Sr Manager, Product Innovation
 

From pantry staples at places like Target to samples at Costco, to your online shopping carts at Amazon, Advantage Solutions ensures your favorite goods are always in stock and within reach. We connect manufacturers to the right retailers and help retailers efficiently get those products into your hands. We elevate brand presence, enhance retail strategies, optimize performance, and create memorable customer experiences. 

Our Explore team is a newly launched data and AI innovation team that combines cutting-edge AI technology with deep retail expertise to reinvent how brands, retailers, and shoppers interact. We prioritize developing and testing AI technologies that give us competitive differentiation. We don't just imagine the future; we build, test, and scale it 

As our Sr. Manager of Product Innovation, you'll be the driving force behind identifying and testing new AI use cases across our enterprise. Working directly with our VP of Innovation & Strategy and the executive leadership of our business units, you'll lead AI proof-of-concept initiatives that push the boundaries of what's possible in retail. 

This is a unique opportunity to join a small, nimble, high-impact team with ambitious goals and direct visibility to senior leadership. You'll help shape how one of retail's largest solutions providers embraces the AI revolution. 

The Explore team office is in the Chicago West Loop. This is a hybrid role requiring 1-3 days/week onsite. 

What we offer:

• Full-Time Benefits (Medical, Dental, Vision, Life)
• 401(k) with company match
• Training and Career Development
• Generous Paid Time-Off 

 
Responsibilities  
 

• Working with business leaders to clarify business opportunities, define new concepts, build high-level business cases, and prioritize potential use cases. 
• Defining and managing PoC and Pilot programs with internal teams and external strategic partners. 
• Technology partner scouting including investigating emerging technologies and trends, assessing potential technology partners, and conducting due diligence. 
• Developing and facilitating executive-level innovation workshops. 
• Conducting basic field research to understand business processes and user needs. 
• Networking and promoting awareness of the Explore team and AI within the Advantage IT organization and the business groups with which it partners.
   
   

Required Experience 
 

• Bachelor’s degree and 8+ years of experience in software product, innovation, engineering, or a related field, or master’s or MBA (preferred) and 4+ years of experience. 
• 4+ years of experience in a role primarily tasked with running POC and Pilot programs
• 4+ years of leadership experience managing cross-functional teams and projects. 
• User requirements, and product definition 
• Experience with innovation management frameworks and tools. 
• Executive-level innovation workshop definition and facilitation
   
   

Desired Experience 

• Deep understanding of CPG and Retail business and operational models. 
• Expertise in service design and field research,
• Experience working in a technology-driven 
• Local to Chicago, IL, and willing and able to go onsite a couple of days/week.
   
   

 Capabilities  
 

• Strong software project management skills and ability to oversee multiple innovation projects from concept to execution. 
• Expertise in analyzing data, market trends, and competitive landscapes to identify 
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills for presenting ideas and influencing stakeholders. 
• Ability to collaborate with technical teams and understand technical concepts. 
• Familiar with design thinking methodologies and ability to facilitate workshops and brainstorming sessions. 
• Skills in managing an innovation pipeline and portfolio of projects. 
• Proficiency in using data and analytics to inform decision-making. 
• Ability to manage and influence senior executives and key stakeholders. 
• Proficiency in managing timelines, budgets, and resources. 
• Agile product management experience
   
   

Job Will Remain Open Until Filled 

The Company is one of North America’s leading sales and marketing agencies specializing in outsourced sales, merchandising, category management, and marketing services to manufacturers, suppliers, and producers of food products and consumer packaged goods. The Company services a variety of trade channels including grocery, mass merchandise, specialty, convenience, drug, dollar, club, hardware, consumer electronics, and home centers. We bridge the gap between manufacturers and retailers, providing consumers access to the best products available in the marketplace today.

Responsibilities

• IT Product Strategy: Define and communicate a comprehensive IT product strategy that aligns with the organization's overall business strategy. Develop and maintain a product roadmap that outlines key initiatives and enhancements.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including engineering, operations, security, and business units, to ensure successful product development and delivery. Foster strong working relationships with key stakeholders.
• Market Research: Conduct research to identify industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices in IT product management. Use market insights to inform product decisions and stay ahead of competitors.
• Product Development: Lead the product development process, defining product requirements, user stories, and acceptance criteria. Work with engineering teams to prioritize and execute product enhancements.
• Product Launch: Plan and execute product launches, including developing go-to-market strategies, pricing strategies, and marketing campaigns. Collaborate with marketing and sales teams to ensure successful product introductions.
• Product Metrics: Define and track key performance metrics for IT products, such as system uptime, reliability, performance, and user satisfaction. Use data-driven insights to drive product improvements.
• Budget Management: Develop and manage the IT product budget, including resource allocation, cost control, and financial forecasting.
• Risk Management: Identify and mitigate potential risks and challenges associated with IT product development and deployment.
• Stakeholder Communication: Effectively communicate the IT product vision, strategy, and progress to internal and external stakeholders, ensuring alignment and buy-in from all relevant teams.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Direct Reports
Hires, retains, trains, coaches, guides, directs, and develops direct reports using company-wide processes, tools, and resources.
Indirect Reports
May delegate work to others and provide guidance, direction, and mentoring to indirect reports.

Travel

Travel and Driving are not essential duties or functions of this job.

Minimum Qualifications

Education Level: Bachelor's Degree or equivalent experience.
Field of Study: Business, Management Information Systems, Computer Science, or equivalent job-related experience. PMI Certification is desired but not required.
Experience Requirements: 8+ years of experience in project management of varied complexities and scope.

Environmental & Physical Requirements

Office / Sedentary Requirements:

Incumbent must be able to perform the essential functions of the job. Work is performed primarily in an office environment. Typically requires the ability to sit for extended periods of time (66%+ each day), ability to hear the telephone, ability to enter data on a computer, and may also require the ability to lift up to 10 pounds.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Agile product management experience
• Software development experience
• Strong experience and understanding of web and mobile development technologies
• Ability to pick up technical and business concepts quickly
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Excellent organizational, time management, and project management skills
• Ability to work with business teams to help facilitate change management

Additional Information Regarding Job Duties and Job Descriptions

Job duties include additional responsibilities as assigned by one’s supervisor or other manager related to the position/department. This job description is meant to describe the general nature and level of work being performed; it is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required for the position. The Company reserves the right at any time with or without notice to alter or change job responsibilities, reassign or transfer job positions, or assign additional job responsibilities, subject to applicable law.  The Company shall provide reasonable accommodations of known disabilities to enable a qualified applicant or employee to apply for employment, perform the essential functions of the job, or enjoy the benefits and privileges of employment as required by the law.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of associates so classified.

The Company is committed to providing equal opportunity in all employment practices without regard to age, race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, religion, physical or mental disability, or any other category protected by law. As part of this commitment, the Company shall provide reasonable accommodations of known disabilities to enable an applicant or employee to apply for employment, perform the essential functions of the job, or enjoy the benefits and privileges of employment as required by the law.