Manager, US RTD Innovation - -196

What makes this a great opportunity?

The alc/bev industry is an exciting, dynamic, and fast-paced business. Beam Suntory is a top player in the spirits business and focused on becoming a top player within the Ready to Drink category, capturing new consumers and occasions not currently being serviced by our full bottle strength spirit brands in our key markets

This individual will serve as an integral part of the North America’s RTD innovation team to drive growth in an exciting category will have the opportunity to shape Beam Suntory’s long-term ambitions in the Ready to Drink Space in the US
Opportunity to work on an exciting, priority category – to set and implement brand strategies in conjunction with cross-functionals (R&D, Finance, Consumer Insights, etc.), and to partner with sales / commercial teams to ensure execution of strategies and tactics

Serve as lead brand steward in developing plans to extend Beam Suntory’s presence in the Ready to Drink space in the US

Role Responsibilities

•  -196 Innovation: Drive the innovation agenda for the -196 brand, from ideation to commercialization. Collaborate with brand marketing, insights, R&D, supply chain and commercial stakeholders to bring new products to market.
• Cross-Functional Leadership: Manage cross functional team to deliver projects efficiently and effectively, from initial ideation, through concept development, liquid and packaging design, to commercialization in market
• Excellent Products: Direct and influence the R&D product and packaging teams to develop excellence in taste delivery and pack presentation
• Insights: Monitor consumer trends in needs, occasions, flavors and drink experiences, and recommend activities and projects to maintain our position of leadership within the spirits industry.
• Project Management: Oversee the end-to-end management of innovation projects, ensuring timely delivery and alignment with Market Development and Commercialization Team to ensure our sales teams are set up for success for new innovation launches.
• Innovation Strategy Support: Support the innovation strategy for the RTD business through leadership of -196 innovation recommendation, ensuring alignment Suntory RTD Company ambition

Qualifications

• 3-5 years Consumer Marketing or Brand innovation experience or a similar amount of solid experience in a related field
• BA required, (MBA preferred). Up to 20% travel
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with ability to communicate effectively in a multicultural, cross functional organization and a strong ability to develop and foster internal and external partnerships.
• Self-starter, flexible and comfortable working in unstructured environment, and able to manage multiple priorities effortlessly.
• Passionate and determined, committed to delivering projects on-time and above expectations
• Demonstrated experience in working across and up, within the organization, gaining credibility amongst peers, managers and other commercial leadership.
• Resourceful, with a problem-solving attitude and willingness to think creatively to reach resolutions
• Collaborative and able to build bridges across cross-functional teams and geographies; more specifically strong communicator, active listening skills, ability to listen for feedback and validate and address concerns; and excellent influencing and presentation skills
• Outcomes/Success Criteria
• Grow our top line and profitability to help deliver financial goals for target RTD brands
• Apply competitive, category, consumer, shopper, and retailer insights to identify opportunities and validate and optimize concepts
• Help advance expansive innovation strategy, identifying white spaces, unmet consumer needs, and sources of future growth
• Support ongoing innovation tracking and performance monitoring

Organizational Competencies:

• Entrepreneurial Approach
• Creating Innovative Solutions
• Beating the Competition….Together
• Role Specific Competencies
• Adaptability/Flexibility
• Problem solving/Resolution
• Influence/Negotiate
• Self motivation
• Organizational skills/Planning/Time Management
• Tenacity
• Collaboration

Salary Range - The salary range for this role based in New York is $120,000 to $135,000 along with an annual bonus, 401K match, profit sharing, and medical and wellness benefits. The salary range is commensurate with the candidate’s location, experience, and skillset.