Manager R& d

**ABOUT THE ROLE****Strategic Thinking and Portfolio Management**:- ** Holistic Understanding**: Drive a comprehensive understanding of the consumer product portfolio within the context of consumers, the category, customers, and the company.- ** Strategic Recommendations**: Make strategic recommendations for innovation based on this understanding grounded in consumer experience.**Project Management and Cross-Functional Collaboration**:- ** Project Oversight & Leadership**: Oversee and implement projects with cross-functional partnerships and lead from inception to implementation.- ** Cross-Functional Collaboration**: Manage projects and relationships across RD&E, Supply Chain, Procurement and External Manufacturing (i.e. fragrance houses, raw material suppliers, third party manufacturers, component suppliers) to drive the project and influence the leadership team.**Consumer Insight and Concept Validation**:- ** Consumer Concepts**: Write and validate consumer concepts for innovations.- ** Idea Testing**: Evaluate new product or service ideas in an iterative model with speed ahead of investing significant resources.- ** Prototypes and Mockups**: Work with team to create prototypes, mockups, or detailed descriptions of product concept(s).- ** Feedback Collection**: Seek feedback from potential consumers, industry experts, and stakeholders.- ** Iterative Process**: Based on feedback, concepts are refined, adjusted, or discarded, ensuring that the final product aligns with consumer needs and expectations.- ** Tools Utilization**: Proficiency in data analysis, project management tools, and innovation frameworks (eg. Design Thinking, Agile, Sensory Science- Product Guidance)**KEY RESPONSIBILITIES**- Manage innovation in for growth portfolio platforms including but not limited to: aerosol spray, non-aerosol spray, lotions, body washes, hand soaps, sticks, and other on-skin product formats.- Manage external third-party partnerships working with supply chain and legal in bringing innovative solutions to market to serve consumer needs.- Responsible for category sustainability leadership.- Manage a team of technical experts including project managers, product developers, formulators, packaging engineers, and process engineers.- Lead exploration of disruptive technologies and new business models with the potential to drive disproportionate incremental growth or value creation.- Leverage latest consumer frameworks (Jobs to Be Done) to identify underserved demand opportunities in collaboration with Marketing and CIBA.- Consumer first mindset - Translate consumer needs into technical problems to solve. Translate technical solutions into consumer benefits.- Integrate cross-functional for new products to identify new-to-category options that address underserved demand.- Strong understanding of market research, consumer insights and trend analysis.- Ensure scientific rigor and thought leadership in product test methodologies to drive competitive advantage and develop product design strategies including use of novel compounds & processes to achieve and maintain superior efficacy.- Lead and coach Intellectual Property efforts - Provide input and guidance to IP strategy across Pest control.- Keep abreast of emerging technologies/materials/test methods to build capabilities of our team.- Lead/mentor other technical professionals to promote technical curiosity.- Demonstrate behaviors that reflect SCJ Success Drivers and establish a “Mindset to Win” Culture**REQUIRED EXPERIENCE YOU’LL BRING**- Bachelor’s degree in science or engineering and a minimum of 8 years of experience of progressive RD&E experience in CPG or closely related industry or a master’s degree with 6 years of relevant experience.- Proven track record of managing innovation projects and successfully launching new products.- 2-3 years of experience in CPG innovation workstreams**PREFERRED EXPERIENCES AND SKILLS**- 5 years’ experience in leading programs across functions- Strong collaboration and ability to influence leaders and peers from across RD&E Business Unit’s, Commercial Marketing, Global Supply Chain and Finance is key- Big picture thinking - Dealing with ambiguity by building programs and projects, ability to pivot as market dynamics change.- Possess strong leadership skills with the ability to influence and collaborate effectively with co-workers who are not direct reports- Ability to think creatively and outside the box and foster an environment of creative problem solving.- Attention to detail and passion for understanding consumer preferences.- Possess strong written and oral communication skills; ability to communicate accurately and concisely to all levels within the company- Possess complex problem analysis and problem-solving skills- Affinity for fragrance and using fragrance in your home.- Proven track record of forming external partnerships to drive business results- Proven program and project