Director, Innovation Lead LATAM

Description

Director, Innovation Lead, LATAM is a strategic and operational leader responsible for driving the development and execution of the LATAM innovation agenda, in close partnership with senior leadership. This role focuses on shaping, advancing, and delivering innovation initiatives that translate consumer insights and foresight into scalable growth opportunities. Reporting into senior innovation or marketing leadership, this role plays a critical part in orchestrating cross‑functional execution, ensuring innovation projects progress efficiently through the pipeline and deliver tangible business impact. What You'll Do for Us Innovation Strategy & Execution Lead key components of the LATAM Innovation Strategy, aligned with brand, category, and commercial priorities. Drive innovation initiatives through The Leap Lab, contributing to the development and progression of transformational ideas. Translate consumer insights, trends, and foresight into actionable innovation concepts and pilots. Manage and advance a portfolio of innovative projects, ensuring focus, prioritization, and execution discipline. Partner with Marketing Tech teams to apply agile, tech‑enabled innovation processes that increase speed to learning and market. Insights, Collaboration & Delivery Apply data, analytics, and emerging tools to support opportunity sizing, concept testing, and iteration. Leverage AI powered data platforms to drive predictive foresight, whitespace identification, and opportunity sizing. Ensure strong consumer co‑creation and early‑stage validation across innovation initiatives. Collaborate closely with R&D, Supply Chain, Commercial, Finance, and Franchise teams to deliver end‑to‑end execution. Support external partnerships with startups, agencies, and technology players to enhance innovation capabilities. Governance, Measurement & Reporting Track and manage innovation KPIs, including pipeline progress, speed to market, and early commercial indicators. Prepare updates, analyses, and materials for senior leadership reviews and forums. Contribute to knowledge sharing, best practices, and continuous improvement across the LATAM innovation community. Team Leadership & Capability Building Lead and develop a team of innovation managers and project leaders. Promote experimentation, learning, and modern, tech‑enabled ways of working within the team. Requirements & Qualifications Bachelor’s degree required;

MBA or advanced degree preferred . 10+ years of experience

in innovation, brand management, strategy, R&D, or related roles within CPG or beverage industries. Experience launching new products, concepts, or platforms from idea to market. Strong cross‑functional leadership and project management capabilities. Ability to translate insights into clear innovation plans and execution. Strong communication skills with experience supporting senior leadership decision‑making. Comfort operating in ambiguous, fast‑moving environments. Skills: Brand Equity, Brand Strategy, Marketing, Marketing Strategies, organization