Senior Manager New Product Innovation

About the Role:

The Senior Manager, New Product Innovation leads the end-to-end execution of new product launches, packaging renovations, limited-time offers, import innovations, and portfolio expansion initiatives across HEINEKEN USA. This role serves as the primary project leader connecting Marketing, Supply Chain, Commercial, Procurement, Quality, Legal, Packaging, Finance, HNS, HMEX, breweries, co-packers, and external suppliers to deliver innovation projects on time, within budget, and in alignment with commercialization objectives.

The position owns portfolio governance, stage-gate progression for supply chain, launch readiness, stakeholder alignment, risk mitigation, and innovation execution from concept through post-launch performance review. Responsibilities include managing new liquid innovations, packaging redesigns, supplier-led innovation opportunities, import projects, keg innovations, seasonal releases, and product renovations.

Serve in a key position within Operations. Facilitate integration of new suppliers into the existing supply chain footprint to deliver volume and drive value. Work collaboratively with key business partners to ensure effective supply chain management, interact cross functionally to identify and meet business requirements at a strategic and executional level. Work closely with other Heineken Global partners to ensure effective end-to-end supply chain management. Externally engage with other key Stakeholders necessary to perform and deliver the requirements of the role.

Key Responsibilities:

Project Management and Performance Management

• Project manage the new and existing network of breweries into the new liquid innovation process.
• Prepare executive-ready updates for cross-functional steering committees and leadership teams
• Present project status, risks, options, and recommended actions to senior leadership
• Create tasks and timelines for supply chain to enable the Heineken way of Innovation and Gate Process
• Ensure sourcing options can meet aggressive timelines and deliver on budget product launches.
• Lead performance management activities including KPIs, continuous improvement initiatives, and conduct quarterly business reviews with key supplier partners to ensure strategic alignment and operational excellence.
• Define, monitor, and drive performance across defined KPI's including forecast accuracy, on-time, cost of goods, productivity, quality performance, inventory, working capital, responsible sourcing and compliance.
• Define and implement management systems to deliver performance and value.
• Establish routine and relevant reporting for KPIS for delivery, cost, and quality.
• Ensure supply chain partners are executing product development efforts on time, at target cost, and at target quality.
• Continually evaluate opportunities for improved service provision and value.
• Identify and implement productivity opportunities at new beverage manufacturers and across the supply chain, leveraging Lean Six Sigma processes and TPM methodology.

Supplier & External Partner Management

• Lead communication with suppliers, co-packers, packaging vendors, ingredient suppliers, and global innovation partners.
• Manage supplier readiness, lead-time risks, MOQ requirements, transfer-price assessments, and production feasibility.
• Escalate issues impacting launch timing and develop recovery plans.

Commercialization & Launch Readiness

• Coordinate artwork approvals, dielines, packaging specifications, UPC creation, pallet patterns, market requirements, and commercialization deliverables.
• Ensure successful handoff between innovation teams and operational execution.
• Manage inventory transition strategies, launch timing, distributor readiness, and market deployment requirements.
• Partner with Sales and Marketing to align launches with customer and retailer expectations
• Secure New Supply Chains in Accordance with Supply Chain Network Strategy
• Evaluate the network to successfully integrate new beverage innovations into the existing supply chain networks.
• Ownership of a new network with supplier identification, qualification, and management of ongoing performance.
• Evaluate through scenario planning and business cases when to externally manufacture or embed production in own HEINEKEN network.
• Liaise between internal stakeholders and suppliers to ensure compliance to sourcing policies and procedures.
• Effective management of internal and external transfer prices to design the most impactful network.
• Lead annual financial planning and quarterly business reviews.
• Secure services and negotiate with suppliers based on capabilities, cost, capacity, and ensure a reliable supply model.
• Assess the technical capabilities with focus on product quality & integrity of potential new partners for production of HUSA products.
• Define performance objectives, incentives and penalties to ensure successful volume delivery.
• Establish governance for planning and execution activities.
• Collaborate and create new logistic processes for warehousing and transportation condition standards.

Integrate Partners into the Supply Chain

• Lead sourcing activities for advanced development providing end-to-end cost visibility and ensure products deliver against cost KPIs and align with best-in-class cost expectations.
• Drive close collaboration with the new supplier and HUSA supply chain planning teams to synchronize production scheduling and inventory management.
• Work closely with HUSA supply chain planning to help to secure capacity and mitigate potential issues during peak demand.
• Collaborate with new supplier and HUSA supply planning team to anticipate issues and create solutions.
• Ensure integration of demand forecasts and supply plans to deliver on business objectives.
• Align key internal and external stakeholders to maximize customer service and minimize inventory and obsolescence of both finished goods and raw materials.
• Ensure the effective coordination, cost management and network optimization for freight logistics costs.
• Manage all aspects of Purchase Order (PO) creation and management for Domestic Production.

Safeguard Quality and Compliance Management

• Ensure that manufacturers are adhering to quality standards for ongoing production while driving continuous improvement activities.
• Certify supply base compliance with customer requirements, regulatory agencies, government regulations, contract specifications, company policies and procedures.
• Enforce all relevant HUSA policies and implications for the network.
• Document all new ways of working for the end-to-end operation including quality, ordering, planning and logistics.
• Develop contingency and enforcement of risk mitigation plans.

Basic Qualifications/Requirements:

• 5+ years' experience through relevant supply chain positions
• Strong project management/execution skills to meet aggressive deliverables
• Strong interpersonal, communication, influencing, organizational and analytical skills to gain stake holder alignment
• Negotiation skills
• Ability to demonstrate thought/idea leadership to develop innovative beverage network sourcing solutions
• Must be willing and able to travel up to 40% of the time.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Educated to Degree Level (Supply Chain or relevant discipline)
• Knowledge of NPI management
• Practical experience on continuous improvement methodologies, such as TPM, TQM and/or Lean 6 Sigma

Compensation & Benefits:

• Base Salary Range: $135,000 - $150,000 + Annual Bonus
• Benefits - Medical/Dental/Vision + Matching 401k Plan
• Vacation – 20 Days Paid Vacation & Unlimited Wellness Days
• $200 Monthly Beverage Allowance

HEINEKEN USA is an equal opportunity employer. Embracing and celebrating diversity is core to HEINEKEN's purpose of "brewing the joy of true togetherness to inspire a better world". We believe that people as diverse as our brews – including and not limited to gender, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, religious belief, nationality, social background, disability and thinking style – enrich our lives and strengthen our business. We welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates as we champion a culture of belonging that provides fair and equal opportunities for all.

This position is not available for visa sponsorship.

This position does not provide relocation assistance.