Group Strategy & Innovation Manager

Tiger Brands; Randburg; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,600,000; Full time

Job summary

Tiger Brands in Randburg is seeking a Group Strategy & Innovation Manager to lead the innovation management system, govern the portfolio, and identify cross-category growth opportunities.

You will drive governance, enable collaboration across Business Units, and support strategic planning to unlock long-term value for the group.

Qualifications

• 5-8 years' experience in Innovation, Strategy Development, Marketing, Commercial Excellence, Category Management, Business Development, or a related field within FMCG or a similarly complex environment.
• Bachelor's Degree in Business, Marketing, Commerce, Innovation Management, or a related field. Postgraduate qualification (MBA/Masters) advantageous
• Experience shaping growth strategies and managing complex portfolios.
• Strong stakeholder management across Marketing, R&D, Commercial, Finance and Operations.

Responsibilities

• Own and govern the Group innovation portfolio by maintaining an integrated view of the pipeline, facilitating portfolio prioritisation and investment decision-making.
• Identify and champion whitespace innovation opportunities, emerging trends, and future growth platforms across categories by translating consumer, market, and technology insights into strategic innovation opportunities and commercially viable business cases.
• Own innovation performance reporting and insights with actionable visibility of pipeline health, launch performance, innovation vitality, and portfolio value creation to support strategic and investment decisions.
• Support the development and execution of innovation and growth strategies, strategic reviews, and portfolio planning.
• Build innovation capability through deployment of frameworks, best practices, tools, and training; promote a culture of innovation and consumer-centric growth.
• Support strategic planning and capability development across the organisation.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Commercial acumen

Analytical & insight-driven decision

Cross-functional influence

Project & portfolio management

Project & portfolio management

Education

Bachelor's degree

MBA/Masters (advantageous)

Job description

It's fun to work in a company where people truly BELIEVE in what they're doing! As the Group Strategy & Innovation Manager, you will support the Innovation, Capability & Strategy Director in delivering the Group's growth agenda by leading the innovation management system, governing the innovation portfolio, and identifying cross-category growth opportunities. You will provide Group-wide support in the development and execution of marketing and innovation strategies, drive innovation excellence through robust governance and performance insights, and enable collaboration across Business Units to unlock sustainable growth and long-term value.

What You Will Do

Lead and Govern the Group Innovation System

• Own and continuously enhance the Tiger Growth Engine, stage-gate methodology, governance standards, tools, and innovation ways of working to drive a consistent and effective innovation management system across the Group.
• Establish and embed a fit-for-purpose innovation framework that enables effective collaboration across Business Units, Marketing, and R&D, while driving governance adoption, compliance, and continuous improvement.

Identify and Champion Growth Opportunities

• Identify and champion whitespace innovation opportunities, emerging trends, and future growth platforms across categories by translating consumer, market, and technology insights into strategic innovation opportunities and commercially viable business cases.
• Mobilise and influence cross-functional stakeholders to evaluate, prioritise, and accelerate high-potential innovation initiatives that support sustainable growth and long-term business value creation.

Own Innovation Performance Reporting and Insights

• Own and govern the Group innovation portfolio by maintaining an integrated view of the innovation pipeline, facilitating portfolio prioritisation and investment decision-making, and proactively identifying risks, gaps, and opportunities to maximise innovation performance and growth outcomes.
• Develop and maintain a single source of truth for innovation performance by providing actionable insights, reporting, and visibility of pipeline health, launch performance, innovation vitality, and portfolio value creation to support strategic and investment decisions.

Support Strategic Planning and Capability Development

• Support the in the development and execution of innovation and growth strategies, strategic reviews, and portfolio planning.
• Build innovation capability through the deployment of frameworks, best practices, tools, and training that strengthen innovation effectiveness across the organisation.
• Promote a culture of innovation, continuous improvement, and consumer-centric growth.

What You Will Bring To The Table

Key attributes and competencies

• Strategic thinking and Innovation Leadership – Demonstrated capability to drive innovation processes, champion new ideas, and embed innovation best practices across the organisation as well as the ability to manage complex innovation ecosystems
• Commercial Acumen – Strong understanding of business drivers, value creation, investment decision-making, and portfolio performance management.
• Analytical & Insight-Driven Decision Making – Ability to interpret data, identify trends, generate actionable insights, and make evidence-based recommendations.
• Cross-Functional Influence – Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence and align diverse teams across Marketing, R&D, Commercial, Finance, and Operations.
• Project & Portfolio Management – Ability to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously, ensuring effective prioritisation, governance, and execution

Experience And Qualifications

• 5-8 years' experience in Innovation, Strategy Development, Marketing, Commercial Excellence, Category Management, Business Development, or a related field within FMCG or a similarly complex environment.
• Bachelor's Degree in Business, Marketing, Commerce, Innovation Management, or a related field .Postgraduate qualification (MBA/Masters) advantageous

In accordance with the employment equity plan of Tiger Brands and its employment equity goals and targets, preference may be given, but is not limited, to candidates from under-represented designated groups.