Product Strategy & Innovation Manager, E-Commerce

Rich’s, also known as Rich Products Corporation, is a family-owned food company dedicated to inspiring possibilities. From cakes and icings to pizza, appetizers and specialty toppings, our products are used in homes, restaurants and bakeries around the world. Beyond great food, our customers also gain insights to help them stay competitive, no matter their size. Our portfolio includes creative solutions geared at helping food industry professionals compete in foodservice, retail, in-store bakery, deli, and prepared foods, among others. Working in 100 locations globally, with annual sales exceeding $4 billion, Rich’s is a global leader with a focus on everything that family makes possible. Rich’s®—Infinite Possibilities. One Family.
PURPOSE STATEMENT
The Strategy & Innovation Manager will lead the strategic objectives of the ecommerce division by proactively identifying and developing new, on trend business and portfolio opportunities across all categories that have the potential to drive growth and profitability across the various Go-to-market (GTM) platforms for ecommerce (B2B2C, D2C and D2O).
This is a hybrid role and this professional must live in the Buffalo NY area and will be required to work in office 3 days/week.
Key Accountabilities/Outcomes
Strategy Development:

• Collaborate with ecommerce division sales and marketing teams to uncover new portfolio opportunities and solutions that will drive material sales, profits and market share growth for Rich’s
• Lead efforts to identify both long and short term strategy growth opportunities based on customers unmet & unarticulated needs by:
• Use the in-depth customer knowledge to be the champion of the 'voice of the customer' within CBUs, NWT and STM teams
• Developing an in-depth understanding of the operational environment within ecommerce customers (Pureplay, Direct to Consumer and 3rd party)
• Use various sources of market research data to understand the customers' and their consumers' unarticulated needs.
• Developing an in-depth understanding of consumers' attitudes, behaviors and opinions as they relate to our product categories online
• Use financial data to draw conclusions and support sound business decisions.

New Product Development

• Initiate and lead discovery activities as needed for ecommerce product & portfolio initiatives
• Work closely with CBU ecommerce champions and coordinate with R&D, packaging, technology teams, plants, suppliers, etc. for new concept testing, line trials, cuttings and evaluations
• Develop an understanding of new trends, emerging technologies, start-ups and leaders in innovation and develop ways to utilize the knowledge
• Participate in product development and optimization of new products for ecommerce division leading to validated proposition that process hurdles and metrics.
• Participate in Discovery and Voice Of Customer activities to identify opportunities on an ongoing basis
• Translate data and observations into insights and elements of a new business/platform
• Responsible for business case development and market assessments
• Responsible for developing viable platforms and business models aligned to customer requirements, market needs and consumer demand
• Keen understanding of channel and customer economics and apply the knowledge as needed
• Partner with insight strategist to develop an innovation strategic framework

Project Management: Partner with NWT and STM to drive and complete ecommerce new product launches, innovations and renovations by using project/process best practices:

• Participate and process deliverables for WTR, Triage and various STM steps
• Develop solid understanding of our facilities and product categories, understand our manufacturing processes and capabilities across all categories and divisions
• Establish risk mitigation plan
• Ensure updated, detailed project plan available to all team members, clearly communicated to the NWT team using the Responsibilities & Accountabilities Chart
• Provide guidance and direction as Subject Matter Experts in process
• Familiarity with financial analysis P&L preparation; engage financial discussion with project team and participate in CapEx process as needed. Function as single point of contact for CBUs, NWT and STM teams with ecommerce division by supplying expertise and direction, providing project next steps to the organization
• Ensure project data is accurate in the Pulse
• Utilization of various project management tools available to make certain deliverables are completed on-time and communicated as set within the scope of the project.
• Manage project budget for ecommerce team

Knowledge/Skills/Experience

• Strong organization skills - ability to anticipate issues and identify need for escalation
• Demonstrated ability to move seamlessly between big picture and detailed execution; is able to make consistently solid judgment decisions based on limited data.
• Demonstrated organization and detail-orientation with the ability to meet all process requirements and deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to lead and facilitate key cross functional interactions
• Bachelor’s degree in marketing or related field required; MBA strongly preferred
• Highly energetic and passionate with an entrepreneurial spirit and thrives in a fast-paced, performance driven culture; bottom-line, execution focused; ability to think creatively Proven ability to articulate an inspiring vision and powerful sense of shared purpose in others.
• Demonstrated ability with ambiguity and fluidity and the ability to make decisions in a rapidly changing environment while achieving quality results; ability to navigate situations where an established way of doing things may not exist #CORP123 #
• Solid business and financial acumen – demonstrated ability to develop the financial and economic strategy of business opportunities
• Solid communication skills to include verbal and written capabilities; strong presentation skills
• Solid influencing skills to accomplish goals; leading through influence as well as through direct reporting authority; influencing skills include experience working with a variety of levels within an organization
• Minimum 5 years of experience focused on new product, platform, or business development, either in a corporate or start-up environment. Demonstrated ability to develop, incubate and scale new products, platforms or businesses

#CORP123
Rich Products Corporation, its subsidiaries and affiliates (“Rich’s”), are committed to a policy of Equal Employment Opportunity and will not discriminate against an applicant or employee on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, sex, age, physical or mental disability, veteran or military status, genetic information, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status or any other legally recognized protected basis under federal, state, or local law. The information collected by this application is solely to determine suitability for employment, verify identity, and maintain employment statistics on applicants.
Applicants with disabilities may be entitled to reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act and certain state or local laws. A reasonable accommodation is a change in the way things are normally done which will ensure an equal employment opportunity without imposing undue hardship on Rich’s. Please contact Rich’s Human Resources department at [email protected] if you need assistance completing this application or to otherwise participate in the application process.