Agile Innovation Manager

Job Description

Job Title: Agile Innovation Manager

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Location: Chicago, IL (Hybrid)

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Duration: 12+ Months

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Must Haves:

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• Food industry experience (non-negotiable) - NOT DIGITAL, physical product commercialization.

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• Physical Product Development focused innovation project management background.

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• Experience in supply chain development, factory engineering, or packaging related innovation delivery.

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• Physical Product Commercialization process knowledge

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• Understand packaging changes, formula changes, feasibility constraints, machinery timelines.

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• Agile project management experience (emphasis)

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• 2-3+ years of experience leading agile ceremonies and managing projects through sprint-based delivery models.

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• Comfortable facilitating sprint events and creating review materials.

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• Self-driven, proactive working style

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• Able to identify stakeholders, processes, and solutions independently.

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• Strong communication & relationship building skills

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• Must navigate between technical and non-technical teams, translating needs in both directions.

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Requirements:

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• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, or related.

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• MUST HAVE: 5+ years of project management, agile leadership, or scrum master experience within the Food & Beverage industry.

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• MUST HAVE: experience with physical product innovation in Food & Beverage with packaging projects, aligned with operations & manufacturing side: engineering, changing of machines, alignment with supply chain, etc.

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• Strong knowledge of Agile/Scrum methodologies or proven experience in product development and commercialization

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• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment.

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• Strong experience in building timelines for projects with uncertainty, that demands a lot of changes multiple times throughout the project.

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• Excellent communication, facilitation, and conflict-resolution skills.

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• Experience supporting test-and-learn innovation cycles or commercialization processes.

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• Passion for team empowerment, iterative learning, and removing barriers to execution.

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• Open to work flexible hours since part of the team is located in AMS – start 7am Chicago time when needed.

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