Growth Strategy & Intelligence Manager

About the role

Ajinomoto Health & Nutrition, Inc. is seeking a Manager, Growth Strategy & Intelligence to join the Innovation Strategy Department (ISD) in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Responsibilities

• Identify and prioritize strategic questions relevant to Ajinomoto’s growth agenda, particularly in healthcare and ICT-related domains
• Independently scope, design, and execute market, competitive, customer, ecosystem, and technology intelligence efforts
• Conduct primary and secondary research using expert interviews, literature review, databases, public sources, and external networks
• Monitor emerging market trends, disruptive technologies, and competitive developments to identify opportunities and risks
• Translate incomplete or complex information into clear hypotheses, scenarios, and strategic implications
• Personally lead rigorous analytical workstreams from problem definition through synthesis and recommendation
• Convert intelligence outputs into strategic recommendations regarding where to play, how to win, partnerships, investments, and capability priorities
• Prepare executive-ready presentations, memos, and decision materials for leadership audiences
• Lead analyses supporting portfolio prioritization, investment planning, and resource allocation discussions across growth initiatives
• Contribute directly to long-range planning and strategic roadmap development
• Evaluate new business opportunities, partnerships, and adjacent growth platforms
• Partner directly with business leaders, technical teams, and senior stakeholders to refine problem statements and align around decision needs
• Design and facilitate workshops, working sessions, and cross-functional strategy discussions when appropriate
• Build alignment across diverse stakeholders by surfacing assumptions, risks, and tradeoffs constructively
• Collaborate effectively across functions, cultures, and geographies, including regular engagement with colleagues in Japan
• Translate differing stakeholder perspectives into clear next-step decisions and aligned action plans
• Build practical tools, templates, and processes for insight generation, strategic planning, and opportunity evaluation
• Contribute to the continued development of a high-performing internal strategy capability within ISD
• Support additional strategic initiatives and special projects as assigned

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required in a scientific, engineering, or technical discipline, such as biology, chemistry, biochemistry, chemical engineering, biomedical engineering, materials science, or a related field. Master’s degree or PhD preferred, particularly where it supports strong scientific literacy and comfort engaging with complex technical topics.

Five or more years of relevant experience, ideally including some combination of Strategy consulting or similarly rigorous analytical problem-solving experience Corporate strategy, innovation, market insight, business development, or growth roles within a science- or technology-driven organization.

Demonstrated experience leading analytical workstreams involving market assessment, competitive analysis, research synthesis, and strategic recommendation development.

Proven ability to communicate complex technical or market topics clearly to business and senior leadership audiences.

Experience operating effectively in fast-paced, ambiguous, and evolving environments.

Qualifications

Market and technology intelligence: Ability to identify, synthesize, and interpret signals across markets, technologies, competitors, and scientific domains.

Growth strategy and innovation planning: Strong understanding of how intelligence informs long-term growth strategy, portfolio choices, and innovation decision-making.

Strategic problem solving: Ability to independently structure ambiguous problems, frame key questions, develop hypotheses, and translate analysis into strategic implications.

Analytical rigor: Comfort working with incomplete information, making assumptions, evaluating evidence, framing scenarios, and assessing multiple future states.

Scientific and technical literacy: Ability to engage credibly with scientific and technical concepts and translate them into business-relevant insights.

Synthesis and communication: Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to produce executive-ready materials and communicate recommendations clearly to senior stakeholders.

Stakeholder engagement and influence: Ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders across strategy, R&D, venture, and business teams to build alignment and drive progress.

Workshop design and facilitation: Ability to structure and lead productive working sessions, strategy discussions, and cross-functional workshops that clarify decisions and next steps.

Judgment and prioritization: Ability to focus on decision-relevant insight while balancing speed, rigor, and practical business impact.

Ownership and delivery: Ability to operate autonomously, prioritize across competing demands, and drive workstreams from scoping through analysis, recommendation, and implementation support.

Skills

• Market and technology intelligence
• Growth strategy and innovation planning
• Strategic problem solving
• Analytical rigor
• Scientific and technical literacy
• Synthesis and communication
• Stakeholder engagement and influence
• Workshop design and facilitation
• Judgment and prioritization
• Ownership and delivery

Benefits

Comprehensive and competitive total rewards package, including Competitive Pay and Annual Bonus Opportunity, 401(k) with Company Contributions, Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage, Paid Time Off, Company Holidays, and Floating Holidays, Paid Parental Leave, Wellness Programs and Yearly Wellness Reimbursement, Work Flexibility, Company-Paid Life and Disability Insurance, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Tuition Reimbursement Opportunities, Career Growth and Development within a Global Organization, Company-Provided Mental Health and Caregiving support

Pay

140K-170K

Schedule

Hybrid role requiring approximately three days per week onsite in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Domestic and occasional international travel estimated at 10-15 percent. Ability to participate in virtual and in-person meetings across global time zones as needed.

Physical Requirements

Ability to remain in a stationary position for extended periods while working. Ability to operate a computer and standard office equipment. Ability to communicate effectively in person and virtually. Ability to travel domestically and internationally if required.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Ajinomoto is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, age, physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status or any other basis protected by state, federal, or local law.