Innovation Commercialisation Manager

# Job - Innovation Commercialisation Manager Johannesburg,South Africa Full timeJR
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Job Description
** Job Title**:
Innovation Commercialisation Manager Diageo is a global leader in premium drinks, home to one of the world’s most celebrated collections of spirits and beers, with over 200 brands sold in 180 countries. Our talented workforce is united by a passion for creating exceptional products and experiences that shape celebrations across the globe. Our teams push boundaries, blend creativity with deep consumer insight, and continuously reinvent what’s possible - building iconic brands that stand the test of  South Africa, Diageo’s Reserve business is well-established and highly profitable with a strong position within super premium & above spirits.

Our portfolio includes industry icons The Singleton, Johnnie Walker Blue Label, Tanqueray No. Ten, Zacapa, Don Julio, Ciroc, Ketel One and others.

As the luxury market continues to gain momentum, within beverage alcohol, luxury spirits is one of the fastest growing segments. With premiumization expected to remain a long-term trend, this growth is forecasted to continue, and our award-winning portfolio is well positioned to captivate consumers across the global and income levels.

To win in luxury spirits, our manifesto guides what we aim to cause for consumers - to make their everyday more special, to make the many dream with experiences available and aspirational. Our consumers want to socialize in style, and this desire for specialness fuels the opportunity for premiumization.

Our success is owed to the strength of our people. It’s why we trust them with our legacy and reward them with career-defining opportunities. We are looking for people with creativity, a bold and entrepreneurial spirit and a sense of purpose to take Diageo and our timeless, pioneering brands to the next level.
** Function:
** Our Sales team love building relationships, connecting with customers to sell our much-loved brands in new and vibrant markets where they can thrive. They help sell our iconic brands across 180 countries every year.

We’re operating across different markets, channels, and areas of expertise. Using your curiosity and passion, you’ll make the most of consumer insight and digital platforms, reaching new customers, markets, and celebrations to help us achieve our growth potential. We’ll support your learning and growth as you develop your career with us and work with people across our business to realise your fullest potential.
** Context/ Scope
** Innovation is the growth engine of the Reserve portfolio, shaping the future of our business by delivering new products that respond to evolving consumer and customer needs, set trends, and redefine the choices available in the luxury spirits space.

The success of these innovations is highly dependent on the strength of their commercialisation in market - the end‑to‑end orchestration of market readiness that blends rigorous commercial execution with elevated experience design. This means ensuring each launch is commercially sound (availability, visibility, pricing, distribution, sell‑in and sell‑out excellence, activation) while also bringing the brand’s world to life physically, across on‑trade, off‑trade, and e‑commerce in a way that reflects the standards, theatre, and distinction expected in luxury.

When done well, commercialisation converts innovation into meaningful consumer desire, recruitment, and sustained growth across Southern Africa.
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* About the role:

** The purpose of this role is to lead the commercialisation of Reserve innovation projects across Southern Africa, ensuring each launch is both commercially strong and experientially distinctive. This includes shaping channel‑specific execution standards, defining the commercial and experiential requirements for success, and collaborating with sales and marketing teams to deliver flawless in‑market execution. By uniting rigorous planning with luxury‑led experience design, the role maximises the impact, recruitment, and long‑term performance of Reserve innovations.
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* Role Responsibilities:

**** 1. End‑to‑End Commercialisation Leadership
*** Leads the…