Job Abstract

Innovation Manager, Strategic Accounts – (L5)

Location – Stamford, CT

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Innovation Manager is a pivotal new role designed to strategically enhance our partnership between Strategic Accounts and our Commercial Innovation and Brand teams. This role demands a deep understanding of market trends, consumer behavior, the competitive landscape, and the pivotal role customers play in driving our innovation agenda. The Innovation Manager will play a crucial role in synchronizing efforts across various teams to ensure our innovation agenda is effectively driven and executed. This position requires a proactive, strategic problem solver with excellent communication skills and a collaborative mentality.

Role and Responsibilities

• Synchronizing Internal and Customer Clocks: Ensuring alignment between our internal processes and customer timelines to foster better collaboration and synergy.
• Customer & Team Collaboration: Driving increased collaboration with customers to enhance innovation outcomes. Organize bi-annual internal Innovation Kick-offs, external Innovation Summits, and all external Customer Roadshows.
• Pipeline Forecasting & Performance Tracking: Owning the pipeline forecasting process, including delivering insight-driven forecasts and monitoring execution and performance through Year 2 of a brand's launch. Track authorizations against Innovation items and own monthly communication to Performance Management, Business Development, Brand, and Customer Marketing.
• Cross-Functional Engagement: Working closely with Strategic Accounts Customer Teams, Chain Development Directors, Brand Teams, Customer Marketing, and Customer Development to ensure seamless innovation planning and execution.
• Innovation Planning for Strategic Accounts: Overseeing all Strategic Account Innovation planning, including the enhancement of selling materials, forecasting, sample management, and reporting.
• Communication: Leading all Innovation Communication for Strategic Accounts, ensuring clear and consistent messaging.
• Compliance Adherence: Upholding a strong commitment to Diageo's internal compliance policies in all aspects of the role.

ABOUT YOU   

Preferred Experience, Skills and Education Requirements

• Educational & Professional Background: Bachelor’s degree required and 5+ years of Beverage Alcohol/CPG related experience.
• Skill Proficiency: Exceptional communication and creative thinking. Experience/understanding of National Accounts preferred. Ability to work cross-functionally and lead collaborative efforts across various teams.
• Analytical Abilities: data analysis and management skills are required to effectively forecast, monitor, and report on Innovation Performance. Experience with Nielsen and IRI is preferred. Proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint is expected.
• Personal Attributes: Highly self-motivated, organized and collaborative, able to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

Leadership and Dial Up Behaviors

• Lean in to our “dial up behaviors” and core values
  • Be externally curious
  • Collaborate efficiently
  • Experiment and learn
  • Act decisively

Our purpose is to celebrate life, every day, everywhere. And creating an inclusive culture, where everyone feels valued and listened to, is a crucial part of this.

We believe the most diverse and inclusive culture makes for a better business and a better world. We know that for our business to thrive and for Diageo to realise its ambition, we depend on having diverse talent with a range of backgrounds, skills and capabilities in each of the countries in which we operate and to reflect our broad consumer base.  

Around the world we have a number of inclusive Business and Employee Resource Groups known as BRGs and ERGs. These influential groups, made up of our people, represent various viewpoints, experiences and communities who generate thought-provoking work to enhance our business and workplace, creating a sense of belonging and opportunities for all!

Join us, and you'll be part of an organisation that embraces diversity in the broadest possible sense. This means that you'll be welcomed and celebrated for who you are just by being you. You'll be part of — and help build — an inclusive culture that celebrates people of different gender, ethnicity, ability, age, sexual orientation, social class, educational backgrounds, experiences, mindsets, and more. And you'll help us champion inclusion and diversity across our entire business: with our employees, our suppliers, across our brands, and within the communities in which we operate. 

Our ambition is to create the best performing, most trusted and respected consumer products companies in the world. To achieve this, we need the world’s very best people. We're looking for people with curiosity, creativity, boldness and a sense of purpose to take Diageo and our timeless, pioneering brands to the next level.    

Feel inspired? Then this may be the opportunity for you!   

Salary Range:

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At Diageo certain roles are eligible for additional rewards, including annual incentive payment and stock awards. US-based employees are eligible for healthcare benefits, retirement benefits , short-term and long-term disability coverage, basic life insurance, wellness benefits and industry leading parental leave, among others.  (Benefits/perks listed may vary depending on the nature of your employment with Diageo and the country where you work.)  The salary range displayed is the salary range for the role’s primary location.