Job Description :

Name of the Role: Innovation Commercialization Manager, CCA

Location: Santo Domingo, Republica Dominicana

Type of role: Permanent

Purpose: 

Diageo CCA is realizing the increasing value of building a strong single-serve business, focusing on Beer and RTD products. To do this quickly, we're looking to bring in experienced individuals from the industry who can join our team and help us move forward.

Innovation is integral to Diageo's strategy. We are committed to innovating at scale to meet consumers' evolving needs. To achieve this, we aim to establish a Commercial Innovation Machine.

This role will be crucial in achieving our mission by ensuring a consistent approach and providing the necessary tools to deliver world-class innovation across markets and clusters.

Market Context:

The Caribbean and Central America (CCA) market is a Diageo business unit that generates approximately USD 300m NSV. CCA is the most profitable market in LAC, regarding absolute operating profit and margin. 90% of our NSV is USD invoiced.

CCA is a very dynamic market with many opportunities. Our geographical footprint covers 37 countries, where different languages are spoken, and we have a population of 80 million, 52 million of whom are LDA+. Our model is a distributor-based RTC with over 40 partners. We also manage several co-packing partnerships throughout the region, and Panama is home to our innovation technology center and principal warehousing operations.

Beer and RTDs, represented by Guinness and Smirnoff respectively, play a pivotal role in swiftly attracting new young adult consumers to our brands. These brands and products cater to the demand for convenient solutions, suited to lighthearted and informal occasions.

The Scotch category accounts for approximately 70% of Total NSV, predominantly playing in the Premium and Super Premium segments; Diageo's share of the market in Scotch varies from 45% to 75% across the region – making us the number one player.

Decision Making: 

Ensures precise decision-making throughout all phases of innovation launch, guaranteeing completion in alignment with the Cycle Process framework.

Acts as the pivotal link between Marketing, Sales, and local distributors, driving and fostering engagement among all stakeholders to execute our Innovation plan impeccably. Ensures optimal investment utilization and prioritization of execution to achieve maximum impact.

Financial Responsibility:

Provides robust support to the Marketing and Commercial Teams in effectively managing A&P budgets and trade investments, while optimizing promotional tactics and expenditure across the innovation portfolio.

Holds accountability for accurately forecasting and conducting monthly tracking of Innovation performance metrics.

Manages individual T&E operating budget meticulously, ensuring strict adherence to all associated policies and directives to avoid exceeding the assigned budget allocation.

Leadership Responsibility:

Strategically aligning with the Innovation strategy and integrating Innovation opportunities into key markets.

Cultivating strong relationships and establishing credibility within the commercial organization.

Activating Marketing and Customer Marketing teams to ensure seamless integration and execution of brand innovation programs within the CCA.

Galvanizing commercial teams (Sales, Commercial Planning and Activation, and distributors) and customers to execute Innovation Brand launches and Point of Purchase marketing programs flawlessly.

Key Outputs/Deliverables: 

Assumes responsibility for all commercial aspects of launches and test markets during the full 2+1, but specially during the launch year, ensuring early grounding in commercial insights for all projects. Ensures the definition of growth drivers, customer propositions, and selling sheets, fostering successful project delivery.

Collaborates closely with Sales, Brand Management teams, Supply, and Finance teams to orchestrate world-class launches.

Champions and instills a robust Innovation culture within the sales organization, driving transformative change.

Provides commercial input to all projects from gate 1 onwards.

Leads Commercial Execution from stage 3 to gate 6, ensuring seamless implementation of strategies.

Aligns Innovation pipeline with Marketing, Customer Marketing and Distributors to seamlessly embed brand innovation programs within internal Cycle Brief and retailer/distributor launch windows.

Develops exceptional customer propositions, anchored in profound customer, shopper, and category insights.

Presents Innovation pipeline and launches to customers and 3rd party distributors, effectively communicating value propositions.

Offers strategic Commercial A&P recommendations to optimize investments.

Devises a comprehensive merchandising strategy for all innovation projects to maximize impact.

Assumes responsibility for volume forecasting for all innovation projects within the Tier 1 and Tier 2 markets' business units.

Establishes, monitors, and communicates Commercial KPIs for all launches across the organization.

Holds overall ownership of Trade margins, ensuring profitability and sustainability.

Qualifications and Experience Required:

Bachelor’s Degree in a related field.

A minimum of 5 years of experience in Sales or Marketing with leading companies in the Beer, RTD, or single-serve industries, with valuable expertise in commercial, account management, and/or Customer Marketing.

Demonstrated commercial awareness.

Proven track record in managing innovation launches and projects.

Experience collaborating effectively within cross-functional teams.

Exceptional presentation skills.

Strong analytical and financial acumen, including specific budget management experience.

Fluency in both English and Spanish.

Extensive project management experience.

Exceptional leadership and influential skills in managing internal and external stakeholders.

Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint.

Flexible working options:

The role is based in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (desired) or Panama City, Panama.

Travel is required and estimated at 25%.

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