innovation manager

Americana Foods

<div>
 
 We are looking for a proactive Innovation Manager to support the execution of our innovation and new business development agenda across Retail and Foodservice/QSR channels in the GCC region.
 
 
 
 
 This role provides hands-on experience in design of proposition/product/pack/price-point, project coordination, research, and go-to-market overview, making it an excellent opportunity for a candidate eager to build a career in food innovation.
 
 
 
 
 
 This role will be pivotal in driving the next phase of our brand&rsquo;s growth by managing a robust Innovation process, innovation pipeline, commercializing consumer-driven products, and developing adjacent revenue streams beyond the core portfolio.
 
 
 
 
 
 The ideal candidate will bring a blend of deep GCC market and consumer understanding, innovation leadership, and commercial acumen. This role requires a proven ability to identify, create and scale growth opportunities with a highly iterative and in a structured experimental approach. The role works across retail products, Foodservice/QSR offerings, and potentially emerging formats such as cloud kitchens and new food concepts.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 INNOVATION STRATEGY &amp; PIPELINE LEADERSHIP
 
 <ul>
 <li>
 Own and lead the end-to-end innovation pipeline across Retail, Foodservice, and new business adjacent in the GCC.
 </li>
 <li>
 Develop and manage a multi-channel innovation pipeline for Retail (packaged foods) and Foodservice (menu/QSR solutions). Identify, prioritize, and shape opportunities by leveraging consumer insights, category trends, and market dynamics.
 </li>
 <li>
 Ensure a healthy pipeline of short-term wins (LTOs, extensions) and long-term strategic bets (new categories, adjacencies, concepts).
 </li>
 <li>
 Drive stage-gate discipline and ensure initiatives are commercially viable, scalable, and aligned with business strategy.
 </li>
 <li>
 Partner with cross-functional teams for sizing the initiative, proposition development and superior claims.
 </li>
 <li>
 Create compelling insights, weave them with product features and consumer benefits.
 </li>
 <li>
 Accelerate speed-to-market while maintaining quality and profitability.
 </li>
 <li>
 Identify consumer trends, white spaces, and adjacent opportunities (new formats, categories, or partnerships).
 </li>
 <li>
 Build business cases from A-Z and prioritize innovation initiatives with clear commercial impact.
 </li>
 <li>
 Run Innovation roadshows for Commercial and business stakeholders jointly with Suppliers and R&amp;D teams
 </li>
 <li>
 Manage external suppliers (Insights and ingredients suppliers) to gain insights on the latest trends.
 </li>
 </ul>
 
 
 
 
 COMMERCIALIZATION &amp; GO-TO-MARKET
 
 <ul>
 <li>
 Lead the end-to-end commercialization process, from ideation to launch, ensuring speed-to-market and operational feasibility.
 </li>
 <li>
 Manage the stage-gate innovation process, balancing creativity with financial viability and brand fit.
 </li>
 <li>
 Oversee launch readiness across GCC markets, including supply chain, trade activation, and marketing support.
 </li>
 </ul>
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE, &amp; SKILLS
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Academic and professional qualifications:
 
 
 <ul>
 <li>
 Bachelor&rsquo;s or Post Graduate degree in Statistics, Food Science, Marketing, Economics or related field.
 </li>
 </ul>
 
 
 Experience:
 
 
 <ul>
 <li>
 10+ of experience in Consumer Insights, Sensory and Market research (preferably in FMCG or Foodservice). Experience in Frozen foods category is a strong plus.
 </li>
 <li>
 Must have the creative streak and experience with proposition/concept development
 </li>
 <li>
 Must have experience with setting action standards, and be familiar test designs.
 </li>
 <li>
 Must have experience with interpretation of test data.
 </li>
 <li>
 Solid project coordination and organizational skills with high perseverance.
 </li>
 <li>
 Excellent communication skills (verbal &amp; written).
 </li>
 <li>
 Comfortable with MS Office (Excel, PowerPoint) and project management tools.
 </li>
 </ul>
 
 
</div>

Innovation Manager

Mayar Foods

<div>
 
 
 Job Summary
 
 
 
