The Senior Director of Innovation will direct and oversee all product innovation for Onnit. They will be responsible for collaborating with the CRO to translate the brand positioning into an innovation strategy & roadmap that supports all sales channels. This person will then lead cross-functional teams to take innovations from ideation to commercialization. This person has a passion for blending business know-how and creative thinking. They are a master at bringing the right talents together to build & launch the innovation needed to fuel growth. This person is genuinely curious, thrives on the pursuit of what's possible, and doesn't rest until ideas come to life. They are fueled by outcomes. This role reports directly to the Chief Revenue Officer.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Innovation Strategy & Planning
- Partner with the CRO to create an innovation strategy that supports the brand positioning and corporate objectives
- Create and implement a 5yr roadmap that contains a funnel of future-proof innovation ideas grounded in deep consumer and category insights, to ensure profitable and sustainable brand growth.
- Lead the development and finalization of clear, detailed product concepts, including pricing, positioning, etc. to ensure a success throughout every step of the process (Initial formulation to the launch).
- Lead the team that analyzes & prioritizes innovation plans based on brand & financial impacts.
Market Research
- Identify and prioritize white spaces innovation territories with strategic and commercial analysis: selecting the right growth drivers, forecasting, and identifying the appropriate competitive and trends intel data to support recommendations.
- Lead in-depth consumer insights and competitive data analysis to identify unmet consumer needs that inform innovation strategies and new product development ideas.
- Leverage consumer panel and scan data (e.g., Nielsen, IRI), qualitative and quantitative primary research to extract key insights and lead the decision-making process to evaluate and prioritize new projects.
- Develop & execute protocols to ensure positioning, pricing, & claims are optimized for product launches across all channels
- Monitor relevant competitor innovation activity across the US and key international markets
Business Planning
- Translate compelling and differentiated ideas into go-to-market plans that will support our growth and brand goals.
- Create business plans with a strong understanding of the product P&L, including pricing strategy and COGs structure, to ensure a successful launch and continued success in market.
Stage Gate & Commercialization:
- Oversight of the stage gate process end-to-end, focused on high-level strategic alignment to ensure ideas with strong potential make it through each gate.
- Manage projects through the commercialization process to facilitate decisions, capture and monitor risks.
- Communicate product strategies, progress, and challenges effectively to stakeholders.
Communication & Engagement:
- Communicate product development plans, progress, and outcomes to senior management and stakeholders.
- Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams in Marketing, Sales, Operations, and R&D partners to bring innovative ideas from concept to execution.
- Key spokesperson for the innovation team, representing product strategy and vision internally and externally.
Performance Monitoring and Optimization:
- Define key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure product success and effectiveness.
- Monitor and report performance metrics, analyze data, and implement improvements to optimize product performance and user satisfaction.
- 10-13 years of brand management experience within a mid-large CPG organization, with at least 5 years in a leadership capacity
- Proven track record of leading innovation efforts (7+ years), including launching into new categories, rounding out portfolios and creating line extensions
- Experience creating an innovation strategy & associated roadmap from scratch
- Proven track record of leading product development from ideation to commercialization.
- Experience owning and managing a P&L
- Experience leading a team with varied levels of experience
- Experience fostering innovation and driving measurable results.
- Analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to translate data into actionable insights.
- Exceptional communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and negotiate effectively.
- Knowledge of industry trends, competitive landscape, and regulatory requirements related to product development.
- Project management, specifically product development stage gate processes.
- Bachelor’s degree in Marketing or Business, required.
- Full medical, dental, and vision benefits
- Basic Life Insurance
- 401(k) eligibility with company matching
- Flexible Vacation and time off policy
- $100/month wellness stipend
- Paid holidays
- Competitive compensation
- Tuition reimbursement
- Fringe benefits including free access to Onnit Academy gym ; co-pay healthy meals; among many others
EOE race/color/religion/sex/sexual orientation/gender identity/national origin/disability/veteran status
