Innovation Optimization Manager

Tate and Lyle • Hoffman Estates, IL

1d • $90,000 - $130,000

About The Position

The Innovation Optimization Manager supports the Director of Innovation Optimization by building and maintaining the tools, analyses and knowledge assets that underpin innovation prioritization, governance and value delivery. This role turns data into decision-ready insight, standardizes ways of working across regions/platforms, and ensures key learnings, benchmarks and playbooks are captured and reusable. The role is hands-on (data, dashboards, templates) and highly collaborative, working across Commercial, Platforms, FP&A and Analytics to strengthen pipeline transparency, rigour and speed.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in Business, Engineering, Data/Analytics, Life Sciences or related field.
• Experience in analytics, commercial insights, portfolio/programme management, innovation excellence, or a similar role in an Ingredient or FMCG environment (or agency/consulting equivalent).
• Demonstrated ability to build practical tools and standardised ways of working that improve decision making and execution (templates, scorecards, dashboards, governance packs).
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capability; able to structure ambiguous questions and synthesise data into clear, stakeholder-ready recommendations.
• Working knowledge of innovation/NPD processes and commercial fundamentals (value pools, P&L drivers, basic financial modelling).
• High attention to detail, strong version control and documentation discipline; comfortable owning data definitions and audit trails.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills; able to influence without authority in a matrixed organisation.
• Proactive, self-starting and collaborative; thrives in a fast-paced environment with multiple priorities.

Nice To Haves

• Proficiency with data and reporting tools (e.g., Excel/PowerQuery, Power BI or similar), and experience working with structured datasets and dashboarding standards.

Responsibilities

• Develop, maintain and improve core innovation optimisation tools (e.g., templates, scorecards, prioritisation models, dashboards) to enable consistent evaluation and governance.
• Translate the Director’s governance principles into clear workflows, guidance and training materials; support adoption across regions and platforms.
• Operate the “pipeline view” cadence: prepare materials for innovation forums, capture decisions, and ensure updates are reflected in the relevant systems and reporting.
• Run recurring and ad-hoc analysis to support prioritisation, resource allocation and de-prioritisation decisions (e.g., value pools, sensitivity scenarios, capacity vs. demand, milestone risk).
• Partner with FP&A and Analytics to compile inputs for ROI views (e.g., investment, benefits, probabilities, timing) and to surface risks/assumptions in a transparent way.
• Support creation and maintenance of the “one source of truth” datasets and visualisations (e.g., cube/game boards), ensuring version control and clear audit trails.
• Prepare decision-ready synthesis for stakeholders: concise summaries, recommended options, and implications for portfolio shape and strategic objectives.
• Build and maintain the innovation optimisation knowledge base (e.g., playbooks, FAQs, benchmarks, best practices, post-launch learnings, decision logs).
• Standardise and curate reusable assets (templates, examples, coaching materials) to reduce rework and improve quality of submissions into the pipeline funnel.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, Vision coverages
• Paid time off package, including vacation, sick time, and 16 weeks of paid parental leave
• 401K with company match
• Company paid life insurance
• Lifestyle Spending Account
• Identity Theft protection
• Employee Assistance Program
• telemedicine

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level