Innovation Portfolio Leader

Sazerac Company Overview

Build your career at Sazerac! With almost 400 years of rich history, Sazerac Company has thrived as an independent, American family-owned company with operations in the United States and around the world. Since the 2000s, Sazerac has averaged double digit growth every year! Sazerac Company produces and markets the most award-winning bourbons and whiskeys in the world, including Buffalo Trace, Pappy Van Winkle, Eagle Rare, Blanton’s, and Sazerac Rye. Additionally, Sazerac owns many popular brands across a range of spirits, including Fireball, Southern Comfort, Seagram’s V.O., Myers’s, Goldschläger, Parrot Bay, 99 Brand, and Platinum Vodka. 

We’re proud of our award-winning culture and distilleries. Our Louisville office has been named one of the “Best Places to Work in Kentucky” four times, and our Buffalo Trace Distillery has earned the title of “world’s most award-winning distillery” through the dedication of our craftsmen for well over 200 years. Whether you’re a recent graduate or an experienced professional, Sazerac provides extraordinary opportunities for growth with competitive salaries and benefits in an exciting, entrepreneurial industry.

Job Description/Responsibilities

As the Innovation Portfolio Leader you will be part of the successful delivery of innovation which is critical to delivering Sazerac's growth plans. This role owns the full innovation pipeline and brand innovation strategy changes and new launches both domestic and global, internal and external in nature.  This role is responsible to bridge strategy and execution and has end to end leadership for working with the brand leaders to design, develop and execute innovation in connection with the multifunctional team to ensure on time delivery of innovation (all aspects: idea, scope lock, design lock, artwork, master data set up, sales set up, ordering, production, shipment, in market, etc.) as well as the interim steps along the innovation process.  This can encompass growth, maintenance, optimization and refresh projects across any Brand including new Brands for Sazerac and includes owning multi-year brand plans that drive volume, costs and profitability.

What You’ll Do:

• Grow sales volume, manage and optimize cost of goods and overheads - while delivering highest quality products. Priority Brands will grow in volume and profit at a faster rate than the total business and will comprise more than 65% of the portfolio.
• Maintain a prioritized list of new initiatives and ensure projects are communicated and managed in order to achieve target ship dates and volumes.

Qualifications/Requirements

Required:

• Bachelor's degree
• 5+ years relevant experience
• Hands-on project management or commercialization experience in FMCG, beverage alcohol, CPG, or manufacturing sectors
• Proven track record of managing physical products through an end-to-end commercialization cycle from initial marketing idea all the way to shelf.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multi-project pipelines in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong cross-functional influencing, collaboration, and stakeholder management skills with the ability to lead teams without direct line authority.
• Detail oriented with ability to quickly learn new systems/processes
• Strong planning, organization, and interpersonal skills to influence direction and all functions

Preferred:

• PMP certification
• Strong working knowledge of MS office productsand quick adaptability to digital stage-gate platforms, workflow management systems, and ERP tools

Culture and Benefits:

Sazerac offers a comprehensive compensation and benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, 401K, paid time off, and more. These benefits may vary depending on location and work type. Learn more about how we support our employees here.

The annual salary range for this role is $105,000 - $155,000. Final compensation will be based on relevant experience, qualifications, geographic location, and internal pay equity considerations.

Sazerac is committed to equality of opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, veteran status, age, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, physical or mental disability or any other legally protected status.

What’s Next:

After you apply, a recruiter will review your application and reach out to qualified candidates. Selected candidates will follow our interview process, which may include a phone screen, hiring manager interview, and panel interviews with business leaders. There may be additional steps or assessments throughout the process dependent on the position. Applicants who are not selected to move through the process, at any stage, will be notified via email.

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