Manager, Strategic Innovation Jobs

Referred applicants should not apply directly to this role.

All referred applicants must first be submitted through Workday by a current Loblaw Colleague.

Location:

1 Presidents Choice Circle, Brampton, Ontario, L6Y 5S5

At Loblaw, we help millions of Canadians get through their best days, worst days, celebration days, and every day. Through our innovation and quality products, we’re here for our friends, neighbours, family members and colleagues.

We succeed through collaboration and commitment and set a high bar for ourselves and those around us.

We’re looking for adaptable people who are thrilled to join us in our goal of helping Canadians Live Life Well®. Whether you are just starting your career, re-entering the workforce, or looking for a new job, this is where you belong. We promote leaders at every level and support our people to follow their passion.

Job Profile: Manager, Strategic Innovations

Reports to: Sr. Manager – Transformational Innovation

Location: 1 President’s Choice Circle, Brampton

Are you at the top of your game? Bring your expertise and knowledge to Canada’s largest retailer. We are looking for innovative, passionate, and collaborative team member for our Control Brands Transformational Innovation group.

This is an exciting time to join our team to bring to market the ‘next and never-been-done’ products. That’s what our customers expect when they shop in our stores. It’s been true since the introduction of The Decadent Chocolate Chip Cookie, and it’s still true today, with our PC Black Label and PC Organics products.

If you are looking to join a company that offers opportunity, excellent leadership, ongoing learning training and makes a big impact on the community – this is the role you’ve been waiting for!

Reporting to Senior Manager – Innovation Hub, the Strategic Initiatives Manager will work closely with the Senior Manager to identify innovation opportunities and collaborate with internal collaborators to bring them to life. This unique role works with product managers, product developers, design teams, marketing, and international vendors to deliver best-in-class products across all grocery categories. This position requires an entrepreneurial builder mindset, a deep passion for food, a strong ability to collaborate and influence, and exceptional organizational and planning skills.

A successful candidate in this role will support in identifying new opportunities for product innovation, lead the development of activation sessions with cross-functional teams and hold collaborators accountable to timelines and deliverables.

What You’ll Do

Develop a comprehensive, relevant, and up-to-date understanding of international lifestyle, retail, food, restaurant, and packaging trends that influence the customer & the market.

• Leverage primary research as well as syndicated Sources (Mintel, Nielsons, Euromonitor) to inform strategic thinking.
• Regularly conduct market visits, restaurant explorations, and attend local tradeshows to identify new opportunities for innovation.

Create mechanisms for educating colleagues and empowering them to activate these insights through strategic initiatives and 3-yr plans.

• Create quarterly reports to share top trends and insights
• Work with research firms and CPG vendors to host insight-sharing sessions
• Organize product inspiration and ideation seasons in the test kitchen with the support of our in-house chefs

Interpret and analyze customer data and insight to create unique product proposition plans that will drive our innovation leadership

• Leverage internal data sources (Innovation need states, sales data, consumer research, strategic plans and business reviews) and external data (Market data, syndicated research) to find opportunities for new innovation.
• Create proposals to pitch identified opportunities to leadership

Support the creation and facilitation of workshops that fuse bold, creative, and lateral thinking with consumer insight, category data, trends, and internal experts.

• Facilitate incubator sessions with cross-functional teams to develop innovation proposals into tactical plans
• Organize brainstorming sessions, informal discussion,

On-time management and ownership of setting timelines for strategic initiatives. Contribute to the total team on time delivery through collaboratively managing timelines and taking corrective actions to deliver the overall product plan

• Set the agenda for monthly solving meetings with team leads to discuss high priority initiatives
• Own follow-ups and ensuring stakeholders deliver on needed requests

Track innovation performance as part of planning process and lead cross-functional teams to participate in holistic innovation evaluation.

• Identify the right KPIs and Metrics to measure success of new initiatives.

What You’ll Need

• Ability to lead a cross functional team of innovation specialists across multiple priorities
• An entrepreneurial mindset with an ability to adapt and deliver in evolving circumstances
• Bachelor`s degree (or higher) with proven experience in product innovation, strategy, marketing or similar field - preferably in the food, beverage or consumer packaged goods industries.
• Strong project management skills
• Bonus: Primary research skills such as crafting questionnaires and working with 3rd party research vendors.
• Strong strategic, analytical skill and ability to drive actionable results using data and insights
• Bonus: Strong knowledge of product development life cycle, working closely with product development, Regulatory & Legal, Supply Chain, Vendors, and Brand Marketing
• Passion for building and growing brands, with ‘can-do’ attitude and a willingness to challenge status quo.
• Knowledge and relevant experience in the areas of creativity and lateral thinking, and design-thinking or emergent strategy principles and ways of working
• Be passionate about food
• Strong knowledge of Nielsen solutions and Microsoft Office suite

Disclaimer

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel working within this job title.

What You’d Be Happy To Know

Loblaw is an equal opportunity employer, and we consider qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, disability status or any other legally protected characteristic.

Accommodation is available upon request for applicants and colleagues with disabilities.

In addition, we believe that compliance with laws is about doing the right thing. Upholding the law is part of our Code of Conduct – it reinforces what our customers and stakeholders expect of us.

At Loblaw, we seek great people to continually strengthen our culture. We believe great people model our values, are authentic, build trust, and make connections.

If this opportunity interests you, apply today!

Loblaw is committed to sustainability by sourcing products with integrity and making a positive difference in the community. Our CORE Values – Care, Ownership, Respect and Excellence – guide all our decision-making and come to life through our Blue Culture. We offer our colleagues progressive careers, comprehensive training, flexibility, and other competitive benefits – these are some of the many reasons why we are one of Canada’s Top Employers, Canada’s Best Diversity Employers, Canada’s Greenest Employers & Canada’s Top Employers for Young People.

Employment Type:

Full time

Type of Role:

Regular

We have a long-standing focus on diversity, equity and inclusion because we know it will make our company a better place to work and shop. We are committed to creating accessible environments for our colleagues, candidates and customers. Requests for accommodation due to a disability (which may be visible or invisible, temporary or permanent) can be made at any stage of application and employment. We encourage candidates to make their accommodation needs known so that we can provide equitable opportunities.

Please Note:  

Candidates who are 18 years or older are required to complete a criminal background check. Details will be provided through the application process.