Innovation Commercialization Manager at Diageo

Role Dimensions

Innovation is the lifeblood of any FMCG businesses and plays a key role in brand building enabling brands to improve brand equity, access new consumers and occasions as well as enticing premiumisation and creating incremental value for our customers.  

The Innovation Commercilisation Manager (ICM) role is accountable for translating the GB innovation and renovation pipeline into a commercial reality through three main areas. Firstly, the ICM will partner with European innovation team to bring the pipeline to Gate 3 approval (concept and design) with GB specific consumer and customer validation. Secondly, the ICM will lead the commercialisation of each project to deliver amazing execution and outcomes. This involves working with the GB consumer marketing team to develop a 3 year launch plan into Gate 5 approval. Finally, the ICM role will then monitor perfect activation across all touchpoints into Gate 6 learning and drive issue resolution. The role works closely with European Innovation and the GB Sales and marketing teams, supply chain teams, customer marketing teams and commercial teams throughout all stages.

Top Accountabilities

Functional:

• Our customers and the trade are inspired by our innovation and renovation agenda – the pipeline is rooted in our customer, consumer and market insight and opportunities. Partner with the Europe Innovation team and GB marketing teams to ensure all innovation and renovations has clear consumer and customer needs. 
• Lead the GB alignment meetings with the GB exec and senior business partners, making recommendations on our launch pipeline.
• Be the pioneers for test and learn launches within GB.
• Clear thought through Commercialisation – Lead the commercialisation of our innovation pipeline, working with GB marketing, sales teams, supply chain teams, finance teams, customer marketing teams, RGM teams, pricing teams, to ensure our organisation is set up for commercial success with all launches
• Build Value Chains, P&Ls and be the lead contact from a project management side to ensure seamless launches, listings and set ups within our customers. Ensure all Innovations deliver strong NSV forecasts and are margin enhancing to the overall P&L.
• Ensure the forecasts built as part of the commercial sign off are deployed to the sales teams to input in the system. Hold the tension with all commercial teams across the on and off trade and DLC.
• Best in class launches – our execution is the envy of our peers – we are called out as best in class. You will work with a cross-functional team of Brand, Activation, Commercial, Supply, SRG to lead excellent launch, nurture and exit plans, interventions when needed and ensure we deliver our AOP.
• Build customer propositions for launches in order to land successful sell ins with customers.
• Lead all liquid tastings with customers for all new projects.
• Monitor and Review Execution – Partner with GB Marketing teams to ensure clear review and course correct where needed for all GB launches (or test and learn innovations). Support the development of the GB innovation strategy with the GBLT and work closely with the European innovation team to develop a robust pipeline
• Through the 30/ 60/ 90 day Reviews
• Input into the SPK Reviews and presentation with the exec
• Internal and external collaboration – You are the link man across marketing, commercial, finance, RGM, Supply to ensure all GB functions input, and are aligned to new innovations.
• Ensure Commercial teams are shared further out pipelines in order to manage the messages with customers.  1- 3 year pipeline.
• Project management – You can lead a cross-functional team internally, hold people to account, ensuring all activities are on track to hit launch timelines, delegate effectively and influence across levels to make things happen
• Senior business partner management and influence on making informed and strategic decisions for the innovation pipeline and business – You present to the Exec multiple times throughout the monthly innovation cycle and align senior business partners on the innovation pipeline process, are the innovation expert that informs and influences large innovation decisions to help build the GB pipeline and get innovation projects through to launch
• Build strong Commercial Plan – You build initial Innovation SOP and hold tension along the innovation process to ensure the Commercials deliver the ambitious SOP target
• Creative Problem solving – You can find solutions for business challenges and ensure internal barriers do not get in the way of external success.
• Budget Forecasting – be the budget owners for A&P for all innovation launches, including origination costs, recharge costs, rework costs and be the link between supply in order to fund projects to launch.
• Supply Forecasting – work with the supply teams to build a robust forecast for launches.
• Commercial Expertise - You have a deep understanding of customer needs, and can use this insight to develop your projects.

About You:

• Ideally Commercial & Marketing experience  - +5/6 years experience
• Experience in brand strategy, category or RGM would be beneficial
• Polished and engaging presentation and selling skills – You must have sufficient gravitas to present to and influence key customers at a senior level
• Successful management of senior business partners at all levels, resulting in strong and positive outcomes
• Ability to work with ambiguity and at pace with multiple projects.
• Exceptional ability to build and maintain genuine relationships based on mutual trust & respect
• Demonstrated brilliant execution to impeccably high standards
• Deep personal accountability for great performance
• Strong end to end commercial FMCG understanding, alongside high levels of numerical competence and attention to detail
• Ability to story tell and bring all levels along the innovation journey with you.
• Ability to proficiently use excel, powerpoint, Nielsen, Kantar in order to pull performance reports and share insights across the business.