About the Role: We are seeking qualified candidates for the position of Innovation Project Lead at our Richmond, VA headquarters. This is a salaried, exempt, hybrid role, working in a collaborative and creative environment. The Innovation Project Lead plays a critical role in identifying and shaping the future of our product portfolio by uncovering consumer needs and guiding cross-functional teams through the earliest phases of innovation.
Salary Range:$100,170.00 To $121,635.00 Annually
Responsibilities of the position include:- Lead, direct and inspire cross-functional teams through all phases of early-stage innovation, from discovery to proof of concept.
- Collaborate with Product Managers to develop strategic project briefs and define project timelines.
- Identify unmet consumer needs through observations, interviews, and other human-centered research techniques.
- Translate user insights into compelling, viable, and breakthrough product opportunities that resonate with target audiences.
- Facilitate collaborative brainstorming sessions to generate a range of meaningfully unique ideas aligned with business goals.
- Oversee the development of proof-of-concept prototypes to validate technical feasibility and consumer desirability.
- Mitigate risks, resolve issues, and ensure team alignment to drive projects to successful, on-time delivery
- Champion a culture of innovation by supporting training and the adoption of best practices across teams.
- Deliver clear, engaging project updates and findings to leadership and executive stakeholders.
- Maintain thorough documentation of project learnings, reports, and outcomes for future reference.
Requirements of the position include:- Bachelor's degree in Industrial Design, Marketing, Innovation, or a related field.
- 4+ years of relevant experience in the consumer-packaged goods or durable goods industry.
- Curious and creative problem solver who is positive, passionate, and enthusiastic about crafting highly usable and relevant products
- Excels in visualizing and articulating ideas with clarity and impact
- Demonstrated success leading innovation or design projects within cross-functional teams.
- Empathic listener who is comfortable with ambiguity and experimentation and takes a hands-on approach
- Strategic mindset with a strong understanding of consumer behavior and market dynamics.
- Comfortable fostering collaboration and aligning diverse stakeholders at all levels.
- Passionate about driving change and continuous improvement.
- A passion for cooking, baking, beverage making, cleaning, and home goods is a plus
What We OfferHamilton Beach Brands offers a competitive compensation and benefits package designed to support your well-being and long-term success. Our offerings include:
- Hybrid work schedule
- Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
- Company HSA contributions
- 401(k) plan with immediate vesting
- Profit sharing program
- Paid vacation, holidays, and a paid charitable day
- Summer hours to support work-life balance
- Employee discounts on Hamilton Beach products