 A strategic and forward-thinking leader responsible for driving innovation across categories and brands. The role focuses on identifying emerging trends, developing new product concepts, optimizing existing portfolios, and fostering a culture of innovation that aligns with consumer insights and business objectives. This position acts as the bridge between marketing, R&amp;D, supply chain, and commercial teams to bring breakthrough ideas to market efficiently and effectively.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Job Responsibilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 Innovation Strategy &amp; Pipeline
 
 
 
 <ul>
 <li>
 Develop and implement an end-to-end innovation roadmap aligned with brand and business growth priorities.
 </li>
 <li>
 Identify new market opportunities through trend analysis, consumer insights, and competitive intelligence.
 </li>
 <li>
 Lead ideation, concept development, and feasibility assessment of new products and line extensions.
 </li>
 <li>
 Manage the innovation funnel&mdash;from idea generation to post-launch evaluation.
 </li>
 <li>
 Consumer &amp; Market Insights
 </li>
 <li>
 Translate consumer behavior, category dynamics, and market data into actionable innovation opportunities.
 </li>
 <li>
 Work closely with research agencies and analytics teams to validate concepts and ensure market fit.
 </li>
 <li>
 Monitor evolving consumer needs and cultural shifts to guide innovation direction.
 </li>
 </ul>
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Cross-functional Leadership
 
 
 
 <ul>
 <li>
 Partner with R&amp;D, Operations, and Supply Chain to ensure feasibility, quality, and speed to market.
 </li>
 <li>
 Collaborate with Finance and Commercial teams on business cases, pricing, and profitability models.
 </li>
 <li>
 Align innovation projects with marketing communications and go-to-market strategy.
 </li>
 <li>
 Portfolio Optimization
 </li>
 <li>
 Evaluate product performance, SKU productivity, and category gaps to inform rationalization or refresh initiatives.
 </li>
 <li>
 Drive continuous improvement of existing products through formulation, packaging, or positioning upgrades.
 </li>
 </ul>
 
 
 
 
 
 
 External Collaboration &amp; Partnerships
 
 
 
 <ul>
 <li>
 Build and manage relationships with startups, suppliers, research institutions, and co-manufacturers.
 </li>
 <li>
 Scout new technologies, ingredients, and processes to strengthen product differentiation.
 </li>
 <li>
 Lead open innovation initiatives and strategic co-development projects.
 </li>
 </ul>
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Innovation Culture &amp; Governance
 
 
 
 <ul>
 <li>
 Foster a culture of creativity and experimentation across teams.
 </li>
 <li>
 Implement structured innovation processes, tools, and performance tracking mechanisms.
 </li>
 <li>
 Conduct regular innovation workshops, hackathons, and ideation sessions to sustain pipeline momentum.
 </li>
 </ul>
 
 
 
 
 
 Key Competencies:
 
 
 
 
 
 Technical Competencies
 
 
 
 <ul>
 <li>
 Innovation Process Management (Stage-Gate)
 </li>
 <li>
 Market &amp; Trend Analysis
 </li>
 <li>
 Product Development Fundamentals
 </li>
 <li>
 Consumer Insight Interpretation
 </li>
 <li>
 Business Case Development
 </li>
 <li>
 Project Management
 </li>
 </ul>
 
 
 
 Professional Competencies
 
 
 
 <ul>
 <li>
 Strategic Thinking &amp; Problem Solving
 </li>
 <li>
 Collaboration &amp; Stakeholder Management
 </li>
 <li>
 Entrepreneurial Mindset
 </li>
 <li>
 Communication &amp; Presentation Skills
 </li>
 <li>
 Curiosity &amp; Continuous Learning
 </li>
 </ul>
 
 
 
 
 
 Job Requirements:
 
 
 
 
 
 Essential Requirements
 
 
 
 <ul>
 <li>
 Bachelor&rsquo;s degree in Marketing, Business, Food Science, or a related field.
 </li>
 <li>
 5+ years of experience in innovation, product development, or strategy roles within FMCG or related industries. Proven track record of successful product launches from concept to commercialization.
 </li>
 <li>
 Bilingual proficiency in Arabic and English.
 </li>
 </ul>
 
 
 
 Desirable Requirements
 
 
 
 <ul>
 <li>
 Master&rsquo;s degree in Innovation, Strategy, or Design Thinking.
 </li>
 <li>
 Experience in regional or multinational FMCG environments.
 </li>
 <li>
 Certification in innovation management or design thinking methodologies.
 </li>
 </ul>
</div>

Emirates NBD

<div>
 
 Job Responsibilities:
 
 
 -Lead the adoption and implementation of new technologies, tools, and platforms especially for assisted and conversational channels to streamline processes and enhance efficiency.
 
