Technical Innovation Manager at Diageo

Purpose of Role

• Establish an effective and sustainable Technical Innovation Team within South Africa under the direction of the Global Technical Innovations Centre and the Technical Innovations Director. Lead and manage the function. Be the ambassador and role model for the GBTC
• Utilise this team to deliver the brand change agenda of innovation, renovation and BVE in South Africa
• Own and drive the flat COGs and BVE pipeline for the region and act as point contact for the RSA Supply Director in co-ordination and deployment of technical resources against annual business priorities.
• Own and drive the establishment of strong functional capability programmes particularly in Brand Change and ensure that capability initiatives are fully grounded and implemented.
• Ensure aligned ways of working that all projects are managed through agreed business processes and that best practices in brand change and commercialisation are systematically applied.
• Be the business partner interface to the Innovation & Supply Directors and the focal point of local co-ordination on Governance, alignment on priorities with Supply Innovation and hub markets and on deployment of expert technical resources where required to meet Supply business continuity needs.
• Accountable for and champions the use of standardised processes and ways of working with GBTC Africa-facing Brand Change & Technology managers responsible for implementation.
• Ensure projects are prioritised and resourced in line with business needs;
• Exceed 98% metric on cost, quality, time KPIs;
• Rapid relationship building, with constantly changing stakeholders, in order to build and maintain a project pipeline that enables robust prioritization, capacity and resource planning;
• Creating opportunities / possibilities by leveraging the art of the possible in supply capability to shape the product concept.

Top 3-5 Accountabilities

• Support, Develop and continually motivate the Technical Team to deliver exemplary governance
• Strong focus on delivery with full ownership and accountability to ensure brilliant execution in project completion
• The ability to ruthless prioritise activity based on business need and benefit
• Drives the adoption of global processes, including C2C (concept to consumer) and aligned ways of working
• Promotes application of best practice project management, portfolio management and technology development / transfer
• Ensure each programme in the portfolio follows Global I&BC Standards and delivers against portfolio financial targets (in addition to KPIs).
• Leads the growth and leadership development of a highly capable team of Level 5 members (and their reports), linked to the established Diageo Leadership Standard, to ensure that there is a highly sustainable I&BC function into the long term with a reputation for outstanding execution and from where Supply leaders of the future regularly emerge.

Qualifications And Experience Required

• Relevant degree, preferably in the field of; Technical Innovations
• At least 10 years Innovation/Research and Development as well as Project management experience in FMCG environment (manufacturing or Quality environment and within research and development/innovations)
• Strong Technical or Operations bias (proven understanding of timelines, costs, risks, manufacturing options).
• 10 years of solid experience in brand Change including; processes and ways of working, innovation / renovation / BVE
• Proven leadership skills particularly in creating possibilities, change management, consistently delivering great performance and ability to build alignment with key business partners
• Proven people & team management experience and functional skills, particularly in technical project and portfolio management required.
• Strong breadth and depth of knowledge of technology in the drinks industry and familiarity with governance, quality and regulatory activities
• A seasoned project lead.

Barriers to Success in Role
Lack Of

• Self-drive and execution mind-set
• Proven brand change track record
• Leadership & influencing skills – of tenacity, flexibility to suit varying circumstances & ability to solve problems and to deal effectively with ambiguity and risk
• Programme and project management experience and demonstrated delivery of aggressive On Time In Full targets (95%+)
• Team development and leadership skills and demonstrated capability development of direct reports
• Limited knowledge of the relevant legislation