Assistant Manager - Innovations

Tataconsumer; Mumbai; On-site; INR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Job summary

Tataconsumer in Mumbai is seeking an Assistant Manager – Innovations, Packaged Foods to drive the new product development lifecycle. You will manage the innovation pipeline and collaborate with Finance, R&D, and factories to validate P&L and ensure successful launches.

The role requires 2-5 years of relevant experience and a background in MBA or equivalent. Expect close coordination with marketing, sales, and packaging teams to translate consumer insights into market-ready products.

Qualifications

• Educational qualification – MBA or non MBA with experience in innovations role works well.
• 2-5 years of relevant work experience

Responsibilities

• Manage the medium/long term pipeline of new products in-line with the business goals.
• Conduct rigorous testing and validation of innovation P&L by liaising with Finance, R&D, Factory etc.
• Drive the NPD funnel, stage-gate process, and cross-functional collaboration to deliver on KPIs.
• Lead GTM strategy and launch for NPD brands in collaboration with marketing and sales teams.
• Coordinate consumer insights with R&D to support product launches and learnings.
• Assist in IO/PO creation and execution as needed.

Skills

Excel

Oral and written communication

Project management

Education

MBA or related background

Tools

Excel

Job description

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Designation
Assistant Manager – Innovations, Packaged Foods

Function
Marketing Location
Mumbai Reporting To
VP – Innovations, Packaged Foods

Job Description

What are the Key Deliverables in this role?

Evaluation and Validation: The incumbent will be responsible for

• Managing the medium/long term pipeline of new products in-line with the business goals .
• Conduct rigorous testing and validation of innovation P&L by liaising with Finance, R&D, Factory etc

Customer Service:

Consumer centric mindset

• Closely track the category for competition mapping and new trends for growth and plan innovation pipeline
• Leverage different idea generation platforms to identify the trends, conversations and input it in the NPD process
• Conduct consumer connects to mine consumer insights and work collaboratively with R&D team to launch new products

Internal Processes

• Project Management, Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing:
• Drive the NPD agenda in line with business priorities - initiatives that will deliver on targets for NDP as a % of turnover
• Manage the innovation funnel stage gate process for key projects in line with business KPIs
• Work closely with cross functional teams to deliver on the strategic pillars of the NPD funnel; drive ownership and accountability across the organization for NPD projects
• Develop the product specifications in consultation with the consumer insights, marketing, sales, packaging, regulatory and the R&D teams
• Draw the GTM strategy along with brand team for the NPD brands and lead the launch of the products
• Lead research processes both qual and quant for all NPD projects
• Lead the launch for NPD in case of new products / brands successfully transition to marketing team at a later stage – work closely with sales & category teams to see projects through to the market execution stage
• Responsible for all marketing activities for the related Portfolio – interaction with agency in product & communication development, promotions
• Assist in the IO/PO Creation and execution

Innovation and Learning

• Support the process of shoot/asset creation by close partnership with agency partners and freelancer ecosystem
• Building Claims tool kit - building a ready toolbox backed with defendable evidence to support Scientific /Technical /Marketing Claims through Commissioned Studies - Kantar, Clinical, Retail, etc. Laison with R&D /technical team to test
• Support Lead, design & deliver on impactful consumer facing 360 degree activation campaigns across platforms
• Help Proving superiority at Point of Sale - Implementing efficient and scalable superiority activation programs customizable for market type/channels.

What are the Critical success factors for the Role ?

• Educational Qualification – MBA or non MBA with experience in innovations role works well
• 2-5 years of relevant work experience

What are the Desirable success factors for the Role?

• Have worked in BTL / Event led role / organization with some creative development
• Fluent in Excel working with ability to run varied formulas
• Fluent in oral and written communication & ability to deliver multiple tasks under timelines
• Experience in brand management preferred