Senior Director, Beer Innovation & Incubation

Constellation Brands•Chicago, IL

1d•Onsite

About The Position

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.

Requirements

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.

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.