 
 -Responsible for managing CRM in terms of process optimization and collaboration with different departments to identify and redesign processes that can be digitized or automated.
 
 
 -Responsible for strategic planning, project management, and implementation of new technologies and features to improve the bank operational process and customer experience.
 
 
 -Collaborate with internal onsite and offshore stakeholders, external partners, and vendors to drive digitization initiatives.
 
 
 -Build and maintain relationships with technology providers, industry experts, and innovation networks to stay abreast of the latest trends and opportunities.
 
 
 -Responsible for stakeholder engagement by collaborating with internal stakeholders, including senior management, department heads, and frontline employees, to gain their support and involvement in digital transformation initiatives.
 
 
 -Responsible for performance monitoring and defining key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics to measure the effectiveness and impact of digitization and innovation initiatives.
 
 
 -Monitor and report regularly on the progress, outcomes, and benefits achieved.
 
 
 -Identify and mitigate risks associated with digitization and innovation projects.
 
 
 - Ensure data security, privacy, and compliance with relevant regulations and standards.
 
 
 -Agile scrum certification is required.
 
 
 -Required years of experience from 8 to 10 in Digital Banking.
 
 
 
</div>

Digitalization & Innovation Manager

Smarkk

Smarkk is a boutique strategy consulting firm based in Riyadh, specializing in providing tailored management consulting services. We help our clients achieve higher levels of success by delivering actionable solutions for better business understanding and goal attainment. Our services include Strategy Advisory, supporting both public and private entities in designing and executing strategic plans; Project Implementation, offering support units for in-depth analysis and strategy execution; and Research and Viewpoints, delivering targeted strategy and technology research papers and articles. Role Description This is a full time on site role located in Riyadh for a Culinary Innovation Lab Manager. The Culinary Innovation Lab Manager will be responsible for managing and overseeing daily operations of the lab, ensuring that all testing and experimental work is conducted to the highest standards. Key tasks include maintaining laboratory equipment, implementing quality control measures, conducting research and development (R&D), and developing new culinary innovations. The manager will also be responsible for analytical assessments and ensuring all laboratory protocols are followed. Qualifications <ul> <li>Proficient in Quality Control and maintaining standards</li> <li>Experience with Laboratory Equipment and Laboratory Skills</li> <li>Strong Analytical Skills for assessments and evaluations</li> <li>Research and Development (R&D) expertise</li> <li>Excellent organizational and time management skills</li> <li>Strong communication and interpersonal skills</li> <li>Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Culinary Arts, or related field</li> <li>Experience in culinary innovation or food product development is a plus</li> </ul> Seniority Level Entry level Employment Type Full time Job Function Research, Analyst, and Information Technology Industries Business Consulting and Services Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at Smarkk by 2x

Culinary Innovation Lab Manager

Kraft Heinz

<div>
 
 Job Description
 
 
 
 The Kraft Heinz company is looking for a dedicated individual to join our team as an Innovation Project Manager.
 
 
 The responsibilities of the post include owning end-to-end management of Innovation/Lift &amp; Launch projects from idea to launch, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to launch projects On-Time-In-Full (OTIF) across the MEA region.
 
 
 To be successful as an Innovation Manager, you should demonstrate strong leadership and communication skills, be able to navigate in an ambiguous environment, and work under pressure.
 
