Vp New Product Introduction

The Opportunity

The VP, New Product Introduction (NPI) group will be seated in either Richmond, VA, or Atlanta, GA, at our Sandy Springs, HQ, and serve as a key member of the Science & Innovation organization and will report directly to the Chief Science & Innovation Officer of WestRock. The NPI group will serve as the interface between Research & Development and the business units and mill network, with responsibility for driving WestRock’s innovation strategy and ensuring initiatives are complete within scope, on budget, and on time. The NPI leader will accelerate the introduction of new fiber-based products and process innovations into targeted markets by commercializing a portfolio of complex R&D projects to drive profitable organic growth.

How you will impact WestRock

• Develop technology value propositions to address customer pain points and champion customer needs.
• Collaborate and drive cross functional alignment with stakeholders to set pipeline strategy and objectives while maintaining accountability for delivering on the commercialization of the innovation pipeline.
• Influence P&L leaders and decision makers across a range of functions to drive decisions and issue resolution.
• Build robust business cases to successfully commercialize R&D projects in partnership with marketing and product commercialization teams within the business units.
• Establish and maintaining relationships with counterparts at key customers and suppliers.
• Use proven processes to synthesize product requirements from Voice of the Customer (VOC) feedback.
• Lead the charge to gather voice of the customer (VOC) through collaboration with marketing and commercial functions to understand industry trends, and customer needs.
• Foster a culture of creativity.
• Oversee the continuous improvement and training of the stage-gate process.
• Implement the use of portfolio management tools to allocate and manage resources against shifting business priorities.
• Foster a culture of structured problem solving.
• Prepare and routinely provide portfolio and project updates to senior management.

What you will need for this role:

• An owner’s mindset with a bias for action, with an ability to set clear goals and drive accountability to meet performance, timing, and financial targets.
• Effective communications skills (verbal and written).
• Prior R&D experience developing and launching new products.
• Proven expertise in Portfolio Management with the ability to manage multiple large projects simultaneously and prioritize work.
• A bachelor’s degree in a physical science or engineering discipline.
• 10+ years of Portfolio and Project Management experience managing a diverse portfolio of complex R&D projects across both short and long term time horizons.
• Change agility with experience driving organizational change acceleration.
• Experience managing teams with 10 or more professionals.
• Ability to recruit and develop top talent and sponsor professional development for direct reports and subordinate team members to build a robust talent pipeline and succession plan.
• Experience building and managing annual operating budgets > $10M.
• Thought leadership and the ability to craft and articulate a compelling vision for the value of innovation to teammates, internal stakeholders, and decision makers at customers.
• Experience leading a Project Management Office (PMP or other PM Certifications Preferred).
• Expertise in driving a cross functional stage-gate process.
• 15+ years’ of leadership experience in a large multinational industrial or consumer products company.
• Ability to manage and gauge risk while working with ambiguity.

What we offer

• A career with a global packaging company where Sustainability, Safety and Inclusion are business drivers and foundational elements of the daily work.
• Corporate culture based on integrity, respect, accountability, and excellence.
• A leadership role on a dynamic and creative team within a Fortune 200 global company committed to our Purpose of Innovating Boldly and Packaging Sustainably.
• Comprehensive training based on numerous learning and development opportunities.
• An attractive salary reflecting skills, competencies and potential.