Global Innovation Process Lead

Position overview

The Global Innovation Process Lead is responsible for the entire development process. Starting from idea inception through the stage gate process to commercialization of the product. This encompasses not only value-added projects but cost improvements and any opportunity to create value for the company within the development process. This role involves collaborating with various departments, teams, and stakeholders to drive a culture of innovation and ensure these align with the company's strategic goals.

Key responsibilities

• Product Development: Lead and assist innovation team members with projects by owning the process from idea to commercialization. This includes driving ideas from end users and internal colleagues and implementing steps to change our products and create new products. Collaborate between sales, marketing, and manufacturing to run trials and oversee testing, costing; etc.; to determine a clear path forward for the specific development in question. Identify new potential products or strategies within the regions or at a global level. Report project updates to executives at gate meetings and as needed

• Process Implementation: Patent Liaison to coordinate communications for IP decisions throughout the regions. Lead the design and development of the Stage Gate processes with continual improvement. Communicate with the regional stake holders to collaborate on how to create value through new products and product differentiation.

• Organizing Gate Reviews: Facilitate gate ceremonies, milestone reviews to ensure that projects are updated and reflected upward and across each respective region. Document and communicate the outcomes and decisions to each region

• Support Regional Efforts: Collaborate with market managers to create distinct specification defense and novel opportunities to develop value added products within the strategy. Connect the different regional teams and hold regular regional meetings to ensure they communicate between each other, exchange information and collaborate on initiatives. Represent the global function when working with the regions.

• Budget Management: Work within the given annual budget and communicate expenses to the innovation team for consensus

• Performance Metrics: Monitor and report regional and corporate updates via the ExCo presentation

• Training and Development: Identify training needs and provide training to employees involved in the processes

• Documentation and Standardization: Maintain detailed documentation of the development steps and communication. Communicate patent needs between IP attorney and regions to make decisions on future IP.

Qualifications and skills

• BS in Engineering or equivalent in civil, material, polymer, textile, or chemical sciences

• Office suite series skills

• Willingness to travel

• 3-5 years of experience as a Project Manager

• Bilingualism is a must (French/English).

Benefits

• Competitive salary and annual bonus

• Flexible work schedule in hybrid mode

• Comprehensive benefits package

• Generous employee and family assistance program (including telemedicine and medicine)

• Possibility of contributing to an RRSP with employer contribution