Innovation Manager

Role Overview

The Innovation Manager is the central orchestrator of new product creation and innovation for their assigned brand. This role bridges the Category, Channel, and R and D teams to conceptualize, validate, and launch differentiated products that drive growth. The incumbent will be directly accountable for new product revenue from SKUs launched within the last 12 months and jointly accountable for product NPS and consumer ratings post launch.

They serve as the network manager for all ongoing new product development NPD projects, renovation initiatives, and product improvements across their brand, ensuring end to end coordination, consumer insight alignment, and on time commercial readiness.

Key Responsibilities

1. New Product Development NPD and Innovation Pipeline

• Drive end to end ownership of new product concepts from consumer insight and formulation brief to pilot, validation, and launch readiness.
• Translate brand strategy and whitespace opportunities into actionable innovation briefs.
• Partner with R and D to ensure technical feasibility, cost targets, and sensory or performance superiority.
• Work closely with Category and Channel teams to optimize product market fit, pricing, and pack architecture.

2. Business Accountability

• Deliver annual innovation revenue targets from products launched in the last 12 months.
• Co own Product NPS and consumer ratings, ensuring continuous improvement through data, reviews, and reformulation where required.
• Track and report launch performance metrics, including velocity, repeat rate, ASP, and margin delivery.

3. Cross Functional Leadership

• Act as Network Manager for all ongoing NPDs, ensuring collaboration between R and D, Packaging, Regulatory, Supply Chain, and Category Marketing.
• Manage project timelines, risk logs, and decision gates through structured innovation frameworks e.g Stage Gate 7 Day Validation).
• Partner with Commercial and eCommerce teams for launch readiness across D2C, Marketplace, and Offline channels.

4. Consumer and Market Intelligence

• Continuously scan emerging trends, ingredients, and formats both domestic and global to feed the innovation funnel.
• Work with the Consumer Insights team to validate product claims, benefits, and user experience.
• Benchmark competitor launches, claims, and packaging for differentiation and speed to market advantage.

5. Governance and Documentation

• Maintain up to date documentation of all innovation projects stage status, costings, specifications, and regulatory dossiers.
• Ensure smooth handover to Operations and Brand teams post commercialization.

Ideal Candidate Profile

• Around 5 years of experience in Innovation, Product Development, or Brand Management within FMCG, Nutraceuticals, Food and Beverage, Personal Care sectors.
• Strong cross functional coordination and project management skills.
• Deep consumer empathy and data driven decision making approach.
• Hands on experience working with R and D, Packaging, or Manufacturing teams.
• Exposure to D2C or eCommerce channels is preferred.
• Entrepreneurial mindset, ownership bias, and high execution agility.