Sr Mgr Product Innovation - Advantage Solutions
Chicago, IL 60603
About the Job
Sr. Manager, Product Innovation
About the role...
At Advantage Solutions, we are the unseen architects behind your everyday purchases. From pantry staples at places like Target, to samples at Costco, to your online shopping carts at Amazon, we ensure your favorite goods are always in stock and within reach by connecting manufacturers to the right retailers and helping retailers figure out the best ways to get those products into your hands. We elevate brand presence, enhance retail strategies, optimize performance, and create memorable customer experiences.
The Explore team at Advantage Solutions is a newly established data and AI innovation team dedicated to helping our business unit leaders define, test and build the next generation of businesses and experiences for our employees, our customer’s employees, and their shoppers. While this team builds our fair share of decks, our raison d'etre is to define and run proof of concept and pilot programs that validate the ability of new technologies to drive real value to the business and user experience.
We are looking for a Sr Manager of Product Innovation who is passionate about data and AI to join our very small team with very big goals. Specifically, you will work closely with the VP of Innovation & Strategy to identify new business opportunities for AI, run proof of concept and pilots to validate use cases, manage and improve our innovation pipeline, process, methods, and tools, and identify and evaluate potential strategic technology partners.
As we are a new team, you will need to represent and promote the Explore Innovation team to our internal IT Leaders and our Branded, Retail, Experiential and Shared Services business unit executives. You will also need to educate and inspire the organization about using AI to address our biggest business challenges and opportunities.
The Explore team office is in the Chicago West Loop. This is a hybrid role requiring 1-3 days/week onsite.
Responsibilities
- Working with business leaders in clarifying business opportunities, defining new concepts, building high level business cases, and prioritizing potential use cases.
- Managing our innovation pipeline and advance our innovation tools, methods, and processes.
- Defining and managing PoC and Pilot programs with internal teams and external strategic partners.
- Technology partner scouting including investigating emerging technologies and trends, assessing potential technology partners, and conducting due diligence.
- Developing and facilitating executive level innovation workshops.
- Conducting basic field research to understand business processes and user needs.
- Networking and promoting awareness of the Explore team and AI within the Advantage IT organization and the business groups with which it partners.
Required Experience
- Bachelor’s degree and 8+ years of experience in product, innovation, engineering, or a related field, or master’s or MBA (preferred) and 4+ years of experience.
- 4+ years of leadership experience managing cross-functional teams and projects.
- Field research, user requirements and product definition
- Experience with innovation management frameworks and tools.
- Executive level innovation workshop definition and facilitation
Desired Experience
- 4+ years of experience working in Consumer-Packaged Goods and/or Retail.
- Experience working in a technology driven startup.
- Local to Chicago, IL and willing and able to go onsite a couple days/week.
Capabilities
- Strong project management skills and ability to oversee multiple innovation projects from concept to execution.
- Expertise in analyzing data, market trends, and competitive landscapes to identify opportunities.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills for presenting ideas and influencing stakeholders.
- Ability to collaborate with technical teams and understand technical concepts.
- Familiar with design thinking methodologies and ability to facilitate workshops and brainstorming sessions.
- Skills in managing an innovation pipeline and portfolio of projects.
- Proficiency in using data and analytics to inform decision-making.
- Ability to manage and influence senior executives and key stakeholders.
- Proficiency in managing timelines, budgets, and resources.
Job Will Remain Open Until Filled
The Company is one of North America’s leading sales and marketing agencies specializing in outsourced sales, merchandising, category management, and marketing services to manufacturers, suppliers, and producers of food products and consumer packaged goods. The Company services a variety of trade channels including grocery, mass merchandise, specialty, convenience, drug, dollar, club, hardware, consumer electronics, and home centers. We bridge the gap between manufacturers and retailers, providing consumers access to the best products available in the marketplace today.
Responsibilities
- IT Product Strategy: Define and communicate a comprehensive IT product strategy that aligns with the organization's overall business strategy. Develop and maintain a product roadmap that outlines key initiatives and enhancements.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including engineering, operations, security, and business units, to ensure successful product development and delivery. Foster strong working relationships with key stakeholders.
- Market Research: Conduct research to identify industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices in IT product management. Use market insights to inform product decisions and stay ahead of competitors.
- Product Development: Lead the product development process, defining product requirements, user stories, and acceptance criteria. Work with engineering teams to prioritize and execute product enhancements.
- Product Launch: Plan and execute product launches, including developing go-to-market strategies, pricing strategies, and marketing campaigns. Collaborate with marketing and sales teams to ensure successful product introductions.
- Product Metrics: Define and track key performance metrics for IT products, such as system uptime, reliability, performance, and user satisfaction. Use data-driven insights to drive product improvements.
- Budget Management: Develop and manage the IT product budget, including resource allocation, cost control, and financial forecasting.
- Risk Management: Identify and mitigate potential risks and challenges associated with IT product development and deployment.
- Stakeholder Communication: Effectively communicate the IT product vision, strategy, and progress to internal and external stakeholders, ensuring alignment and buy-in from all relevant teams.
Supervisory Responsibilities
Direct Reports
Hires, retains, trains, coaches, guides, directs, and develops direct reports using company-wide processes, tools, and resources.
Indirect Reports
May delegate work to others and provide guidance, direction, and mentoring to indirect reports.
Travel
Travel and Driving are not essential duties or functions of this job.
Minimum Qualifications
Education Level: Bachelor's Degree or equivalent experience.
Field of Study: Business, Management Information Systems, Computer Science, or equivalent job-related experience. PMI Certification is desired but not required.
Experience Requirements: 8+ years of experience in project management of varied complexities and scope.
Environmental & Physical Requirements
Office / Sedentary Requirements:
Incumbent must be able to perform the essential functions of the job. Work is performed primarily in an office environment. Typically requires the ability to sit for extended periods of time (66%+ each day), ability to hear the telephone, ability to enter data on a computer, and may also require the ability to lift up to 10 pounds.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Agile product management experience
- Software development experience
- Strong experience and understanding of web and mobile development technologies
- Ability to pick up technical and business concepts quickly
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Excellent organizational, time management, and project management skills
- Ability to work with business teams to help facilitate change management
Additional Information Regarding Job Duties and Job Descriptions
Job duties include additional responsibilities as assigned by one’s supervisor or other manager related to the position/department. This job description is meant to describe the general nature and level of work being performed; it is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required for the position. The Company reserves the right at any time with or without notice to alter or change job responsibilities, reassign or transfer job positions, or assign additional job responsibilities, subject to applicable law. The Company shall provide reasonable accommodations of known disabilities to enable a qualified applicant or employee to apply for employment, perform the essential functions of the job, or enjoy the benefits and privileges of employment as required by the law.
Important Information:
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of associates so classified.
The Company is committed to providing equal opportunity in all employment practices without regard to age, race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, religion, physical or mental disability, or any other category protected by law. As part of this commitment, the Company shall provide reasonable accommodations of known disabilities to enable an applicant or employee to apply for employment, perform the essential functions of the job, or enjoy the benefits and privileges of employment as required by the law.