Senior Manager Product Development (gn)

At the earliest possible time | location: Darmstadt, Hessen | permanent

ABOUT WELLA

Wella Company is one of The World’s leading Beauty companies, comprised of a family of iconic brands such as Wella Professionals, Clairol, OPI, Nioxin and ghd. With 6,000 employees globally, presence in over 100 countries, Wella Company and its brands enable consumers to look, feel, and be their true selves. As innovators in the hair and nail industry, Wella Company empowers its people to delight consumers, inspire beauty professionals, engage communities, and deliver sustainable growth to its stakeholders. . For more information about the Wella Company, visit our website www.wellacompany.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

ABOUT R&D

Research & Development in Wella is a highly collaborative, competent and innovative group. You join diverse teams of highly passionate Scientists, Engineers and Hair & Nail Artists who innovate at the frorefront of technology and beauty trends. We:

• Deliver end-to-end innovation​ through an empowered learning culture, exploring, developing and qualifying innovations that delight consumers​.
• Innovate and bring to life the future of the Company, guided by focused consumer research and the trends that will grow our industry long term​.
• Drive safety, sustainability, quality and regulatory always front and center to our work​.

We want you to join the Wella R&D family on an exciting journey through exciting challenges and opportunities as we become an independent, winning Wella again!

THE ROLE

We are seeking a dynamic and experienced individual to join our team as a Senior Manager, Wella Product Development. In this role, you will be responsible for leading parts of the Research and Development (R&D) efforts, strategically managing all aspects of category product development for both new and existing products. Your role will be pivotal in driving the growth of the Wella Franchise by leveraging innovative technologies and delivering meaningful benefits to consumers.

This position will be based in Darmstadt, Germany.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead the R&D efforts as the Global Senior Manager for the Retail Hair Color, Wella Franchise.
• Drive the growth of the Wella Franchise by exploring new territories and leveraging current and new technologies.
• Translate consumer insights into superior product offerings and executing with excellence in a challenging and competitive category.
• Develop and manage all aspects of category product development for new and existing products.
• Demonstrate leadership within the function and influence the direction of the brand and technology.
• Spearhead the development of new Public Relations (PR) skills and methods for scientific communication.
• Establish capabilities to identify correlations between instrumental testing and product performance to enhance the consumer experience.
• Collaborate closely with the Multifunctional Initiative Global Design Team, including Marketing, Design, Consumer and Market Knowledge (CMK), and Packaging Supply (PS).
• Maintain a strong internal and external focus by actively seeking and attentively listening to consumers, customers, suppliers, and external experts.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Experienced Technologist with minimum 8 years of relevant experience in consumer goods, hair care and/or hair color (preferred).
• PhD or Master degree from a university in Natural Science or Engineering (Chemistry, Cosmetic Science, Natural Science, Environmental Science)
• Possess a strong background in Product Insights (PI) and product design. Technical proficiency in a broad range of PI capability skills is a plus. The candidate must have strong leadership skills and be adept at coaching and collaborating within the broader R&D organization.
• Strong project management skills including ability to manage initiative timelines ensuring excellence in holistic design and execution. A high capacity to manage complexity associated with delivering quality initiatives against challenging timelines by collaborating with all involved functions to ensure operational excellence, both for new products and changes to existing products.
• Accountable for the technical readiness and delivery of projects. Manages multiple priorities effectively, ensures technical rigor of all initiatives and / or technical solutions. Establishes and maintains, high quality data and technical standards.
• Exhibit extensive product development expertise and a solid understanding of the business. Propose new strategies and projects that drive competitiveness, sales, and volume.
• Exceptional communication skills and must be able to influences others, internally and across functions. This includes challenging the status quo based on data, knowledge, and experience to make project recommendations to move forward, change direction, delay, or cancel as appropriate.
• Must possess an entrepreneurial spirit and passion for beauty. Must possess a strong acumen for detail, along with having a strategic and creative mindset.
• Excellent collaboration skills both within R&D and across functions and geographies. Daily interaction with technology design PR and multifunctional commercial partners is required to ensure this critical interface is seamless.
• Capable of effective communicating science and technology to non-technical audiences internally and externally with Beauty based media and agencies

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT AT WELLA

• Attractive salary package with a wide range of benefits
• Free company parking as well as central location and good public transport connections
• Promotion of personal potential and individual career paths
• Support during the induction period and the opportunity to take on responsibility at an early stage
• Flexible working hours and the opportunity to work from home
• A collegial working atmosphere at an employer with an appreciative corporate culture

• Open communication and an international as well as diverse environment in which the "WE" is in the foreground!

Become a part of the "WELLA- family" and participate in the rebuilding of our independence.  We live our values! #wellafamily #WellaCareers

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

We offer equal employment opportunity to qualified individuals without regard to ethnical origin, religion, color, national origin, age, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Wella Company with disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities.

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