Innovation Ecosystem & Strategic Partnerships, Senior Manager

A collective energy and ambition. A place where you can make a real difference. We’re a company that genuinely cares about our people, our products, our consumers and the environment. Our unique, informal culture champions courage, determination and collaboration. Knowing we have an open and supportive team means each of us has the freedom to take responsibility and ownership. We have a shared passion to work hard, innovate and push boundaries.

United by the belief that when we strive for growth, anything is possible. While we might not be the largest company in our industry, we believe we can have the biggest impact because:
Together We Have the Power to Win.

Church & Dwight is seeking an Innovation Ecosystem & Strategic Partnerships Senior Manager to join our team. Reporting to the Director, Marketing Innovation & Development - Beauty, the Innovation Ecosystem & Strategic Partnerships Senior Manager will build and lead a world-class external innovation network spanning ingredient suppliers, packaging innovators, contract manufacturers, startups, universities, technology partners, and research organizations. As the strategic bridge between Church & Dwight Beauty and the external innovation ecosystem, this role supports Hero, Batiste, Nair, Viviscal, and Toppik by identifying emerging technologies, cultivating high-value partnerships, and translating external opportunities into differentiated products, accelerated speed to market, and sustainable portfolio growth.

Working across Marketing, R&D, Procurement, Supply Chain, PMO, and Commercial teams, this leader will expand access to breakthrough capabilities, strengthen the innovation pipeline, and help shape the future of the Beauty business.

The purpose of this role is to identify and unlock external innovation opportunities that create meaningful competitive advantage across the Beauty portfolio. This leader will continuously monitor emerging technologies, consumer trends, and market developments to ensure Church & Dwight remains at the forefront of beauty innovation. Success in this role requires curiosity, strategic thinking, and the ability to build influential partnerships that move beyond traditional supplier relationships toward co-creation, exclusive technologies, and long-term growth opportunities.

This role continually challenges the organization to answer:
What emerging technologies could redefine our categories? Which partnerships can create sustainable competitive differentiation? How can we transform supplier relationships into strategic innovation collaborations? What capabilities should we invest in today to meet the needs of tomorrow's consumers?

Hybrid:
This is a hybrid role based in Ewing, NJ or NYC and requires in- person attendance on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, with remote work options on Mondays and Fridays.

• Develop strategic relationships with suppliers, manufacturers, startups, universities and technology partners.
• Expand a differentiated ecosystem that improves competitive advantage.
• Build preferred partnerships for breakthrough innovation.

• Identify emerging technologies, ingredients, packaging and manufacturing capabilities.
• Monitor consumer, scientific and competitive trends.
• Translate discoveries into actionable innovation opportunities.
• Deliver analysis of formulas that are being explored from a consumer/competitive standpoint.

• Develop long-term co-creation partnerships.
• Identify exclusivity and first-to-market opportunities.
• Recommend partnership investments.

• Support 3-5 year innovation roadmaps.
• Introduce externally sourced concepts into planning.
• Strengthen the innovation pipeline.

• Partner with Marketing Innovation, R&D, Procurement, Supply Chain, PMO and Commercial.
• Develop Technology Radar, Innovation Landscape Reviews and Partner Assessments.

• Curious and future-focused
• Relationship builder
• Influences without authority
• Commercially and technically fluent
• Passionate about shaping the future of beauty

• Increase externally sourced innovation concepts
• Reduce development cycle time
• Grow strategic partner network
• Increase differentiated technologies entering pipeline
• Successfully partner in negotiating an exclusive or novel formula
• Improve commercialization success
• Increase revenue contribution from…