Description
We are seeking a dynamic and proactive Innovation Manager to spearhead our innovation and new business development agenda across the GCC's Retail and Foodservice channels. In this pivotal role, you will own the end-to-end innovation pipeline, from ideation to commercialization, driving the next phase of our brand's growth. You will leverage deep GCC market and consumer understanding to identify trends, white spaces, and new opportunities. This position involves leading cross-functional teams, managing a disciplined stage-gate process, and developing compelling business cases. The ideal candidate will possess strong commercial acumen and a proven track record of creating and scaling consumer-driven products. This is an excellent opportunity to accelerate our speed-to-market and build a robust portfolio of both short-term wins and long-term strategic bets.
Requirements
1. Bachelor’s or Post Graduate degree in Statistics, Food Science, Marketing, Economics or related field.
2. 10+ years of experience in Consumer Insights, Sensory and Market research, preferably in FMCG or Foodservice.
3. Must have proven experience with proposition and concept development.
4. Demonstrable experience with setting action standards and familiarity with research test designs.
5. Mandatory experience with the interpretation of complex test data to drive business decisions.
6. Solid project coordination skills with experience managing end-to-end commercialization processes.
7. Experience managing a stage-gate innovation process and building business cases from A-Z.
8. High proficiency with MS Office (Excel, PowerPoint) and project management tools.
Desirable
1. Direct experience in the Frozen foods category.
2. Deep understanding of GCC market dynamics and consumer behavior.
3. Experience managing external suppliers, including insights agencies and ingredient suppliers.
4. Proven ability to identify and develop adjacent revenue streams beyond a core portfolio.
5. Excellent verbal and written communication and presentation skills.