New Product/Innovation Manager

My client is a leading global consumer products company with a diverse portfolio of brands. They are looking for candidates with experience in the consumer products industry that have work on developing completely new products from scratch (not enhancements or line extensions) This individual will be responsible for identifying consumer needs in new product categories, developing research plans and leading the entire implementation process. RESPONSIBILITIES: Will have revenue and profit responsibility for the category Develops global product line positioning and works with Market Development / Sales in the definition of distribution and channel strategies Provide strategic category direction to all new product development initiatives of the category Lead the development of product life cycle plans, including sku optimization and rationalization Develop pricing strategy in consistency with global price positioning. Work with Market Development to establish product pricing and margin strategies for the different channels/accounts in the respective markets Develop consumer as well as trade communication, merchandising, promotion strategies and materials and leads their implementation Work with Market Development / Sales and analyzes POS and share data to develops a deep understanding of current and future category competitive situation in the respective markets Work with the Brand team in the development of long term plan to build brand equity and in the execution of annual marketing / communication plan, and to develop promotional plans for the overall business. Also work with Licensor in developing partnership programs Lead the development of annual plans for the category and works with Finance & Forecasting in the development of annual budgets and of demand forces and their impact on category objectives  Qualifications  5 - 7 years of business experience with a balance of marketing and new product development experience Bachelors Degree in Marketing, Business or Engineering, M.B.A. is preferred Demonstrated history in delivering high quality research and analysis Demonstrated initiative to proactively seek out assignments and projects, and self-direction to complete required tasks with minimal management involvement or supervision Strong analytical skills - ability to organize, evaluate and analyze information from multiple sources to drive decision making process Must be able to work in a dynamic, fast-paced environment (read: uneven direction, frequent changes, last-minute deadlines, ambiguous or uncertain situations) Ability to analyze problems, and to develop and implement plans to resolve problems  Competitive Salary + Bonus For immediate consideration, please forward a Word formatted resume along with salary history and requirements to: LisaHammer@mergisgroup.com .  ONLY QUALIFED APPLICANTS WILL BE CONTACTED ~The Mergis Group is the professional recruiting division of Spherion Corporation~ Built on more than 30 years of expertise, The Mergis Group is a specialty recruiting firm committed to helping professionals make the best career choices. We connect specialized professionals to leading opportunities that will foster success in their career.