Growth Strategy & Intelligence Manager

About Us

At Ajinomoto Health & Nutrition, we are making significant advances in food and health with new ideas and innovative technologies. We are seeking candidates with energy and enthusiasm to be part of our growing team throughout North America. As an Ajinomoto Health & Nutrition employee, you are part of a diverse, innovative, and collaborative community committed to enhancing lives through nutrition and health.

Our team is committed to providing amino acid-based solutions that create better lives for all.

We do not use AI to screen applications. Applications and resumes of qualified applicants are reviewed by a real person because we value your time and believe each qualified applicant deserves thoughtful, human consideration. It’s an old‑fashioned approach—done with purpose.

Our people are the key ingredient to our success. We offer a collaborative, innovative environment where you can grow your career and make an impact on global food and health solutions.

We provide a
comprehensive and competitive total rewards package
, including:

• Competitive Pay and Annual Bonus Opportunity
• 401(k) with Company Contributions
• Medical, Dental, and Vision – Effective Day 1
• Paid Time Off, Company Holidays, and Floating Holidays
• Paid Parental Leave
• Wellness Programs and Yearly Wellness Reimbursement
• Work Flexibility
• Company-Paid Life and Disability Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Tuition Reimbursement Opportunities
• Career Growth and Development within a Global Organization
• Company-Provided Mental Health and Caregiving support

Ajinomoto Health & Nutrition North America, Inc. is seeking a Manager, Growth Strategy & Intelligence to join the Innovation Strategy Department (ISD) in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

The Innovation Strategy Department supports Ajinomoto’s long-term growth agenda through a combination of strategic intelligence, market insight, and new business opportunity development. This role will play a key part in identifying, evaluating, and shaping growth opportunities, with primary focus areas in healthcare (e.g., cell and gene therapy) and ICT / advanced materials, while supporting broader corporate priorities as needed.

This is a highly hands‑on role requiring both strategic judgment and personal execution. The successful candidate will be expected to independently frame strategic questions, scope and lead intelligence efforts, conduct rigorous primary and secondary research, synthesize complex findings, and translate insights into clear recommendations for senior leadership. The role will also directly contribute to strategy development, portfolio prioritization, and decision support for emerging growth initiatives.

Reporting to the Director of Growth Strategy within the ISD, this role partners closely with strategy leaders, R&D teams, business leaders, Ajinomoto’s Corporate Venture Capital (CVC) function, and global stakeholders across the United States and Japan. The successful candidate will help strengthen scalable, repeatable approaches to strategic insight, planning, and innovation strategy development across the Ajinomoto Group.

EDUCATION, CERTIFICATIONS AND

EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree required in a scientific, engineering, or technical discipline, such as biology, chemistry, biochemistry, chemical engineering, biomedical engineering, materials science, or a related field.
• Master’s degree or PhD preferred, particularly where it supports strong scientific literacy and comfort engaging with complex technical topics.
• Five or more years of relevant experience, ideally including some combination of:
• Strategy consulting or similarly rigorous analytical problem‑solving experience
• Corporate strategy, innovation, market insight, business development, or growth roles within a science‑ or technology‑driven organization.
• Demonstrated experience leading analytical work streams involving market assessment, competitive analysis, research synthesis, and strategic recommendation development.
• Proven ability to communicate complex technical or market topics clearly to business and senior leadership audiences.
• Experience operating effectively in fast‑paced, ambiguous, and evolving…