Innovation Manager, Chocolate SACEA

Job Description

Are You Ready to Make It Happen at Mondelēz International? Join our Mission to Lead the Future of Snacking. Make It With Pride. You create and implement the innovation/renovation strategy that is aligned with the brand vision to drive sustainable growth.

You will work with others in Mondelēz International to determine an innovation strategy and priorities to enable consumer‑centric brand growth and execute commercial innovation plans on innovation based on identified goals. In partnership with brand teams, you will define and deliver plans to renovate the core brand and to strengthen the entire portfolio through innovation and renovation. You will also manage the portfolio (which includes brand architecture).

In this role, you are accountable for revenue and profit, sharing objectives as they relate to innovation, and monitoring performance against key performance indicators. Based on your deep consumer insights, brand strategy and positioning, you will integrate innovation into marketing communication plans and campaigns.

• Marketing, ideally in a matrix environment in the consumer goods industry
• Developing and marketing product innovations at a cross‑country level
• Working effectively with other marketing disciplines and with cross‑functional teams
• Working with design, innovation and research agencies
• Analytical and creative skills— a balance of commercial and strategic acumen
• Understanding consumers
• Communicating effectively, verbally and in writing, and executive presentation skills

You will work in partnership with category brand teams to determine the innovation strategy and priorities, based on deep consumer insights, brand strategy and positioning, to enable consumer‑centric brand growth. Working alongside cross functional teams, you will be responsible for executing commercial innovation plans from idea to launch, ensuring they are integrated into the marketing communication plans and campaigns. You are accountable for the delivery of projects that are both incremental and profitable to support growth for the brand and category and thereafter for monitoring the performance against key performance indicators.

• Lead the development of the Brand Innovation Strategies and 3‑year Innovation funnel
• Lead Innovation projects, including Value Enhancement and New Product Development (NPD), from ideation through to execution, ensuring they are launched within agreed timelines
• Idea to market best‑in‑class project management, including realistic and timely critical path management as well as conflict resolution
• Analyse data to identify business opportunities and propose portfolio improvements to increase brand efficiency and focus
• Identify and understand key market trends
• Liaise and manage key stakeholders to ensure project buy‑in, whilst unpacking cost, capacity, capability, and complexity of innovation projects
• Deliver Net Revenue, Gross Project, GP%, Marketing Investment and Instrumentality Targets on Innovations only
• Complete post launch evaluation, in partnership with the brand team, and ensure monitoring the performance against key performance indicators
• Stakeholder management and the ability to influence key stakeholders throughout the Innovation process. Key Stakeholders include Brand Management Teams, Project Commercialization Managers, Category Planning and Activation, Category Development Teams, Research & Development Supply Chain, Procurement, National and Key Account Managers.
• Whilst the above content is a detailed description of the roles and responsibilities there may be other additional elements that form part of the Innovation Manager role that have not been captured but are still part of daily work activities.

• Tertiary Qualification in Marketing or related field of study
• Minimum 5 Years’ experience as the Innovations Manager/product Developer in a similar role (Marketing, Brand and/or Project Management)

• Product development experience preferably in retail/FMCG (A MUST have)
• Product Management end‑to‑end (A MUST have)
• Proven experience in landing innovation…