Commercial Project Manager - Innovation

Pernod Ricard; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Product allowance

Hybrid and flexible working

Summer hours

Employee Assistance Program

Generous parental leave policy

Career development

Office drinks and events

Inclusive culture ERG

Job summary

Pernod Ricard Australia is seeking a Commercial Project Manager - Innovation to join our Commercial Excellence team in Sydney. You will plan, manage, and control innovation projects across Australia and New Zealand, focusing on commercialisation of new products and renovations, coordinating with Marketing, Commercial, Supply Chain, Finance and Brand Companies.

This role drives the Stage Gate process, supports NPD pipeline development, and improves the ANZ commercialisation process.

Qualifications

• Strong project management experience, ideally within FMCG, liquor, innovation, commercialisation or a related environment.
• Experience working with NPD, innovation, Stage Gate or product commercialisation processes.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence, lead and motivate cross-functional teams to deliver outcomes.
• Strong analytical and organisational skills, with the ability to work at a high level of detail while managing multiple priorities.
• A process-oriented mindset, with the ability to identify improvements, solve problems and make sound decisions under pressure.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to prepare and deliver clear presentations.
• Commercial awareness, agility and strong time management skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage the business Innovation Commercialisation process, ensuring governance and compliance from concept to execution across channels.
• Organise and lead innovation project team meetings, maintaining effective communication across cross-functional teams.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to assess feasibility, prioritise initiatives and secure resources.
• Define schedules, assign and track tasks, and monitor milestones.
• Lead risk analysis and mitigation planning for multi-year launch horizons.
• Identify, monitor, communicate and resolve issues, scope changes, and budget variances.
• Work with Commercial Excellence Managers to develop innovation stories and trade materials.
• Prepare and present project progress reports in line with monthly cycles.
• Maintain the Innovation Hub with current project information and socialise updates.
• Coordinate NPD setup across internal systems and support readiness for customer ranging.

Skills

Project management

NPD

Stakeholder management

Analytical skills

Decision making

Communication

Time management

Job description

Project Management | Innovation | Cross-functional collaboration

We are Pernod Ricard, a leading company in the global spirits industry with over 18,000 employees globally. We hold one of the most prestigious and comprehensive brand portfolios in the industry with premium brands including Absolut vodka, The Glenlivet Scotch whisky, Jameson Irish Whiskey, Martell cognac, Havana Club rum, Beefeater, Malfy and Monkey 47 gins, Malibu liqueur and Mumm and Perrier-Jouët champagnes.

The opportunity

We are looking for a Commercial Project Manager - Innovation to join our Commercial Excellence team based in Sydney. Reporting to the Head of Commercial Excellence, and working closely with another commercial project manager, this role will plan, manage, coordinate and control the execution of innovation projects across Australia and New Zealand, with a focus on the commercialisation of new products, including locally manufactured and imported SKUs, as well as renovation and enhancement projects for existing products.

This is a key project management and influencing role, working cross-functionally with Marketing, Commercial, Supply Chain, Finance, Brand Companies and other stakeholders to deliver innovation and renovation projects on time, within scope and in line with business objectives.

You will play an important role in driving the smooth running of the innovation Stage Gate process, supporting the development of the NPD pipeline, and contributing to continuous improvement of the NPD commercialisation process across ANZ.

Tasks & Responsibilities

In this role, you will:

• Manage the business Innovation Commercialisation process, ensuring appropriate governance and compliance from concept approval through to commercial execution across both On and Off Premise channels, across Australia & New Zealand.
• Organise and lead innovation project team meetings, maintaining effective communication and strong working relationships across cross-functional project teams.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to assess project feasibility, prioritise innovation initiatives and ensure appropriate resources and contingencies are in place to support successful delivery.
• Define schedules, assign and track cross-functional tasks, and monitor project progress to ensure key milestones are delivered within expected timeframes.
• Lead risk analysis and mitigation planning for innovation projects across two, three and four-year launch horizons.
• Identify, monitor, communicate and resolve issues, scope changes, budget variances and other project hurdles as they arise.
• Work closely with Commercial Excellence Managers to develop and benchmark innovation stories, communications and trade engagement materials.
• Prepare and present project progress reports and presentations in line with the monthly business cycle.
• Maintain the Innovation Hub with current project information and ensure relevant updates are socialised across cross-functional teams.
• Coordinate NPD set-up across internal systems and support readiness for customer ranging in partnership with S&OP, QSE and Compliance teams.

What you will bring to the role

To be successful in this role, you will bring:

• Strong project management experience, ideally within FMCG, liquor, innovation, commercialisation or a related environment.
• Experience working with NPD, innovation, Stage Gate or product commercialisation processes.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence, lead and motivate cross-functional teams to deliver outcomes.
• Strong analytical and organisational skills, with the ability to work at a high level of detail while managing multiple priorities.
• A process-oriented mindset, with the ability to identify improvements, solve problems and make sound decisions under pressure.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to prepare and deliver clear presentations.
• Commercial awareness, agility and strong time management skills.

Conviviality: the Pernod Ricard Way

Working at Pernod Ricard is all about igniting conviviality in all that we do. Derived from the French word convivialité, it means human connection, authenticity, friendship and fun. Conviviality is energy, spirit and charisma, and is a core philosophy in how we live and work at Pernod Ricard.

Guided by our four core values, have a passion for living life to the fullest, making new friends every day, and realising our potential as people and as a business.

We know that happiness at work starts with a feeling of belonging and an inclusive culture where being uniquely you is celebrated. Our values are lived every day, they drive our behaviours, and they bring our culture to life.

Our work philosophy celebrates the magic of human connection with the flexibility needed to make your most meaningful contribution. We offer a flexible work policy, with most of our positions offering a hybrid option and the flexibility to work remotely two days a week.

Our mix of benefits

• Product allowance
• Hybrid and flexible working
• Summer hours
• Employee Assistance Program
• Generous parental leave policy
• Career development
• Office drinks and events
• Inclusive culture ERG

Joining and contributing to an inclusive workplace

As Créateurs de Convivialité, we are committed to better reflecting the richness of our society, the marketplace and the communities in which we operate. We believe this is the best way to build effective teams, understand our consumers by market and sustainably grow our business.

Pernod Ricard is part of Forbes World’s Best Employers and has been recognised by Equileap among the top 100 Employers for Gender Equality. As a skills-based organisation, we ensure fair processes and equal opportunities for all candidates and team members by assessing your skills against role expectations. We recognise that some candidates may need extra support with their application or require accommodations or special arrangements for an interview. If this applies to you, please contact us, as we would be delighted to support you and welcome your application.