Innovation Manager(Direct Hire)
Oostburg, WI
Job Requisition: 7482
Annual Salary Range: $120,000 – 140,000. Individual salaries are based on education, geographic location, and alignment to the market data.
Description for Innovation Manager:
The Innovation Manager will be responsible for gathering and analyzing technical aspects of the voice of the customer (VoC) activities to identify opportunities for monetizing these insights into cutting-edge automated packaging machinery within identified markets. This role will shape the company's vision and provide a roadmap for new products, adjacent market spaces, as well as product rationalizations. The Innovation Manager will occasionally assist in developing complex technical solutions and will lead and grow a team of innovative engineers.
Responsibilities forInnovation Manager:
Leadership Excellence
- Inspire and develop high-performing teams through clear vision, accountability, and leading by example.
- Build a culture of continuous improvement by driving innovation, establishing scalable processes, and leveraging systems and visual KPIs to manage performance.
- Communicate with clarity and consistency; cascade key company messages to ensure alignment, engagement, and buy-in at all levels.
- Lead with integrity and resilience, especially through change, while upholding our values and performance expectations.
- Actively advocate for company direction and decisions
Voice of the Customer (VoC)
- Gather analyze, interpret and extract technical customer feedback to identify attractive unmet needs and opportunities for innovation.
- Develop and implement VoC methodologies, techniques, and tools to ensure accurate and actionable insights.
- Work closely with Customer Experience (CX) VoC analyst to ensure full technical alignment of VoC opportunities, extracting technical needs from VoC activities.
- Regularly, and proactively, travels for in-person plant visits to observe production and analyze operator/maintenance personnel methodology.
- Actively works with plant personnel to determine areas of opportunity to streamline processes through innovative solutions.
Product Vision, Roadmap, and Market Analysis:
- Develop and communicate a clear vision and strategic roadmap for new product development, adjacent markets, and product rationalizations.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure alignment and successful product launches.
- Stay informed about industry trends, competitive landscape, and emerging technologies to drive continuous improvement and innovation.
- Conduct market research to identify new opportunities and threats.
- Observes customers in plant processes to find shortcomings and gaps in technology offerings.
Monetization
- Translate VoC insights into strategic profitable automated packaging machinery solutions.
- Identify and evaluate market opportunities to maximize revenue and growth.
- Approaches daily work with an entrepreneurial mindset, advocating and internally selling great ideas that will shape the future of the business.
- Uses strong business acumen to develop detailed ROI justification, including risk, and opportunity cost to financially support ideas.
Technical Solutions
- Provide support in developing complex technical solutions for new and existing products.
- Work closely with engineering teams to ensure technical feasibility and innovation.
Requirements forInnovation Manager:
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, or related field, or equivalent experience.
- Minimum of 7 years of design experience in automation, ideally with a strong understanding of automated packaging machinery
- Proven track record in product innovation, VoC methodologies, and translating customer insights into actionable strategies
- Strong leadership, team management, and mentoring skills
- Strategic thinker with the ability to manage multiple projects and long-term initiatives aligned with company goals
- Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and technical skills, with the ability to develop complex solutions
- Effective communicator with strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills
- Proficient in gathering and analyzing data to identify trends, opportunities, and drive product development
- Knowledge of industry trends, emerging technologies, and the competitive landscape
- Creative, forward-thinking, and passionate about continuous improvement and innovation
- Travel up to 20% is required
Benefits for Innovation Manager:
- 401k 4% annual gift
- PTO
- Medical Insurance, Health Savings Account (HSA), Voluntary Dental, Voluntary Vision
- Life and AD&D, Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability
