Head of Innovation, Qunol

Head of Innovation

• Location: Pine Brook, NJ (Hybrid)

About the job

Are you ready to shape the future of Consumer Health? Your skills could be critical in helping our teams accelerate progress. Join our Innovation team as Qunol’s  where you will will play a critical role in the company's long-term growth initiatives through product innovation strategies. This position will report to the Head of Marketing and is a key leadership role within the marketing department. The ideal candidate will be responsible for identifying, developing, and implementing innovative solutions that enhance our product offerings and create new business opportunities. This role requires a leader with a proven track record of establishing and executing value creation plans through brand innovation. 

Opella, the Consumer Healthcare business unit of Sanofi, is the purest and third-largest player globally in the Over-The-Counter (OTC) & Vitamins, Minerals & Supplements (VMS) market. 

We have an unshakable belief in the power of self-care and the role it can play in creating a healthier society and a healthier planet.

That’s why we want to make self-care as simple as it should be by being consumer-led always, with science at our core.

Through our unique and balanced portfolio of more than 100 loved brands, including 15 global and local high-growth challengers such as Allegra, Dulcolax and Buscopan, we deliver our mission: helping more than half a billion consumers worldwide take their health in their hands. 

This mission is brought to life by an 11,000-strong team, 13 best-in-class manufacturing sites, and 4 specialized science and innovation development centers.

We are also proud to be the first major fast-moving consumer healthcare company to achieve B Corp certification.

Join us on our mission. Health. In your hands.

Qunol is a market leading CoQ10 and Turmeric supplement sold in most major retail stores like Costco, Walmart, CVS, Target, and more. Qunol’s patented formula’s offer superior absorption at a value compared to our competitors’ products.

Learn more about us at: www.qunol.com

Main responsibilities:

• Develop innovation strategy and build a long-term product pipeline that aligns with the brand’s positioning, architecture and growth objectives

• Build and validate strong consumer driven propositions, concepts and business cases; including pricing, packaging and launch scenarios

• Lead innovation projects through stage gate process from ideation to commercialization and partner with project manager to ensure timely and successful execution of projects.

• Identify emerging trends, technologies, and market opportunities to drive innovation and competitive advantage.

• Collaborate with internal cross functional partners, including marketing, research & development, sales and quality, to progress initiatives in order to effectively execute and launch in market.

• Effectively transfer to Marketing and Sales partners for commercialization

• Represent pipeline and projects in governance meetings and support Sales team with retailer engagements

• Manage the P&L development for new product launches, ensuring product innovation margins are in line with company objectives.

• Collaborate with sourcing, procurement, finance and science teams on evaluating and identifying desired solutions.

•  Monitor and evaluate the performance of innovation initiatives, using data and metrics to inform decision-making and drive continuous improvement.

About you

• Education: Bachelor's degree in business, marketing, or a related field. MBA or advanced degree is preferred.

• Minimum of 10 years of experience in innovation management, product development, or a related field, with a proven track record of success, preferably within VMS industry.

• Track record of successfully launching new product innovation in market

• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to adapt to changing market conditions

• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate with cross-functional teams.

• Exceptional communication and presentation skills, with the ability to effectively convey ideas.

• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment and adapt to changing priorities.

• Excellent analytical skills and ability to interpret market data and trends.

• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and manage multiple projects simultaneously.

Why choose us?

• Bring the miracles of science to life alongside a supportive, future-focused team.
• Discover endless opportunities to grow your talent and drive your career, whether it’s through a promotion or lateral move, at home or internationally.
• Enjoy a thoughtful, well-crafted rewards package that recognizes your contribution and amplifies your impact.
• Take good care of yourself and your family, with a wide range of health and wellbeing benefits including high-quality healthcare, prevention and wellness programs and at least 14 weeks’ gender-neutral parental leave.

All compensation will be determined commensurate with demonstrated experience. Employees may be eligible to participate in Company employee benefit programs, and additional benefits information can be found here.