Global Initiative Leader Professional Beauty

Professional Hair, Brand Initiative Senior Manager

Division: Professional Hair

Function: Supply Chain

Contract type: Fix

Location: Wella Geneva Switzerland, Petit-Lancy

PURPOSE

We are innovators in Hair and Nails. We empower our people to delight consumers, inspire beauty professionals & our communities. We deliver sustainable growth for our stakeholders. 

MISSION AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Global Initiative Leader (GIL) is responsible for leading the activities of a multi-functional team, who together develop and execute a comprehensive initiative plan to deliver in-market success. The Initiative Leader uses his/her expertise in Initiative Systems to deliver outstanding, breakthrough business results.  The Initiative Leader collaborates with all the multi-functional team members, but especially with the Commercial/Brand Leader and Go-to-Market Leader to ensure that all necessary learning, qualification and execution activities of the initiative are completed in support of a successful launch. The Initiative Leader will be expected to manage a portfolio of projects which may vary between new product launches & Supply Chain design depending on Business needs.

Key Responsibilities and tasks

• Owns the E2E readiness and timeliness of the initiative across technical, commercial and financial aspects.
• Leads the integration of the multi-functional team and leverages our innovation processes for breakthrough speed and productivity with quality execution.
• Supports SIL in execution post commit gate as required (depends on categories and initiative specifics)
• Collaborates with multi-functional partners to deliver a portfolio of initiatives, that is sufficient to fulfill the brand innovation strategy in consumer offer, business scale and profitability, and meeting Wella standards.
• Build alignment with initiative stakeholders on all plans. Crisis-Like Collaboration. Drives and consolidates Initiative team recommendation (including SKU portfolio and sourcing, make vs buy).
• Ensures the adherence to operating strategies for new launches or drives team options recommendation if need be to go out of operating strategy.
• Owns driving any initiative issue to resolution while demonstrating courageous leadership and smart risk taking.
• Oversees action plan led by SIL and IP and leads resolution plans in case of escalation through the alert process. Effectively frames & communicates to leadership to ensure fast decision making.
• Is the SPOC to leadership for all initiative reporting, Gate decisions and change management. Coordinates communication and recommendations with functional leadership (across Supply Chain, Procurement, R&D and Commercial functions).
• Deliver Initiative Success. Clarify business objectives and expectations. Deliver project Success Criteria. Focus on Business First, Project Second.
• Guide initiative teams to develop holistic Gate-process-based learnings to deliver on-time Commercial, Technical & Market readiness. 
• Coaches the Initiative team members in delivering their tasks in synchronization and with efficient cross functional interaction in the project environment.

EXPERIENCE

• Project management experience
• Understanding of new product development processes & stage gate approach
• Exposure to production environment & interaction with packaging, process, manufacturing functions
• Strong Microsoft Excel & Microsoft Project capabilities
• 2-3 years project management related experience essential
• Additional background in planning / purchasing / R&D / technical environment also beneficial
• Preferably to have experience of Wella Operations or related industry, pharmaceutical, paint, food, FMCG

SKILLS & BEHAVIORS

• Strong leadership adapted to situations and teamwork skills
• Demonstrated accountability and autonomy
• Staying resilient under pressure
• Acting action-oriented, pragmatic, and results-driven
• Taking calculated risks and making fast, balanced decisions
• Proactively seeking solutions and driving innovation
• Learning from experiences and applying best practices
• Focusing on customer needs and being adapting to change
• Showing business acumen and financial awareness
• Providing constructive feedback for growth
• Recognizing the contribution of others and focusing on team support