Innovation Insights Platform Leader, Global Innovation - CAT

Job Description:

Pet parent centric innovation is a critical enabler to the future success of the Mars Pet Nutrition. This role is responsible for delivering powerful pet parent insights in service of addressing Jobs- to-be-Done, and for developing and validating innovative propositions that drive growth, create value, and build meaningful differentiation -from inception through to launch. The job holder will play a pivotal role in driving our innovation agenda and shaping the future of the Mars Pet Nutrition portfolio powered by deep pet parent and pet insights

This is a co-piloting role which requires the holder to act as a strategic thought partner to Global Brand and Innovation teams. The role integrates consumer insight, cultural understanding, advanced analytics, and pet parent closeness tools to elevate decision-making and unlock growth. The Co‑Pilot operates as a core member of strategic discussions, challenging assumptions, bringing new thinking to the table and ensuring the voice of the pet parent meaningfully shapes brand, portfolio, and innovation strategies and decision-making.

This role reports to the Global Director Pet Parent Insights and works in close partnership with Global Innovation Program Leaders, Global Innovation Program Senior Director, and cross-functional leaders in Brand Marketing, R&D, CTI, Finance.

Primary responsibilities:

• Uncovers Powerful Pet Parent & Pet Insights to Fuel Winning Innovation: Uncovers and brings to life powerful insights that address priority Jobs-to-be-Done and underpin the development of innovative solutions -products, services, and experiences.
• Champions Pet Parent Co-Creation of Innovation Value Propositions: Determines the appropriate methods and platforms to engage with communities of pet parents, key target groups and customers in the co-creation process.
• Leads Development and execution of Learning Plans to feed innovation pipeline: Learning plans are based on application of agile innovation methodologies to develop winning propositions and accelerate time-to-market. Collaborates closely with partners across different functions to implement agile practices, allowing for minimum viable product prototyping and iterative testing, based on pet parents & pets feedback as well as robust insight driven evaluation and optimization of ideas throughout the QUEST process
• Partners with CTI/R&D to ensure opportunity areas are linked to current and future technologies (science, ingredients, benefits, packaging) to create our future innovation pipeline
• Assess Size of Opportunity and Size of Prize for Innovation Propositions: Assesses the market and business potential of market opportunities and new product/services ideas.
• Collaborates and Builds Strong Partnership with Marketing/Innovation Team Program leaders and Partners: Partners with Pet Parent Program Leaders and Director in the development and alignment of the 2-6-year strategic innovation pipeline.
• Knowledge Management Harvesting, Sharing and Documenting: Champions knowledge harvest, knowledge sharing, and disciplined documentation and communication of the results, insights, and recommendations from innovation projects for stakeholders and relevant teams.

• 7-10+ years of experience in market research, consumer insights, and innovation roles within the CPG industry. Direct experience and proven success in leading insights for innovation including front-end innovation is a must have.
• Technical Mastery and thought leadership on market research, innovation methodologies.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to translate data into actionable insights.
• Excellent written and oral communication and presentation skills, with the ability to effectively communicate complex research findings to stakeholders at all levels and to drive insights to action
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, and lead sprints with short timelines.
• Self-motivated, proactive, and able to work independently as well as collaboratively within a team.

• Business Insight
• Cultivates Innovation
• Action-Oriented
• Collaborates
• Builds Networks
• Communicates Effectively
• Manages Ambiguity

• Market research: Experience leading complex market research projects with expertise in a wide range of qualitative and quantitative methods and ability to apply them appropriately to business issues.
• Analytical Skills: Can identify and influence strategic decisions through fact-based analysis.
• Story-telling - ability to synthesise multiple data sets and create a compelling narrative that drives action
• Well-developed organization and project management skills to manage multiple projects and priorities at one time
• Strong management and interpersonal skills. Ability to influence without formal authority.
• Builds strong partnerships across functions and with OEs as well as with key agency suppliers