Job Title: Agile Innovation Manager
Location: Chicago, IL - Hybrid – 3 days onsite / 2 days work from home
Pay Rate: $70.21/hour
Duration: 1 year with potential extensions/conversion based on performance and headcount approval
Job Description
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Lead Agile delivery for physical product innovation initiatives within the Food & Beverage industry.
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Manage product development and commercialization from concept through market launch.
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Lead sprint planning, daily stand-ups, sprint reviews, retrospectives, backlog refinement, and other Agile ceremonies.
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Build and maintain project/product development timelines, sprint goals, backlogs, and delivery plans.
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Identify and remove operational, manufacturing, supply chain, and resource-related impediments.
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Coordinate innovation activities across R&D, Packaging, Supply Chain, Manufacturing/Engineering, Marketing, Finance, and Strategy.
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Track Agile metrics including velocity, capacity, team maturity, CSAT, and delivery progress.
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Adapt Agile workflows to physical product development, including packaging changes, pack simplification, retail constraints, and test-and-learn launches.
Education
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Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, or related field required.
Required Skills
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5+ years of project management, Agile leadership, or Scrum Master experience in the Food & Beverage industry
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Food & Beverage physical product innovation and commercialization
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Physical product development focused project management
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Packaging innovation and packaging change projects
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Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Factory Engineering, or Operations experience related to product innovation
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Knowledge of formula changes, packaging changes, manufacturing feasibility, machinery changes, and production timelines
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2–3+ years leading Agile/Scrum ceremonies and sprint-based delivery
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End-to-end physical product commercialization experience
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Agile/Scrum methodologies applied to product development
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Project timeline development in environments with frequent changes and uncertainty
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Experience with test-and-learn innovation cycles and commercialization processes
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Agile backlog management, sprint planning, sprint reviews, retrospectives, and velocity tracking
Preferred Skills
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Scrum Master certification
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Experience with disruptive innovation programs
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Experience with pack simplification and retail constraints
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Agile coaching within physical product development teams
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Experience tracking CSAT, team maturity, capacity, velocity, and other Agile delivery metrics
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Experience supporting global innovation teams and cross-functional Agile pods
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Food & Beverage manufacturing environment experience
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Experience coordinating product launches involving R&D, Packaging, Supply Chain, and Manufacturing/Engineering