New Product Development Manager - FMCG

MAJOR ACTIVITIES - 

- Initiation, development, testing and delivery (Test Launch) of full offer (NPD) basis current business plan (pipeline).

- Research internalization & insight generation

- Business Case development and approval

- Offer Development (Product, Brand, Communication) - liaison with R&D, Marketing, Consumer Insight, Strategic Initiatives, Procurement and Operations

- Offer Validation

- Test Launch

- Development of variants for existing business lines, basis brief from brand managers.

- Business Case development and approval

- Offer Development (Product, Brand, Communication) - liaison with R&D, Mktg, CI, SI, Ops

- Test Launch and Present Performance against Action Standard

- Develop Test Launch strategy

- Execute,Own and Share Test Launch performance for rollout decision

MAJOR CHALLENGES

This role has to drive multi-disciplinary team of R&D, Brand Managers, SI, CI, Sales and Operations through co-working and influence, as there is no direct reporting of other functions under the role.

High level of category understanding, planning and co-ordination with different teams, driving them towards meeting various stage-gates will be required as a stakeholder, not just a timekeeper.

KEY INTERACTIONS

- R&D Team: Product briefing, benchmarking, product exploration, product tests and results.

- Strategic Insights: New Offer process development, work-stream development, project updates.

- Consumer Insights: Research briefing, Research design, Discussion on information areas, Research reports and insights.

- Creative agency: Creative briefing, creative development, brand template development, research stimulus development, category understanding, Test Launch Communication and BTL plan development.

- Procurement: Packaging structures, packaging solutions, printing, shelf life studies, packaging cost.

- Brand Managers & Sales: Work closely to develop and execute both the offer and the test launch GTM

DIMENSIONS

- Number of projects running at any point of time: 3 big projects, 2-3 smaller variant projects

- Categories under scope: Feminine Hygiene, Fabric Clean & Care, UTC and related etc

- Direct reports: Trainee as required

- Dotted line working with: CI, SI, R&D, Procurement, Brand, Sales & Operations

- Should be open to extensive travel and working in the market and meeting consumers

RELEVANT EXPERIENCE:

- Should have exposure to practice of professional brand management at a national level.

- Should have led launch of new brands or products in his career.

- Should have used research inputs practically into development of brand and customer programs.

- Should have independently handled creative agencies.