Regional Innovation Lead, Consumer Healthcare

POSITION SUMMARY:

Gearing up for the next wave of growth for Menarini Asia-Pacific, the Regional Innovation Lead (Consumer Healthcare) will be the primary architect for the future of our portfolio. This role is dedicated to identifying the next big thing in the consumer health space, specifically focusing on the Dermatology and Respiratory category and adjacent white spaces.

While traditional marketing focuses on the now, the Innovation Lead focuses on the next. You will lead the regional innovation roadmap, transforming consumer insights into tangible product pipelines, new business models, and disruptive go-to-market strategies. This role requires a high-level intrapreneurial mindset, someone who can navigate the complexities of a pharmaceutical environment while moving with the speed and agility of a consumer start-up.

The Lead will bridge the gap between regional strategy and local execution, ensuring that our innovation pipeline is not only scientifically sound but also consumer-first, digitally native, and commercially viable across diverse Asia-Pacific markets.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Pipeline & Portfolio Innovation

• Innovation Roadmap: Develop and own the 35 year innovation pipeline for the Dermatology and Respiratory category across APAC.
• Define and govern a Strategic Portfolio Architecture that balances immediate commercial wins with long-term disruptive innovation, ensuring a cohesive Masterbrand identity across diverse product tiers.
• White Space Identification: Systematically identify unmet consumer needs and blue ocean opportunities to expand Menarini's footprint beyond current offerings.
• Commercial Strategy & Business Case Ownership: Develop and defend rigorous business cases for every innovation project, including multi-year revenue projections, A&M requirements, and clear ROI milestones.
• Concept Development: Lead the end-to-end journey of new initiatives: from initial ideation and consumer-first insight mining to business case sizing and product positioning.
• Product Evolution: Drive the consumerization of existing clinical portfolios, translating complex medical benefits into compelling consumer value propositions.
• Design a scalable product hierarchy and segmentation strategy that optimizes SKU rationalization while maximizing market penetration across different consumer price points.

New Product Development & Launch Excellence

• Cross-Functional Orchestration: Lead regional Innovation Cross Functional Team (R&D, Medical, Regulatory, Supply Chain, Procurement and Finance) to accelerate product development from gate to gate.
• Brand Identity: Oversee the development of consumer-centric branding and delivery systems that enhance user experience and brand loyalty.
• Pilot Management: Design and lead Test & Learn pilots in key markets to validate concepts before full regional rollouts.
• BD & Procurement Collaboration: Work closely with Business Development to evaluate in-licensing opportunities, M&As, or external partnerships that can fast-track the innovation agenda.
• Directly manage the innovation interface with manufacturers (CDMOs) to ensure formulation feasibility, cost-of-goods (COGS) optimization, and adherence to regional speed-to-market timelines.

Digital-First Innovation & Consumer Intelligence

• Future-Proofing Channels: Explore and implement innovative sales models, including D2C (Direct-to-Consumer) and subscription-based services within E-commerce.
• Data-Driven Insights: Partner with Business Intelligence to utilize social listening, AI-driven trends, and ethnographic research to stay ahead of shifting consumer behaviors.
• Digital Ecosystems: Develop digital health solutions (apps, tools, or services) that wrap around physical products to provide a holistic consumer experience.

Market Integration & Capability Building

• Local Market Catalyst: Act as a consultant to country teams, helping them adapt regional innovation frameworks to local cultural nuances.
• KPI Tracking: Establish Innovation Dashboards to monitor the health of the new product pipeline and the ROI of innovation spend.
• Trend Advocate: Periodically present Future of Health trends to regional leadership to influence long-term investment decisions.

KEY REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, or a related field
• At least 8 years of experience in Consumer Marketing or Innovation roles, and within FMCG (Beauty, Skin, or Health) or high-growth Consumer Health.
• Proven track record of successfully launching new-to-market products or business models from scratch.
• Experience managing innovation or marketing across APAC markets
• Deep understanding of how innovation lives in Modern Trade, E-commerce, and professional (Physician/Pharmacy) channels.
• A self-starter who is comfortable with ambiguity and building the plane while flying it. Ability to work independently or as part of a team
• Ability to translate abstract consumer insights into technical manufacturing briefs that are commercially and operationally viable.
• Skilled at navigating the complexities of external supply chains and holding manufacturing partners accountable to innovation milestones and quality standards.
• Ability to switch between high-level strategic visioning and the granular details of a product formulation or regulatory hurdle.
• Ability to sell a vision to senior stakeholders and inspire cross-functional teams who do not report to you directly. Agile, adaptable, with strong tenacity and problem-solving skills
• A natural curiosity about human behavior and a passion for solving consumer pain points.
• Willingness to travel (approximately 20%-30%)

ABOUT MENARINI ASIA-PACIFIC

We are a global, family-owned healthcare company where our people are our priority. Present across 13 markets in Asia-Pacific, here's why you should join us:

• Local Market Expertise, Global Footprint: As a global family-owned company, we value local knowledge and expertise to invigorate the lives of patients, people and partners
• Inclusive Flexible Workplace: We are committed to foster a culture of respect and inclusive teamwork to ensure equal opportunities in a flexible workplace
• Versatile Learning and Vibrant Opportunities: Our diverse portfolio of products in varied therapeutic areas across prescription and consumer health presents opportunities for you to take ownership of your career
• Empowered to be Entrepreneurial: We operate in a dynamic, low-bureaucracy environment where swift decision-making allows us to make a real impact
• Sustainability and Care: Be part of a company that cares. Together, commit to sustainable workplaces

Join us and invigorate lives! For more information about Menarini Asia-Pacific, please visit www.menariniapac.com