 
 
 Responsibilities
 
 
 
 <ul>
 <li>
 Owning projects by creating and adhering to project timelines, prioritizing tasks, and assigning team members to specific deliverables while collaborating with cross-functional departments (cross-cultural).
 </li>
 <li>
 Reviewing project business cases, success criteria, risks, and contingency plans.
 </li>
 <li>
 Leading multiple projects in parallel and ensuring that team members are carrying out their tasks efficiently with a servant leadership attitude and a collaborative mentality.
 </li>
 <li>
 Drawing customized project reports with project performance KPIs.
 </li>
 <li>
 Navigating problems by gathering and synthesizing relevant information to draw conclusions and build recommendations together with cross-functional teams.
 </li>
 <li>
 Accurately documenting the project's development and execution, as well as documenting the project's scope, business case, justification, and risks.
 </li>
 <li>
 Helping the PMO continuously improve existing processes and policies.
 </li>
 <li>
 Supporting internal Project Governance meetings, such as weekly meetings and CLTs.
 </li>
 <li>
 Ensuring the integrity of project data across internal Innovation systems.
 </li>
 <li>
 Assisting the PMO in continuously evaluating projects to ensure they meet company standards and deadlines.
 
 
 
 </li>
 </ul>
 
 Qualifications
 
 
 
 <ul>
 <li>
 A Bachelor's degree in Business, Administration, or a related field.
 </li>
 <li>
 A Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification or relevant PM certification is a plus.
 </li>
 <li>
 2-4 years of experience in the role.
 </li>
 <li>
 Experience in the FMCG industry is a strong plus.
 </li>
 <li>
 Strong leadership skills.
 </li>
 <li>
 Excellent problem-solving skills.
 </li>
 <li>
 Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills.
 </li>
 <li>
 Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
 </li>
 <li>
 Fluency in English is a must.
 </li>
 <li>
 Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
 </li>
 <li>
 Attention to details and technicalities.
 
 
 
 </li>
 </ul>
 Location(s)
 
 
 El Tagamoa El Khames Commercial Office
 
 
 
 Kraft Heinz is an Equal Opportunity Employer &ndash; Underrepresented Ethnic Minority Groups/Women/Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity and other protected classes
 
 
 .
 
</div>

MEA Innovation Project Manager

<div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><ul><div>All Posting Locations: Cairo, Al Qahirah, EG
</div><div>Job Functions: Marketing</div>
<div>Date Published: October 28, 2025</div>
<div>Ref#: R-97563</div></ul><div></div><div> 
</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div><div><div><div><div><div>ABOUT THE ROLE</div></div><div><div>
Job Description</div>
The Kraft Heinz company is looking for a dedicated individual to join our team as an Innovation Project Manager.
The responsibilities of the post include owning end-to-end management of Innovation/Lift &amp; Launch projects from idea to launch, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to launch projects On-Time-In-Full (OTIF) across the MEA region.
To be successful as an Innovation Manager, you should demonstrate strong leadership and communication skills, be able to navigate in an ambiguous environment, and work under pressure.
Responsibilities:
<ul><li>Owning projects by creating and adhering to project timelines, prioritizing tasks, and assigning team members to specific deliverables while collaborating with cross-functional departments (cross-cultural).</li>
<li>Reviewing project business cases, success criteria, risks, and contingency plans.</li>
<li>Leading multiple projects in parallel and ensuring that team members are carrying out their tasks efficiently with a servant leadership attitude and a collaborative mentality.</li>
<li>Drawing customized project reports with project performance KPIs.</li>
<li>Navigating problems by gathering and synthesizing relevant information to draw conclusions and build recommendations together with cross-functional teams.</li>
<li>Accurately documenting the project's development and execution, as well as documenting the project's scope, business case, justification, and risks.</li>
<li>Helping the PMO continuously improve existing processes and policies.</li>
<li>Supporting internal Project Governance meetings, such as weekly meetings and CLTs.</li>
<li>Ensuring the integrity of project data across internal Innovation systems.</li>
<li>Assisting the PMO in continuously evaluating projects to ensure they meet company standards and deadlines.</li>
</ul>Qualifications:
<ul><li>A Bachelor's degree in Business, Administration, or a related field.</li>
<li>A Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification or relevant PM certification is a plus.</li>
<li>2-4 years of experience in the role.</li>
<li>Experience in the FMCG industry is a strong plus.</li>
<li>Strong leadership skills.</li>
<li>Excellent problem-solving skills.</li>
<li>Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills.</li>
<li>Excellent written and verbal communication skills.</li>
<li>Fluency in English is a must.</li>
<li>Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.</li>
<li>Attention to details and technicalities.</li>
</ul><div>Location(s)</div>
El Tagamoa El Khames Commercial Office 
Kraft Heinz is an Equal Opportunity Employer &ndash; Underrepresented Ethnic Minority Groups/Women/Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity and other protected classes.</div></div></div></div></div></div>

