Innovation Development Manager

Date: Mar 27, 2024

Location: Shanghai, SH, CN, 200080

Company: Aptar Group

Part of Aptar Beauty Global Innovation team, the Innovation Development Manager located in China leads with Marketing and Business Development teams on new products/services projects from concepts ideation till validated proof of concepts before transfer to Technical Development execution implementation phase.  Meanwhile, as part of China Innovation Hub team, this role will partner with Industrial Structure Designer and Project Manager to ensure innovation projects well executed and managed from concept to downstream innovation.

He/ She will take into consideration all value chain constraints related to the project: Consumer & Customer needs, Market evolutions, Competition landscape, Technology, Intellectual Property freedom to operate, technical manufacturing/ quality/ filling process capabilities.

As an expert in innovation, he/she will use best in class agile innovation methods to create new concepts and prototype to test opportunities.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

  1. Secure a Technological Watch & Share on strategic pillars topics. 
  2. Work on a Global Beauty Scope from Marketing Brief till Proof of Concept validation.
  3. Manage innovation projects planning through the upstream Innovation stage gate process.
  4. Guide & support technically Marketing & Business Development teams.
  5. Translate Marketing Briefs, Customer & Consumer needs into technical solutions.
  6. Protect Innovation with Patent experts and secure Freedom to Operate.
  7. Ideate, screen & select multiple technical solutions that can guarantee marketing brief satisfaction (Minimum Viable Product/ Service low risk quick win option + Medium to Long term ambitious big bet options)
  8. Identify & Develop External partners collaborations network when technological blocking gaps require external solutions.
  9. Ensure Innovation technical/ economical/ time to market feasibility 
  10. and mitigate viability risks with Technical internal stake holders.
  11. Secure an exhaustive project transfer to Regional Development team responsible of implementation.
  12. Present project status at Internal & External Innovation Councils with Top Management.
  13. Present Innovation Projects to Customers with Sales, Marketing and Business Development to get feedback and traction.
  14. Create Network with External Partners/ Universities/Customers to investigate new sustainable materials for product applications.  
  15. Initiate and drive open innovation by working with our partners, such as Sonmol, YAT, and other strategic partners.
  16. Cooperate with related Functional Line Managers to identify and secure resources along the development flow.
  17. Driving Opportunity and Risk Management and escalating critical issues.
  18. Partner with PD project team and make sure to transfer the projects to downstream PD team.
  19. Other tasks assigned by supervisor.

Required Qualifications

  • Ability to translate customer & consumer needs into several creative innovative concepts & multiple technical solutions.
  • 7 years minimum Expertise in Innovation Packaging Project Management.
  • Proven Technical creativity in developing new Proof of Concepts with internal & external technical partners (CAD 3D & 2D Design Technical Teams, Fast Prototyping labs, Technology partners)
  • Ability to guide Computer Aided 3D & 2D Design Technical Teams 
  • Strong Communication & Networking skills with internal & external stakeholders (Strategic Marketing, Business Development, Customers, Business Unit Leaders, Technical Regional Centers, Technical external partners).
  • Ability to onboard Top Management Decision makers.  
  • Fluent in Chinese & English.  (French ideally)
  • Multicultural mindset able to work with a global network.
  • Knowledge of sustainable materials and understand the application in packaging fields.
  • Has successfully shown leadership skills within a cross-functional team.