Global Initiatives Leader

About the role

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. 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.

Responsibilities

• Owes the E2E readiness and timeliness of the initiative across technical, commercial and financial aspects.
• Led 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.
• Builds 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).
• Delivers Initiative Success. Clarify business objectives and expectations. Deliver project Success Criteria. Focus on Business First, Project Second.
• Guides 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
• Preferrably to have experience of Wella Operations or related industry, pharmaceutical, paint, food, FMCG

Skills & Behaviors

• Strong Leadership and teamwork skills
• Demonstrates a strong sense of individual accountability
• Is autonomous, action-orientated and pragmatic
• Is committed to deliver results, goes after the stretch target
• Takes conscious and calculated risks
• Makes fast decisions balancing intuition and facts
• Proactively seeks improvement, is a solution provider and a problem solver
• Makes innovation happen within real-life constraints
• Learns from successes and failures, looks for and reapplies best practices
• Embraces and accelerates change in a fast-paced environment
• Is resilient and flexible, adapts to new challenges
• Is passionate, enthusiastic and has fun in work achievement
• Thrives on challenges and keeps a healthy attitude under pressure
• Communicates effectively; delivers impactful presentations, says what’s on mind, goes to the point
• Is willing to help others and focuses on customer needs
• Solicits and derives benefit from other’s feedback
• Demonstrates relevant business knowledge & financial awareness
• Is dedicated to driving the business in a profitable & sustainable way
• Guides others through change by example
• Adapts leadership style to situations & people, finds the right balance between delegation & control
• Gives constructive & actionable feedback to improved performance & development
• Recognizes the contribution of others, differentiates fairly