Long Term Transformative Innovation & Strategic Partnerships Manager

Barilla Group; Amsterdam; Hybrid; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Office in Amsterdam – Zuidas

Hybrid work model

33 annual vacation days

Permanent contract from start

8% holiday allowance

Job summary

Barilla Group in Amsterdam is seeking a Long Term Transformative Innovation & Strategic Partnerships Manager to scout, develop, and manage long-term strategic partnerships, focusing on Middle East & APAC regions, and innovation-driven collaborations to leverage external capabilities. The role includes autonomous management of selected collaborations and full project governance.

You will own the PMO activities, coordinate cross-functional teams including R&D, CIA and LTTI Director, and ensure

Qualifications

• 5+ years experience in Business Development, Marketing, Innovation, or related FMCG roles.
• Strong market analysis and financial insight capabilities.
• Experience with market intelligence platforms such as NIQ, Euromonitor, GlobalData to analyze trends.
• Ability to manage multiple stakeholders across regions.

Responsibilities

• Support ME partnership development: business case, governance, milestones.
• Develop APAC partnership approach: market analysis and pipeline.
• Manage identified partnerships and scouting new ones per innovation agenda.
• Lead long-term innovation projects with PMO activities and cross-functional alignment.
• Support platform developments across LTTI territories and KPI tracking.

Skills

Strategic partnerships

Project management

Stakeholder management

Market analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

English fluency

Education

Degree in Economics / Business Administration

Tools

NielsenIQ

Euromonitor

GlobalData

Job description

About Barilla

At Barilla, we believe that every great journey begins with passion and a bold vision. From our humble beginnings in 1877 in a small shop in Parma, Italy, we’ve blossomed into a global leader in the food industry, guided by our commitment to progress and excellence. Today, Barilla is an international group present in more than 100 countries and we are proud to be recognized as the world’s top food company by reputation. With 22 beloved brands in our portfolio, we are world leader for pasta, the number one choice for ready‑made sauces in Europe, leader for bakery products in Italy, and for crispbread across Scandinavia with Wasa. Our success story is written by a passionate team of almost 9,000 dedicated employees across 30 plants and offices worldwide, all united by a shared mission to nourish the future with purpose and passion.

Are you ready to add your unique flavor to our journey?

Job Purpose

As the Long Term Transformative Innovation & Strategic Partnerships Manager you support in the scouting, development and management of long‑term strategic partnerships, with a focus on Middle East & APAC regions, and innovation‑driven collaborations to leverage external technical and commercial capabilities. The role includes the autonomous management of selected innovation‑driven collaborations, full ownership of project management and governance activities, and coordination of cross‑functional teams and external partners. You are also responsible for driving project progress, ensuring alignment with the LTTI long‑term strategy, and maintaining the partnership and innovation pipeline across the LTTI territories.

Key accountabilities

• Contribute to the development, finalization and follow‑up of the strategic Middle East partnership: business case development, project management and governance support, milestone tracking, decision‑making materials.
• Support the development of a strategic partnership approach to APAC, including the assessment of existing collaboration: market analysis, partnership pipeline and evaluation framework, prioritization, potential evaluation of existing collaborations together with the Region.
• Manage identified innovation‑driven partnerships and contribute to the scouting and development of new partnerships in accordance with the LTTI innovation agenda: PMO activities including project tracking, cross‑functional and partners alignment, executive summaries, pilot co‑design, opportunity assessment.
• Manage active long‑term innovation projects development, consistently with the LTTI process: PMO activities, project tracking, cross‑functional alignment, executive summaries, presentation materials in strong collaboration with R&D, CIA and LTTI Director.
• Contribute to the platform developments of the 4 LTTI territories and the project pipeline maintenance: market analysis and insight reports, roadmap updates, KPI tracking, workshops organization and external agencies management.

Requirements

• Degree in Economics, Business Administration, or related fields.
• 5+ years working experience in Business Development, Marketing, Innovation, Consulting, or equivalent roles in FMCG.
• Solid knowledge/exposure to finance, market research, innovation, and market analysis, with a practical understanding of business drivers.
• Hands‑on experience using market intelligence and consumer insights platforms such as NielsenIQ (NIQ), Euromonitor, GlobalData, or similar tools to analyze category performance, consumer trends, competitive landscapes, and growth opportunities.
• Strong individual contributor with high operational autonomy and the ability to build and sustain effective professional relationships.
• Proven team player who collaborates effectively across functions and geographies.
• Demonstrated excellence in project management, from planning through execution.
• Advanced analytical and quantitative skills, with the ability to translate data into actionable insights.
• Comfortable navigating ambiguity and driving outcomes in complex, evolving environments.
• Strong capability in managing internal and external stakeholders at multiple levels.
• Available for international travel as required.
• Fluent in English; additional languages are a plus.
• Experience in food, FMCG, consumer goods, ingredients, or related sectors, combined with a genuine interest in food and food culture, is an advantage.

What We Offer

• A competitive salary package, including 8% holiday allowance.
• An office in Amsterdam's vibrant Zuidas district.
• A hybrid working environment: 3 days in the office and 2 days working from home.
• 33 annual vacation days.
• A permanent contract from the start.

At Barilla, we are committed to creating an inclusive and equitable workplace where diversity in all its forms is valued and embraced. Our employment policies and practices are designed to ensure equal employment opportunities for all, regardless of age, race, color, citizenship, faith, religion, creed, gender, sex, pregnancy, gender identity or characteristics of expression, sexual orientation, marital status, genetic information, medical condition, protected veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law. Our commitment to equal employment stems from our unwavering belief that it is not only the right thing to do, but it is also a fundamental driver of innovation and business success.

Location: Netherlands – Amsterdam (Permanent)