Diageo

Director, Innovation

Diageo$150K — $180K *
Food & Beverages
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Innovation, or related field.
  • 5-8 years of experience in innovation, marketing, or product development.
  • Experience in the beverage alcohol industry, particularly in the RTD category, is preferred.
  • Background in fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) is advantageous.
  • Knowledge of innovation processes, including commercialization and launch execution.
  • Track record of successfully leading cross-functional projects to drive results.
  • Strong skills in project management and stakeholder communication.

Responsibilities

  • Lead the development and execution of the innovation strategy and pipeline.
  • Transform consumer and market insights into actionable innovation opportunities.
  • Drive cross-functional collaboration to ensure project alignment and execution.
  • Support the development of a robust innovation pipeline for the defined category.
  • Deliver commercially successful product launches across markets.

Benefits

  • Opportunity to shape innovation strategy at a senior level.
  • Engage in cross-functional leadership and collaboration.
  • Work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment targeting sustainable growth.
Full Job Description
Job Description :

Job Title: Innovation Director

Level: L4

Location: New York

Reports To: Category Innovation Director

Department: Marketing

Purpose of the Role:

Lead the development and execution of the innovation strategy and pipeline for a defined category, platform, or growth space, translating consumer, customer, and market insights into scalable innovation opportunities that drive sustainable growth. The role is accountable for defining category innovation priorities, building a robust pipeline of initiatives, and leading cross-functional teams to deliver commercially successful innovation across markets. As a senior leader within the innovation function, the role shapes both business outcomes and organizational capability through strong stakeholder influence, team leadership, and innovation excellence.

Key Accountabilities
  • Lead Innovation Project Development and Delivery
  • Develop Insight-Led Innovation Concepts
  • Drive Cross-Functional Execution
  • Support Innovation Pipeline Development
  • Deliver Commercially Successful Launches


Key Competencies (3)
  • Innovation Project Leadership
  • Consumer Insight and Commercial Acumen
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration and Influence


Qualifications and Experience Required:
  • Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Innovation, Product Development, or a related discipline.
  • Typically 5-8 years of experience in innovation, marketing, brand management, product development, or a related commercial function.
  • Experience within the beverage alcohol industry, specifically within the RTD category, preferred
  • Proven experience within the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry preferred
  • Knowledge of innovation processes and methodologies, including concept development, consumer learning, Commercialization, and launch execution.
  • Proven track record of leading cross-functional projects and delivering business results.
  • Experience working with consumer insights to identify opportunities and shape innovation concepts
  • Strong project management, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
  • Demonstrated ability to manage complexity, influence without authority, and deliver results in a fast-paced environment.


Worker Type :
Regular

Primary Location:
3WTC

Additional Locations :

Job Posting Start Date :
2026-08-03

About Diageo

Diageo is a British multinational alcoholic beverages company, with its headquarters in London, England. It is the world's largest producer of spirits and a major producer of beer and wine. Diageo's brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, J&B, Buchanan's and Windsor whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness. The company was formed in 1997 from the merger of Guinness and Grand Metropolitan. Diageo has operations in more than 180 countries and employs around 27,000 people.
Learn more about Diageo
Size
27,783 employees
Market Cap
$100.2 billion
Industry
Net Income
$1.1 billion
5 Year Trend
+5.1%
Revenue
$11.4 billion
NASDAQ

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