Job Description:

Customer-Back Innovation, driven by consumer insights and pain points is the root of all our New Product Development work at ITW Permatex. Reporting to the Director of Marketing, the Insights & Innovation Manager is a high visibility, high accountability cross-functional leadership role driving both new product development and consumer understanding for the division. Core to the role is the ability to implement and manage our best-in-class ideation techniques that deliver a pipeline of creative, truly new products for sustained portfolio growth. This includes the category leading automotive brands of Permatex & Fast Orange. In addition, this position requires an intimate knowledge of various research techniques, assembling & managing effective cross-functional teams and tracking metrics supporting both annual & long-range strategic plans.

The successful candidate must be a creative leader, able to build a shared vision around a new product pipeline, give confidence in research methodologies, lead projects that include both internal and external resources (suppliers, designers, chemists) and manage timelines to deliver maximum impact. The Insights & Innovation Manager will be measured on his/her performance to successfully build a pipeline of new ideas, qualify those ideas through iterative learning, and manage the development of those ideas to hand-off to the brand & operations teams for launch. Due to the cross-functional and critical nature of the role presence on-site is required.

Job Duties:

Execute innovation strategy for company.

Develop 18 – 36-month pipeline of creative new ideas, including testing, qualifying and identifying appropriate resources to bring to “proof of concept.”

Be the ideation expert, delivering best-in-class techniques to identify products that are unique, fit with brand strategy, sustainable and own-able.

Develop deep understanding of the consumer/end-user segments, targeting products which solve unmet consumer needs and pain points.

Develop strong working relationship with brand marketing, product management, R&D, and outside suppliers to ensure focus and delivery.

Assemble, manage, and lead effective cross-functional project teams.

Exhibit sound financial acumen to deliver strategic, well-researched business cases.

Support brand & sales efforts with best-in-class insights approaches to research and understanding.

Develop executive level business presentations & opportunity recommendations.

Qualifications:

3-5 years of consumer insights, new product development and/or relevant business experience

4-year undergraduate degree, MBA preferred

Able to effectively align strategic priorities to executable projects

Demonstrated ability to translate insights into opportunities

Top-tier storyline development, with ability to effectively present reasons-to-believe to both internal and external senior management

External, growth mindset. Demonstrated ability to know the categories, trends, and customer segments of specific markets.

Must be able to travel up to 20% of time

Must exhibit consistent behaviors: Leadership, Accountability, Teamwork, Delivering though Others, Consumer/Customer Focus and Coach-ability.

Experience, knowledge and/or insight in the Automotive Repair space is strongly desired.

Knowledge of Innovation Engineering or similar innovation process

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

This job description should not be construed to contain every function/responsibility that may be required to be performed by an incumbent in this position.  Incumbents are required to perform other related functions as assigned.

Compensation Information:

Compensation package will be discussed and is based upon candidate's experience. Range is from $95k - $120k.

ITW is an equal opportunity employer. We value our colleagues’ unique perspectives, experiences and ideas and create workplaces where everyone can develop their careers and perform to their full potential. 

As an equal employment opportunity employer, ITW is committed to equal employment opportunity and fair treatment for employees, beginning with the hiring process and continuing through all aspects of the employment relationship. 

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, disability, protected Veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.