What are the responsibilities and job description for the Senior Innovation Leader position at Church & Dwight?
A Collective Energy and Ambition
We are a company that genuinely cares about our people, products, consumers, and the environment. Our unique culture champions courage, determination, and collaboration.
Job Location:
Waukesha, WI or Ewing, NJ (Hybrid schedule - 3 days per week in office)
Job Summary:
The Senior Innovation Leader drives strategic development and execution of innovative projects within Arm & Hammer Animal Nutrition (AHAN). This role steers new product development, leads innovation, and drives pipeline growth aligned with business strategy.
Key Responsibilities:
- Innovation Strategy:
- Collaborate with senior leadership to define innovation strategy for AHAN and identify key areas for growth and improvement.
- Develop and maintain short-term and long-term pipeline of innovative ideas and projects aligning with division's strategic objectives and accelerating growth.
- Attend industry conferences to identify new technologies and potential partners.
- Innovation Management:
- Implement stage-gate process to manage innovation pipeline from ideation to commercialization.
- Lead innovation review meetings to assess progress and make data-driven decisions.
- Utilize market research and customer insights to identify unmet needs and guide product development.
- Lead Open Innovation sessions to generate new ideas externally.
- Manage New Product Development R&D team.
- Cross-functional Collaboration:
- Facilitate collaboration among cross-functional teams, including R&D, marketing, finance, and operations to drive innovation initiatives.
- Act as liaison between departments to ensure alignment and effective communication throughout project lifecycle.
- Foster culture of innovation and collaboration by organizing workshops, brainstorming sessions, and other activities.
- Resource Management:
- Identify and allocate necessary resources, including personnel, budget, and technology, to support innovation projects.
- Manage external partnerships and vendor relationships to leverage additional expertise and resources.
- Performance Measurement:
- Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics to evaluate success of innovation projects.
- Conduct post-project evaluations to identify lessons learned and opportunities for improvement.
- Continuously monitor and report on impact of innovation initiatives on business performance.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in animal science, Agricultural Science, Innovation Management, or related field; master's degree preferred.
- 7-10 years of experience leading new product development/innovation teams in animal nutrition industry, proven experience in scientific/technical management roles.
- Business-minded strategic leadership experience driving portfolio growth.
- Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to think strategically and creatively to solve complex problems.
- Strong analytical skills and attention to detail.
- Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and prioritize tasks effectively.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Demonstrated ability to drive change and foster culture of innovation within organization.
- Ability to operate in fast-paced environment and deliver results aligned with business objectives.
Travel Expectations:
- 10-25% (domestic and international)
