About the role
 

The Innovation Program Manager leads Tier1/Tier2 innovation projects end to endincludingnew product development, packaging changes, new product claims, keyprocessimprovementsand visual brand upgrades to drive business growth. You will also own the governance process for innovations,managecross-functional readiness and delivery of the innovation pipeline,leadsinnovation performance tracking, post-launch reviews for their projects. The Innovation Program Manager willbe responsible for: 

• Innovation Readiness:ensure on time launches withhighlevel of readiness across gate.

• Risk Management: Clear articulation of risk and mitigation signed off by key stakeholders at everystagegate.

• Execute with Excellence: Ensure delivery of the innovation on critical metrics of performance.

• Project team collaboration: Ensure team is performing to standard and delivering the innovation as per expectations.

• Innovation speed: Ensure ambition for agility and speed and enterprise risk are associatedwith makingsound decisions for the project.

Role Responsibilities 

• Managing Tier1/Tier 2 classification project from Ideate to Execute.

• Ensure high level of end-to-end readiness include commercial and technical.

• Ensure high quality stage gate readiness and on time launches.

• Ensure post launch tracking and sharing learnings across multi-functional teams.

• Ensure seamless partnership across functions such as marketing, finance, R&D, QSC to deliver holistic readiness.

• Guide core teams to ensure timely decision making, effective stakeholder communication, adherence to applicable processes, contingency planning and execution.

• Facilitate functional area’s probability of success assessments in support of portfolio pipeline activities.

• Ensure proficiency in identifying issues and driving resolution with guidance. 

• Assure comprehensive risk assessments and mitigation plans are in place for all projects. 

• Ensure significant changes to the aligned business case are communicated rapidly and efficiently to appropriate leadership (via existing change control process).

• Seamless change management and documentation.

• Co-drive gate readiness partnering closely with Project Accountable Lead and action any gate meeting outcomes with broader project team. 

• Co-develop, align and track project budget and timelines, rapidly communicating variance.  

Why you? 

Basic Qualifications  

• Bachelor’s degree in Science, Engineering, Business, Supply Chain or related field. 

• 5 years of experience across Commercial, Supply Chain, R&D or Innovation functions. 

• 2 years of Project Management experience. 

• Project management experience in complex matrix organizations. 

• Excellent communication, negotiation and conflict-resolution skills. 

Preferred Qualifications  

• Master’s degree, MBA or PhD in Engineering, Business, Supply Chain or related field. 

• Experience within Consumer Healthcare, CPG, Pharmaceutical or Medical Device environments. 

• PMP, Agile, Program Management or Portfolio Management. 

• Strong business leadership and commercial acumen. 

• Ability to connect business objectives, technical possibilities and operational execution. 

• Influence without authority and effective executive stakeholder management. 

Location: This is a hybrid-based position in Warren, NJ, requiring on-site presence of 3 days per week. 

The Salary Range for this role is $111,315 - $153,058 USD + a 12% target bonus.