Reporting to the Marketing Director of Hochland Germany, the job has a strong international focus within the group.

The purpose of the position is to:

• Lead / facilitate selected multi-country innovation projects with a cross functional / cross geographical team comprising country  marketing teams, product development and operations (meaning Production & Technique)
• Substantially fill the innovation funnel, select and agree priority projects and develop until launch stage
• Translate local consumer insights into regionally expandable consumer concepts
• Create a Hochland – wide collaborative network on innovation that shares best practices, ideas, successes and failures and competitive know-how

The job context is the following:

• Working as a member of the Hochland DE Marketing Department
• Strong linkage into Coordination Marketing in the Hochland SE and Marketing of Hochland subsidiaries, as well as with product development and operations
• First touch-point for international marketers in terms of development of innovation

The position holder is expected to drive the following scopes:

• Develop and permanently refresh a clear 3 - year international innovation funnel across Hochland subsidiaries
• Deliver compelling & proprietary consumer insights that translate into innovation ideas & platforms
• Drive growth through innovation, delivering the most innovative products & programmes that continually satisfy consumers
• Inspire a passion for innovation throughout the organization
• Within the frame of our stage-gate project management, develop and define resources, standards and procedures in international development of innovation
• Regularly involve Senior Management on progress of innovation projects and align on next steps
• Support subsidiaries in identifying long term innovation platforms
• Lead and drives assigned innovation projects from concept to launch phase
  

Requirements:

Job Knowledge:

• NPD & Innovations: opportunity assessment, idea generation, concept development & testing, international/ cross functional team working
• Consumer Insights: target group and need identification & evaluation, analyze all sources of quantitative & qualitative data
• Building Brands: In depth competitive analysis/scenario planning principles, financial acumen & savvy, brand strategy based to develop innovation strategies that drive growth throughout the organization

Skills:

• Marketing professional possessing a curiosity for innovation
• Able to work in and lead a multi-cultural team in accordance with our Guidelines for Management and Cooperation as well as our project management philosophy.
• Strong analytical thinking and problem solving skills
• Leadership-/ motivation- & exceptional communication skills
• Initiative and willing to learn
• Good presentation skills
• Fluent in English and German

Experience:

• Long lasting FMCG experience ideally with a mix of marketing & sales
• Commercially well-rounded and financially aware

Additional information:

• Geographic focus will be mostly on products Russia, Poland and Romania.
• Further target markets are Spain, Ukraine, France and Iran.