal opportunity employer and affirmatively seeks diversity in its workforce. Keurig Dr Pepper recruits qualified applicants and advances in employment its employees without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability or association with a person with a disability, medical condition, genetic information, ethnic or national origin, marital status, veteran status, or any other status protected by law.