Innovation Strategic Opportunity Area Leader (W/M)

Company Description

As a global key player in yeasts and fermentation, Lesaffre designs, manufactures and markets innovative solutions for Baking, Food taste & pleasure, Health care and Biotechnology.

Family group born in northern France in 1853, now a multi-national and a multicultural company, Lesaffre is committed to working with confidence to better nourish and protect the planet.
In close collaboration with its clients and partners, Lesaffre employs 11 000 people in more than 50 countries.

Lesaffre achieves a turnover of 3 billion euros.

For over 30 years, Lesaffre has been involved in Human Health & Nutrition as part of its ambition to Better Nourish and Protect the Planet. In November 2018, Lesaffre acquired Gnosis Advanced Biotech and officially combined it with Lesaffre Human Care to form a new Business Unit named Gnosis by Lesaffre.

Gnosis by Lesaffre is the business unit dedicated to human health.

At Gnosis by Lesaffre, we are committed to cultivating and to delivering nutritional actives, biotics, and nutritional yeasts that benefit human health and wellbeing, thanks to the power of microorganisms and biotransformation processes like fermentation. Put differently, we explore life to improve living.
Our vision: At Gnosis by Lesaffre, we strive for a world that moves better, digests better, ages better, feels better, and, ultimately, lives better thanks to microorganisms and fermentation.

Job Description

Job Purpose: The Strategic Opportunity Area (SOA) Leader is responsible for driving innovation and growth within assigned strategic opportunity area(s) for the Gnosis Business Unit. This role will develop and execute focused innovation strategies, lead cross-functional teams from opportunity identification through commercialization, and contribute to building a culture of innovation across the organization.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Build Innovation Strategy Development and Define Execution Plans for Assigned SOA(s).

• Develop comprehensive innovation strategies for assigned Strategic Opportunity Areas that align with overall business unit objectives and growth initiatives.
• Identify and define specific opportunities within the SOA that have the potential to create new value for the organization.
• Create detailed execution plans with clear milestones, resource requirements, and success metrics.
• Recommend appropriate organizational structures and operating models to support the SOA innovation strategy.

2. Drive SOAs from New Business Opportunity Identification to Launch Preparation for Commercialization.

• Leverage market insights, consumer trends, and technological advancements to identify new business opportunities within the assigned SOA.
• Lead cross-functional teams to evaluate, prioritize, and develop innovative product and service solutions.
• Oversee the end-to-end new product development process, from concept to commercialization readiness.
• Collaborate with commercial teams to ensure successful launch preparation and market adoption of new innovations.
• Identify and secure required competencies and expertise for successful project execution.

3. Foster BU Innovation Culture and Collaboration.

• Promote a culture of innovation and creativity within the assigned SOA and across the organization.
• Contribute to "Innovation Days" events and other inspirational initiatives to encourage ideation, experimentation, and knowledge sharing.
• Facilitate cross-functional collaboration and alignment to leverage diverse expertise and resources.
• Establish strong partnerships with internal and external stakeholders, including R&D, marketing, and business development functions.
• Effectively delegate responsibilities within projects to develop team capabilities and ensure efficient execution.

            4. Support Pipeline Portfolio Management and Governance Framework.

• Work with the Head of Strategy & Innovation to develop and maintain a robust innovation pipeline management framework.
• Monitor the performance and progress of innovation projects within the assigned SOA.
• Implement effective risk management and mitigation strategies to ensure successful delivery of innovation initiatives.
• Provide regular updates and recommendations to the leadership team on the innovation pipeline and strategic priorities.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of experience in innovation, new product development, or strategic business development roles, preferably in the nutraceuticals, consumer health, or nutrition industries.
• Proven track record of successfully identifying, developing, and commercializing new business opportunities.
• Demonstrated expertise in pipeline management, project or program management, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Strong leadership skills, with the ability to inspire and motivate teams to achieve ambitious goals
• Creative and strategic mindset, with the ability to think outside the box and identify innovative solutions.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to navigate complex organizational dynamics.
• Experience in delegating responsibilities effectively while maintaining accountability for outcomes.
• Global or regional experience in relevant health and nutrition categories.
• Advanced degree in a relevant field (e.g. healthcare/life sciences and/or business). 

Additional Information

What can Lesaffre offer you:

• Join a family business rich in a long history with human-oriented values with a mission: To Nourish and Protect our Planet.
• Evolve in an enriching work environment and a multicultural context.

At Lesaffre, diversity is a strength that enriches our culture and our teams. We are committed to offering you a work environment where you can thrive, regardless of your background, gender, age or abilities. We encourage all applications, as we believe that diverse perspectives strengthen our ability to innovate and meet the challenges of tomorrow.