هيئة التأمين | Insurance Authority

<div>
 
 
 Job Overview
 
 
 
 This role is conducted within the vision, mission, and strategic plan of the Insurance Authority. Reporting to the Director of Sector Development, the Manager of InsurTech &amp; Innovation steers the full lifecycle of the Authority&rsquo;s sandbox and pilot portfolio, translating strategic innovation objectives into disciplined execution. The role orchestrates cross-functional collaboration with start-ups, vendors, and internal governance functions to launch, monitor, and scale technology experiments that advance market competitiveness and regulatory modernization. By embedding rigorous data, risk, and knowledge-management practices, the Manager safeguards compliance while generating actionable insights that inform enterprise decision-making. Ultimately, the position accelerates time-to-value for breakthrough insurance solutions, strengthens stakeholder confidence, and catalyzes continuous improvement across all lines of business.
 
 
 
 Responsibilities and Tasks
 
 
 <ul>
 <li>
 Manage the end-to-end tracking calendar for InsurTech sandbox experiments, ensuring milestones, risk logs, and exit criteria are updated in the Innovation Management System. Coordinate onboarding activities for start-ups, including NDA issuance, access provisioning, and orientation to IA technical standards.
 </li>
 <li>
 Resolve routine exceptions&mdash;such as data-feed latency or user-access issues&mdash;by liaising with IT operations and escalating unresolved cases to the Expert level.
 </li>
 <li>
 Collect, validate, and upload performance KPIs, adoption metrics, and budget burn-rates into the divisional dashboard every month.
 </li>
 <li>
 Prepare concise progress briefs for submission to the Manager before monthly Sector Development review meetings.
 </li>
 <li>
 Maintain a searchable repository of experiment results, ensuring metadata tagging aligns with IA&rsquo;s Knowledge-Management Taxonomy.Act as primary day-to-day contact for sandbox participants, clarifying IA procedural queries and facilitating timely document exchanges.
 </li>
 <li>
 Coordinate with Finance &amp; Procurement to initiate purchase orders, follow up on invoice status, and verify deliverables against contracted scope.
 </li>
 <li>
 Support Directors in adjacent lines of business by providing pilot summaries and scheduling demo sessions that illustrate cross-functional applicability.
 </li>
 <li>
 Ensure all sandbox activities adhere to IA cyber-security, data-privacy, and sector-specific regulatory requirements, flagging potential breaches to the Compliance function. Document lessons learned after each experiment, conduct root-cause analysis on failed test cases, and recommend process tweaks to the Manager for approval.
 </li>
 <li>
 Coach newly on-boarded Specialists on IA innovation workflows, templates, and quality-control checkpoints, fostering a culture of operational excellence.
 </li>
 <li>
 Manage/Own departmental strategic planning, budgeting, staffing, and workforce management to ensure cohesive and efficient InsurTech &amp; Innovation operations aligned with IA&rsquo;s strategic framework.
 </li>
 <li>
 Perform other job duties as assigned.
 </li>
 </ul>
 
 
 
 
 
 Job requirements
 
 
 
 
 Educational Qualifications (required)
 
 
 <ul>
 <li>
 Bachelor&rsquo;s degree in business administration, Finance, Economics, Insurance, Strategic Management, or related field
 </li>
 <li>
 Master&rsquo;s degree preferred
 </li>
 </ul>
 
 
 Certifications (required)
 
 
 <ul>
 <li>
 Relevant Professional Certificate is preferred
 </li>
 </ul>
 
 
 Experience
 
 
 <ul>
 <li>
 8+ years with bachelor&rsquo;s degree, 6+ years with master&rsquo;s degree
 </li>
 <li>
 Position relevant experience is required.
 </li>
 <li>
 2+ years in leadership roles (preferred).
 </li>
 </ul>
 
 
 
 
 
 Competencies
 
 
 <ul>
 <li>
 Strategic Vision
 </li>
 <li>
 Driving Change
 </li>
 <li>
 Stakeholder Management
 </li>
 <li>
 People Enablement
 </li>
 <li>
 Risk and Crisis Management
 </li>
 </ul>
</div>

Manager of InsurTech & Innovation

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