Cough, Cold & Flu Innovation Lead

Role Summary

The Cough, Cold & Flu Innovation Lead develops new innovation platforms, product ideas and claims, and drives cross-functional teams to deliver products to launch readiness for Haleon’s cough, cold and flu portfolio. The role requires building a multi-year pipeline by identifying, validating and leading the development of new ideas, and managing multiple projects across marketing, insights, R&D and external partners. This position is based in Warren, NJ, with a hybrid in-office requirement of three days per week.

Responsibilities

• Lead innovation platform identification and project delivery for brands such as Robitussin and Theraflu
• Execute on time and in full several projects as part of a robust 3-year pipeline
• Build and validate strong consumer-driven propositions, business cases, concepts, pricing, packaging direction and launch support scenarios
• Project manage and lead cross-functional teams to deliver on time in full. Lead projects and teams through stage gates
• Represent pipelines and projects in governance meetings, retailer engagements, etc.
• During development, effectively transfer to marketing partners for commercialization and launch
• Collaborate with key partners (Brand, Insights, R&D, Sales Strategy, Finance, etc.)
• Liaise with and interact with third party business partners (including at a senior level) to collaborate on innovation pipelines and accelerate timelines

Qualifications

• Required: Minimum 5 years of dedicated innovation experience
• Required: At least 4 years of combined experience across marketing, consumer insights, and innovation
• Required: Proven track record in P&L and budget management
• Required: Demonstrated success in building and delivering a long-term innovation pipeline
• Required: Strong ability to uncover and apply actionable consumer insights
• Required: Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Required: Experience leading cross-functional teams within a matrixed organization
• Required: Familiarity with U.S. category dynamics and market landscape
• Required: Experience in the Consumer Packaged Goods industry
• Required: External focus – aware of trends, ingredients, culture beyond your job specifications
• Required: Consumer obsessed and a fascination with the products and categories we sell in - formulations, science, look and feel – with a commitment to deliver superiority
• Required: Strong financial acumen, with the ability to build strong business cases, forecasts, and manage budgets
• Preferred: MBA
• Preferred: Proven delivery of flawless launches
• Preferred: Demonstrated analytical ability to understand and report data to drive business decisions
• Preferred: Project Management Experience
• Preferred: Commercialization Experience (New Item Launch Experience)
• Preferred: Experience using AI as an Innovation Tool

Education

• Bachelor’s degree