INNOVATION SPECIALIST: ADJACENCIES

AB InBev Africa; Randburg; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Job summary

AB InBev Africa is seeking a driven innovation leader to guide the creation and validation of consumer insight–driven solutions across the zone, accelerating profitable top-line growth in its brands and categories.

You will shape an innovation pipeline, build compelling brand positioning and business cases, and influence stakeholders across multidisciplinary teams to deliver successful launches and sustained growth.

Qualifications

• Three-year related degree required; postgraduate business/marketing degree preferred.
• 2–5 years in brand management, consumer insights or marketing strategy consulting; consumer goods experience preferred.
• Experience in ATL and TTL campaigns; strong project delivery track record.

Responsibilities

• Lead creation and validation of insight-driven innovation solutions across the zone to fuel top-line growth.
• Develop and sustain a balanced short- to long-term innovation pipeline for the Zone sub-categories and brands.
• Build, expand and refine liquid and pack innovations aligned with financial objectives and business models.
• Plan and deliver regional and local innovation projects from SMART gate to launch with consumer desirability, feasibility and viability.

Skills

Brand management

Consumer insights

Marketing strategy

Project management

Leadership

Agile methodology

Financial acumen

Education

Three-year related degree

Postgraduate degree in business/marketing

Job description

Dreaming big is in our DNA. It’s who we are as a company. It’s our culture. It’s our heritage. And more than ever, it’s our future. A future where we’re always looking forward. Always serving up new ways to meet life’s moments. A future where we keep dreaming bigger. We look for people with passion, talent, and curiosity, and provide them with the teammates, resources and opportunities to unleash their full potential. The power we create together - when we combine your strengths with ours - is unstoppable. Are you ready to join a team that dreams as big as you do?

They key purpose of this role is to lead the creation and validation of consumer insight driven innovation solutions across the zone, that drive profitable top line growth and achievement of the company’s dream

Key roles and responsibilities:

• Innovation idea and opportunity identification by applying the Front-end innovation process
• Developing and sustaining a balanced short- to long-term innovation pipeline for the respective Zone sub-category and brands
• Building, expand, develop, romance liquid and pack innovations that support the business’ financial objectives, identifying and working with different business models
• Planning and delivering regional and local innovation projects through SMART gate up to launch by defining effective solutions against consumer desirability, technical and supply feasibility, and financial viability
• Development of differentiated and compelling brand positioning, -purpose, -ladder, core creative idea and marketing mix
• Building concept business cases including P&L at SKU level to determine optimal concept financial viability
• Influencing stakeholder at different levels, building and maintaining collaborative cross-functional relationships across the Zone
• Supporting innovation capability building, ZBB management

Profile:

• A three-year related degree in a prerequisite; post graduate degree in business/marketing preferred/ any STEM related degree
• Minimum 2-5 years related working experience in brand management, consumer insights and/or marketing strategy consulting environment; consumer goods preferred; experienced in ATL and TTL creative and campaigns preferred
• Strong project management skills and proven track record of project delivery
• Established leadership ability at mid-level
• Demonstrated ability to manage projects across multidisciplinary teams.
• Proven track record or launched innovation initiatives
• Problem Solving/ Agile Methodology capable
• Financial business case understanding

Additional Information:

• Band VI

AB InBev is an equal opportunity employer, and all appointments will be made in line with AB InBev employment equity plan and talent requirements.

The advert has minimum requirements listed. Management reserves the right to use additional/ relevant information as criteria for short-listing.