Senior Director, Beer Innovation & Incubation

Job Description

Position Summary

The Senior Director, Beer Innovation & Incubation is responsible for steering the company towards future growth by identifying and capitalizing on emerging opportunities. This role involves crafting a forward-thinking vision that aligns with the company's strategic goals and inspires cross-functional teams to achieve breakthrough results. This position requires a visionary leader who can inspire teams to push boundaries and redefine industry standards.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a comprehensive innovation strategy aligned with the company's overall business objectives and growth targets.
• Leads all strategic and tactical innovation workstreams for existing beer portfolio, supported by direct reports
• Identify new whitespace opportunities based on consumer and category trends and develop new-to-world product concepts, liquids, and brands to evolve the portfolio and drive company growth
• Provide direction to cross-functional teams in the development and launch of new products, ensuring alignment with consumer insights, market trends, and technological advancements.
• Direct the end-to-end product development through the Stage Gate process, from idea generation and feasibility assessment to prototype development, testing, and scale-up.
• Utilize market research, consumer insights, and competitive analysis to identify market whitespace and innovation opportunities.
• Collaborate with Marketing, Sales, and R&D teams to translate consumer needs and preferences into innovative product concepts.
•  Partners with Brand and Consumer Insights teams to develop brand strategy, consumer segmentation, targeting and positioning of new products/platforms 
• Collaborate with brand teams, and sometimes lead, the development of marketing plans and the commercialization of new products/platforms
• Stay abreast of industry trends, emerging technologies, and regulatory changes that could impact product innovation and consumer preferences.
• Foster a culture of continuous learning and experimentation within the innovation team.
• Actively anticipate future business trends to stay ahead of the competition.
• Represent innovation in strategic discussions and key decision-making forums
• Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders, including executives, department heads, and functional teams, to gain alignment and support for innovation initiatives.
• Communicate with and influence external and internal leaders, including senior leaders and potentially the Executive Management Committee.
• Initiate and maintain external agency partnerships for the purpose of developing new products and services.
• Partner with external stakeholders such as suppliers and industry experts to leverage external expertise and resources.
•  Develop and own the innovation budget, ensuring effective allocation of resources to maximize return on investment.
• Monitor project timelines, milestones, and budgets to ensure projects are delivered on time and within budget.
• Define key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics to measure the success and impact of innovation initiatives.
• Prepare regular progress reports and presentations for senior management, highlighting achievements, challenges, and future opportunities.
• Leader of leaders, manages 2+ direct reports and their reports
• Provide guidance, coaching, and support to ensure successful execution of innovation initiatives.

Minimum Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree in relevant field (marketing/business, psychology, sociology).
• 15+ years of related experience
• Previous direct people leadership experience required
• Excellent communication skills; very articulate, strong public speaking and writing skills, strong interpersonal skills, strong cross functional skills.
• Demonstrate strong understanding of category including key drivers, overall competitive framework, brand/product landscape.
• Strong team player and proven ability to work and lead with others (internally and externally).
• Excellent organizational skills, able to prioritize, and successfully manage projects.

Physical Requirements/Work Environment

• Physical Requirements: Requires the ability to stand, walk, climb stairs and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.  It also requires sitting, operating a computer keyboard, telephone and other equipment, reading, talking and hearing for extended periods of time.

Location

Chicago, Illinois

Additional Locations

Job Type

Full time

Job Area

Marketing

The salary range for this role is:

$172,800.00 - $288,000.00

This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting.  Our compensation is based on cost of labor. For remote locations or positions open to multiple locations, the pay range may reflect several US geographic markets, including the lowest geographic market minimum to the highest geographic market maximum. We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range, and the range may be modified in the future. An employee’s pay position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, the prevailing minimum wage for the location, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, geographic location, performance, shift, travel requirements, sales or revenue-based metrics, any collective bargaining agreements, and business or organizational needs.  At Constellation Brands, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at the high end of the range for their role, and compensation decisions are dependent upon the facts and circumstances of each position and candidate. We offer comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off, medical/dental/vision insurance, 401(k), and any other benefits to eligible employees.

Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, or any other form of compensation that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company’s sole discretion, consistent with the law.

Equal Opportunity

Constellation Brands is committed to a continuing program of equal employment opportunity. All persons have equal employment opportunities with Constellation Brands, regardless of their sex, race, color, age, religion, creed, sexual orientation, national origin or citizenship, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition (cancer or genetic characteristics), marital status, gender (including gender identity or gender expression), familial status, military or veteran status, genetic information, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related conditions (or any other group or category within the framework of the applicable discrimination laws and regulations).