Innovation Project Manager at Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc

Location: Apapa, Lagos

The Purpose

• To support the business in making innovation the engine for growth and build shareholder value via providing innovation governance process end to end - identifying, developing / renovating & launching new brands, products, and delivery systems that satisfy our customers’ and consumers’ current and future needs.

The Job
Leadership Responsibilities:

• Work with cross-functional teams to deliver 1 major & 2 smaller sustainable innovation projects each year & develop a balanced 5-year pipeline of projects to be launched in future years.
• The Innovation Project Manager is responsible to provide leadership in the following areas:
  • Ensure the relevant team is full training on the Stage-Gate process to enable them to deliver FMN entry strategy, business models, and trademark strategies across categories.
  • The ability to navigate and excite cross-functional teams & agencies to gain the necessary traction and resource commitment.
  • Support the development and alignment of FMN’s innovation agenda.

Functional Capabilities:

• Innovation - Excellence in making connections and crafting these connections to become branded experiences that delight a new consumer cohort, all grounded in local insights.
• Systematic – Ability to coordinate tasks, ensure the team's clarity on the key deliverables of the various project stages.
• Sales/Customer - Understanding of different customer/channel needs and environments.
• Project Management - Able to manage success across a portfolio of innovations touching all parts of the business.

Process:

• Can support the team to build the business case for innovations / renovations and identify the competitive edge it could provide for the business.

Financial Delivery:

• Good understanding of managing for value and the ability to run an Innovation P&L with an appreciation of the levers that influence financial performance.

Organization:

• Identifies areas for new improvement and drives high standards in Innovation processes / tools.

Financial Responsibility:

• Ensure team adherence to pre-agreed financial commitment and highlight any potential deviations to the project team where needed.

 Qualifications

• Mechanical / Material or Chemical Engineering BSc.
• MSc in Materials or Chemistry.

Experience:

• 9+ years experience in Innovation project Management.

The Person:

• Understanding all aspects of key deliverables to launch a new product initiative.
• Delivering successful projects by leading a cross-functional team.
• Proven ability to influence across an organization from peers to executive level.
• Excellent track record of project management processes and practices.
• Good collaborator with excellent communication skills.