Manager, Marketing Innovation--Latin America

The Opportunity 
This position works out of north Chicago, IL or Mexico City, Mexico locations within the Nutrition Division. If located in Mexico City, Mexico local conditions, benefits and hiring requirements would apply.

Our nutrition business develops science-based nutrition products for people of all ages, from helping babies and children grow to keeping adult bodies strong and active. Millions of people around the world count on our leading brands – including Similac®, PediaSure®, Pedialyte®, Ensure®, and Glucerna® – to help them get the nutrients they need to live their healthiest lives.  

As the Manager, Marketing Innovation for Latin America, you’ll have the chance to manage the innovation pipeline including insight generation, market and product scoping, financial valuations, claims and science story development and validation amongst consumers and health care professionals, contingency planning, and commercial project lead through stage-gate processes for key Abbott Nutrition brands in Latam – Similac, Pediasure, Ensure, Glucerna and Pedialyte.  

PRIMARY FUNCTION / PRIMARY GOALS / OBJECTIVES:
Responsible for managing innovation pipeline including: insight generation, market and product scoping, financial valuations, claims and science story development and validation amongst consumers and health care professionals, contingency planning, and commercial project lead through stage-gate processes for key Abbott Nutrition brands in Latam – Similac, Pediasure, Ensure, Glucerna and Pedialyte.  

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Drive consumer insight development and trend spotting, working with Marketing Insights to uncover competitively differentiated and superior product, package, and other innovation ideas tied directly to resolving a consumer need state.
• Builds value propositions translating to incremental financials opportunities with demonstrable consumer interest, addressing wider market and competitive landscape consideration.   
• Ensure pipeline sufficiency by planning innovation building blocks, together with contingency, to meet PA nutrition business objectives.
• Strategic prioritization of short term and longer term innovations to drive clarity on resource management, while balancing business needs  
• Meet regularly with consumers and HCPs/KOLs  
• Work with Global, Regional and Affiliate teams to develop regional innovation pipeline strategy and initiatives and support affiliates for individual pipelines across the brands.
• Seamlessly drive projects through the stage – gate processes, with close partnerships with cross functional teams – including R&D, Supply Chain, Project Management, Regulatory and others.
• Pulls together PIERs (Project Initiations in the system) for new product innovations with clear scoping (product, market, SKUs) and P&Ls meeting relevant financial hurdles.
• Work with business teams within Latam as well as other regions to refine opportunity attractiveness for new innovation concepts, and build advocacy for projects to increase alignment, size, and scope.
• Work directly with global, regional and affiliate marketing as well as cross functional partners (Market Insights, R&D) to continually develop and execute portfolio strategy, meeting the long-term growth needs of the brands.
• Monitor industry trends and competitor activities to identify new opportunities for the company, Review competitors’ products and suppliers proposals to identify opportunities for new products or improvements to existing ones

ACCOUNTABILITY/SCOPE:

• Responsible to drive insights & ideation as well as concept and claims development.
• Stringent vetting of claims, concepts and science stories amongst target consumers and health care professionals through qualitative and quantitative studies, for proven potential.
• Pull together PIERs with full scoping, financial and cross functional assessment for new projects.  
• Timely delivery of key deliverables across the stage gate process for all key initiatives.
• Lead large, regional projects; may lead strategic cross-category projects.

 KEY QUALIFICATIONS:

•  Strong analytical skills including business and financial management.
• A demonstrated leader; able to drive urgency for progress in self and others needing little direct supervision.
• Experienced in handling complex projects in a matrix organization with demonstrated ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams to attain business objectives.
• Experience in an international/multi-national corporation, working in global/area/local marketing team, and with R&D, Agencies, and other key cross-functional teams.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• More than 10 years of progressively responsible product marketing, brand management, or/and  innovation/product launch experience
• BA/BS Degree, MBA preferred due to the business complexity and strategic focus.

Learn more about our health and wellness benefits, which provide the security to help you and your family live full lives: https://abbottbenefits.com/

Follow your career aspirations to Abbott for diverse opportunities with a company that can help you build your future and live your best life. Abbott is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to employee diversity.

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