Global Director Product Innovation

Multy; Vaughan; On-site; CAD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A global manufacturer in outdoor living products seeks a Global Director of Product Innovation to lead innovation initiatives and strategic plans. You will shape product growth through cross-functional collaboration and manage a multi-year innovation pipeline. Ideal candidates have at least 12 years of experience in product development, along with a strong educational background. The role is based in Vaughan, Canada, and offers a dynamic work environment focused on sustainability and design.

Qualifications

• Minimum 12 years of experience in innovation, strategy, or product development in consumer goods or related industry.
• Proven success in managing the development and launch of new products from concept through execution.
• Experience working in matrixed or cross-functional teams within fast-paced organizations.

Responsibilities

• Lead the global product innovation strategy across household product categories.
• Manage a multi-year innovation pipeline to drive sustainable business growth.
• Translate consumer insights and market trends into product concepts and category growth opportunities.
• Drive cross-functional innovation projects from ideation to commercialization.

Skills

Leadership

Innovation management

Strategic thinking

Cross-functional collaboration

Market analysis

Education

Bachelor’s degree, MBA or advanced degree in business, Marketing, Product Design, Engineering

Tools

MS Office Suite

Smartsheet

Asana

Power BI

Job description

Multy Home is a global manufacturer of Outdoor Living, Lawn & garden and functional flooring products. From an extensive collection of planters and garden edging to a broad range of decking and privacy panel fencing solutions, our brands stand for quality, sustainability and design.

With manufacturing and distribution facilities in Canada, Poland, and the U.S.A., we are committed to sourcing sustainable or recycled material wherever possible in our production. Every year, Multy Home diverts 3 million tires and 15 million water bottles from landfill. We create beautiful, eco-friendly, useful outdoor living products.

Position Summary: Reporting to the Chief Operations Officer, the Global Director of Product Innovation plays a pivotal role in leading innovation initiatives and executing strategic plans to drive product growth and market differentiation. This role supports the development and implementation of new product concepts across categories such as mats, rugs, planters, and home décor. The Global Director partners cross-functionally to bring consumer-driven innovation to life, aligning with the company’s vision and long-term strategic objectives.

Essential Responsibilities and Accountabilities

• Lead the global product innovation strategy across household product categories, ensuring alignment with corporate goals, brand positioning, and consumer needs.
• Manage a multi-year innovation pipeline, balancing near-term launches with long-term breakthrough opportunities to drive sustainable business growth.
• Translate consumer insights, market trends, and competitive intelligence into commercially viable product concepts and category growth opportunities.
• Drive cross-functional innovation projects from ideation to commercialization in partnership with, Product Development, Marketing, Sales, Product Management and Supply Chain.
• Conduct opportunity assessments and scenario planning to evaluate, prioritize, and sequence high-potential concepts based on feasibility, desirability, and business impact.
• Utilize design thinking, agile innovation methods, and voice-of-customer feedback to guide product development and decision-making.
• Facilitate ideation sessions, design sprints, and innovation workshops to generate and refine concepts across functions and regions.
• Support long-term strategic planning, including category expansion, brand growth, and portfolio diversification initiatives.
• Monitor and analyze in-market performance of launched products, recommending optimizations to maximize consumer adoption, profitability, and shelf life.
• Develop compelling business cases and executive presentations to gain stakeholder alignment and secure innovative investments.
• Define and track key success metrics, such as revenue contribution from new products, speed to market, trial and repeat rates, and market share gains.
• Stay abreast of competitive activity and industry disruptions, ensuring the innovation agenda remains forward-looking and strategically differentiated.
• Build and lead a high-performing, cross-functional or matrixed innovation team, fostering a culture of collaboration, experimentation, and continuous learning.
• Coach and develop innovation capabilities across the organization, embedding a mindset of curiosity, agility, and consumer-centricity.
• Champion inclusive design and diverse perspectives in product innovation to meet the needs of a broad and evolving consumer base.

Leadership

• Lead cross-functional project teams through the innovation and product development process.
• Guide internal and external contributors to deliver innovation outcomes on time and within scope.
• Promote a culture of creative thinking, consumer obsession, and continuous improvement.
• Act as a thought partner to senior leadership, contributing ideas to broader strategic initiatives.
• Mentor junior team members and contribute to talent development within the strategy and innovation group.

Education Experience

• Bachelor’s degree, MBA or advanced degree in business, Marketing, Product Design, Engineering, or a related field required.
• Minimum 12 years of experience in innovation, strategy, or product development in consumer goods or related industry.
• Proven success in managing the development and launch of new products from concept through execution.
• Experience working in matrixed or cross-functional teams within fast-paced organizations.

Technical Experience

• Familiarity with innovation methodologies (e.g., Design Thinking, Stage-Gate, Lean Innovation).
• Skilled in using trend and consumer insight platforms (e.g., Nielsen, Mintel, WGSN, Google Trends).
• Proficiency in MS Office Suite, project management tools (e.g., Smartsheet, Asana), and data visualization tools (e.g., Power BI).
• Knowledge of sustainable materials, packaging innovation, or product testing processes is a plus.