Innovation Commercialisation Manager

We celebrate and nurture creative potential to break new ground. Our teams around the world, work together to innovate, explore creative possibilities, and develop new strategies. Whatever the role, we'll challenge, inspire, and support you to become the best innovator you can be.

About the Role

Innovation is the key driver of growth in the industry -building brand equity, capturing new consumers and moments, driving premiumisation, and delivering incremental value to customers.

As Innovation Commercialization - Italy, you will define the innovation strategy for the Italian market, collaborating closely with the European Innovation team to mobilize resources and bring breakthrough ideas to life locally.

You will lead innovations from Gate 3 (Concept & Design) through to Gate 6 (Learning & Optimization), ensuring every launch is validated against Italian consumer and customer insights. You will work closely with Consumer Marketing, Customer Marketing, Brand, NRM, and Supply Chain teams to develop strong, commercially sound launch plans and deliver flawless execution tailored to Italy.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop an insight-led innovation agenda, rooted in Italian consumer and customer needs, aligned with the broader European strategy.
• Lead end-to-end commercialization ensuring full alignment between marketing, sales, finance, and supply chain for successful market launches.
• Drive outstanding launches with clear 3-year plans, champion/exit strategies, and impeccable execution.
• Monitor performance continuously and adjust course to safeguard business results.
• Foster cross-functional collaboration internally and externally, influencing senior stakeholders effectively.
• Champion creative problem-solving and remove operational barriers.
• Apply commercial acumen to translate insights into growth for the Italian market.

About you

Ideal Experience & Qualifications

• 8+ years of marketing/commercial experience in FMCG, with a strong track record in innovation management from insight to market launch.
• Experience leading innovation launches in a complex, matrixed environment, ideally within multiple markets.
• Proven ability to influence and engage senior stakeholders across functions.
• Fluent in Italian and English.
• Strong numerical skills coupled with a detail-oriented and practical leadership style.

Working with us

Flexible Working:

Flexibility is key to our success. Talk to us about what flexibility means to you so that you're

supported to manage your wellbeing and balance your priorities from day one.

Rewards & Benefits:

We recognize and value performance, offering our people a highly competitive Rewards and Benefits package such as:

• Incentive plan that rewards you for delivering phenomenal performance.
• Modern work life balance policies and wellbeing activities.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Welfare Plan
• Working in the largest spirits' company in the world
• Industry leading functional and leadership capability trainings.
• Our product discounts.

Diversity:

Our purpose is to celebrate life, every day, everywhere. And creating an inclusive culture, where everyone feels valued and that they can belong, is a crucial part of this.

We embrace diversity in the broadest possible sense. This means that you'll be welcomed and celebrated for who you are just by being you. You'll be part of and help build and champion an inclusive culture that celebrates people of different gender, ethnicity, ability, age, sexual orientation, social class, educational backgrounds, experiences, mindsets, and more.

Our ambition is to create the best performing, most trusted and respected consumer products companies in the world. Join us and help transform our business as we take our brands to new heights and build new ones as part of shaping the next generation of celebrations for consumers around the world.

Feel inspired? Then this may be the opportunity for you.

If you require a reasonable adjustment, please ensure that you capture this information when you submit your application.

Client-provided location(s): Milan, Italy

Job ID: Diageo-JR1119653

Employment Type: FULL_TIME

Posted: 2025-11-04T20:30:29