Position summary:
Lead Nestlé USA’s multi-faceted Open Innovation efforts with
promising early stage food and technology companies. Strategic areas of focus
will include relevant and high potential products, services, and new revenue
models that align with and support Nestlé USA’s overall strategy!
Individual will lead development and activation of a
multi-year Open Innovation strategy which will be centered on development and
execution of new business models for the Nestlé USA business units and
functions, with technology as a key enabler. This “outside in” approach to
innovation will require a strong foundational understanding of the food and
beverage technology ecosystem and entail positive relationships with VCs,
Incubators/Accelerators, technology start-ups, and thought leaders to
accelerate partnerships and collaborations.
Primary responsibilities:
Strategy, Insight, and Ideation
•Provide informed insight, perspectives and strategic
support to Nestlé businesses as they seek to understand and act upon trends,
products and business models that could be highly impactful or disruptive to
Nestlé.
•Collaborate with key partners across multiple functions at
Nestlé USA to determine opportunity areas in which emerging digital services
and/or tools can support the function. Build strategy that will articulate
business model innovation pipeline for next 3-5 years!
Commercialization and In-Market Driver
•Pilot and support scale of new and emerging
digitally-enabled food and e-business solutions/ business models that have the
potential to drive incremental growth for Nestlé USA based on aforementioned
strategy. Develop implementation plans, with concrete activities and success
indicators, to deliver against identified strategies.
•Scout, identify, and pilot new digital capabilities in
support of driving greater efficiencies and effectiveness in our value chain,
including but not exclusively for the Supply Chain, Technical and
Manufacturing, and Sales functions.
•Serve as the key catalyst and connector between Nestlé USA
business and external partners (especially startups) that play in the food and
food+tech space.
•Develop, manage and lead a cross-functional and active
mentorship program for early stage entrepreneurs who seek to co-innovate and
partner with Nestlé.
Communications and Culture Enabler
•Become a credible, visible and trusted voice for Nestlé’s
USA in the food and food tech innovation space in the food and beverage
ecosystem.
•Lead the planning and execution of periodic events,
including an annual Open Innovation Symposium, to cultivate relationships with
innovation partners (startups and investors) and expose Nestlé USA leaders to
new ways of thinking.
Requirements and minimum education level:
•Bachelor’s degree required.
•MBA or Master’s degree in Marketing is preferred.
Experience:
•Experience using data and trends to generate insights to
understand consumer behavior is required
•Experience partnering with cross-functional teams is
required
•Experience developing strategic plans and executing
projects end-to-end is required
•Effective collaboration and the ability to work with
personnel at all organizational levels. Flexibility and adaptability to the
demands and requirements of a fast-paced environment with multiple demands and
priorities.
•Consistent track record as a high performer
•Outstanding leadership skills
•Strong General Management acumen
•Minimum 5 years of product management experience
•Experience in Consumer Packaged Goods Industry (CPG) is
preferred
Key Functional Competencies:
•Strong bias for action and results
•High learning agility – is a fast & keen learner
•Collaborative –innate ability to connect and work with
others in driving action with a “1 TEAM” attitude
•Agile – an ability to adapt to change and quickly pivot
•Courage – be brave to challenge the status quo and be
proactive with limited information
•Speed – focuses exclusively on value-added work, always
looking to cut inefficiencies to drive speed
•Consumer-Obsessed
•Ability to influence others at the highest levels
•Strong communications skills, both oral and written.
•Strong financial acumen
