Innovation Manager

• Lead ideation and innovation initiatives,front-end innovation projects, and commercialization strategy from start to finish while optimizing and deploying innovation development best practices to meet Americas growth goals.
• Lead the design and execution of the Americas innovation strategy to deliver new product spaces, business models and capabilities.
• Develop, communicate, and successfully execute strategic vision, goals, drivers, and fiscal year plans for the Americas Trading Bloc Innovation initiatives in conjunction with the Strategic Innovation business manager.
• Develops business plans that create a strong business case (through Basis for Evaluation and Basis for Interest) to launch new product/category/platform; supported by:
• Relevant consumer insights from formal and informal research and diligence
• Strong financial viability (Breakeven analysis and P&L)
• Significant market growth potential (Forecasting)
• Applied best-practices in sustainability (Vendor, material, regulatory, claims, and messaging)
• Proactively develop, monitor, and control key initiatives, appropriate budgets, forecasts, measures of success, etc. to achieve required America’s overall business goals.
• Review current portfolio for potential innovative sustainable improvements and best practices.
• Responsible and accountable as the main liaison to Latin America ensuring their Innovation needs are being met and / or addressed.
• Ensure innovation plan aligns with America’s goals and requirements by being the active brand and innovation voice for Canada, Latin America, and USA business segments.
• Actively support global and America’s efforts related to corporate, GTC, new product development/innovation, quality, IT, HR, IP, acquisitions, and divestures. Drive innovation efforts through necessary departments creating the pipeline to market success.
• Plan and define Project Scope with input from R&D team, define project scope and objectives, including identifying and determining project outcomes, critical success pathways, and appropriate parameters including projected budget and initial risk assessment.
• Lead, develop and execute the Tribology University program for the Americas and influence global development of this program. Support the sharing of Tribology and Innovation globally through inventive and engaging mediums.

• Bachelor's degree in business, marketing, engineering, or related field. MBA is a plus
• 5+ years of experience in innovation, product management, or hybrid innovation/marketing.
• Strong knowledge of sustainable product development processes, including ideation, market research, prototyping, testing, and launch.
• Excellent communication, project management, and leadership skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a cross-functional team environment.
• Knowledge of mechanical and/or chemical product development with a passion for sustainable innovation and creating new sustainable products that solve consumer needs while minimizing our environmental impact.
• Experience in the sustainable consumer products industry is a plus.
• Successful development and management of innovation plans, marketing plans and new product launches within defined timelines and budgets
• Strong knowledge of product development processes, including ideation, market research, prototyping, testing, and launch.
• Experience with lean innovation, preferably within a corporate environment.
• Excellent communication, project management, and leadership skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a cross-functioanl team environment.
• Experience in the sustainable consumer products industry is a plus.
• Fluency in Spanish is a plus

• Learning-based culture that supports the growth and development of all tribe members
• Strong values aligned culture whose #1 strategic driver is to build a business for the future that we will be proud to hand down to the next generation
• Over 93.3% employee engagement as of January 2022 global employee survey
• A culture where 93% of the tribe report experience a sense of belonging
• Voted Most Democratic Workplace and certified WorldBlu Freedom Centered Workplace

Thank you for considering WD-40 Company in your career search! #WD40TribalLife #PositiveLastingMemories