Local Brands R&D Lead - ANZ

• Location: Brisbane or Sydney offices

• Hybrid working environment

About the job

At Opella, our Science Hub mission is to empower our consumers to take Health in their Hands! With your talent and ambition, we can do even more to build our Sciences activities and develop breakthrough innovations for consumers worldwide. Your job, as Local Brands R&D Lead- ANZwithin our ANZ Science team, will be responsible for the end-to-end ideation to launch innovation initiatives. This is a stand-alone senior leadership role that is critical to driving the growth of the ANZ market through Science Innovation for local Vitamin & Supplement brands- Cenovis, Ostelin and Nature’s Own. A technical R&D role that requires the leadership and operational skills to really take ownership end-to-end with a proactive approach to problem-solving- bridging the consumer needs and science solutions together. You will be partnering with Brand & Innovation Leads, Marketing, Regulatory, Medical, Manufacturing & Development centers to ensure all the dots are connected to deliver the innovation projects in the most effective, efficient and creative way.

At Opella, the Consumer Healthcare business unit of Sanofi, it is the purest and third-largest player globally in the Over-The-Counter (OTC) & Vitamins, Minerals & Supplements (VMS) market.   We have an unshakable belief in the power of self-care and the role it can play in creating a healthier society and a healthier planet.

That’s why we want to make self-care as simple as it should be by being consumer-led always, with science at our core. 

Through our unique and balanced portfolio of more than 100 loved brands, including 15 global and local high-growth challengers such as Telfast, Dulcolax and Buscopan, we deliver our mission: helping more than half a billion consumers worldwide take their health in their hands.  

This mission is brought to life by an 11,000-strong team, 13 best-in-class manufacturing sites, and 4 specialized science and innovation development centers. 

We are also proud to be the first major fast-moving consumer healthcare company to achieve B Corp certification. 

Join us on our mission. Health. In your hands.

Main Responsibilities:

• Develop and deliver R&D pipeline for local brands Cenovis, Nature's Own and Ostelin, to meet agreed innovation sales targets in line with brand strategy plan

• Prioritise the brands short, medium & long-term R&D projects that supports claims, NPD, clinical trials and packaging innovation, all with a focus on sustainability

• Ensure delivery of selected innovation projects, partnering with Brand and Innovation team to strengthen outputs using consumer-based insights

• Design and deliver pipeline for local brands based on differentiated science

• Using your project management skills to partner with internal and external stakeholders to ensure execution is on time and in budget

• Strong partnership with science team in ANZ to ensure regulatory and medical strategies and directions are fully aligned and validated accordingly

• Build relationship with Australian Development Center to ensure the early engagement and contribution of the DC team to the product design, prototyping, and development for launch

• Strong cross-functional team work and communication to ensure that innovation pipeline is delivered

• Ensure that all base business protection projects for local brands are identified and prioritized based on risk

• Ensure that a strong external technology network is being used to deliver & accelerate differentiated tech opportunities

• Influence and advise key stakeholders & the leadership team on industry trends and new opportunities for local brands.

• Identifying and leverage external partnerships, suppliers, providers, key opinion leaders, etc. to influence innovation for the ANZ local brands

• Acting as the Research & Development Representative to support the strategic direction of the brand & innovation team, by allocating local resources to the prioritized innovation opportunities

About you:

Qualifications:

• Degree in Science or Higher degree (Ph.D.)

• Pharmacy or Nutrition qualifications highly regarded

Experience:

• Ideally a minimum 10 x years Technical R&D or science innovation experience in Pharmaceutical, FMCG (food or beverages) or consumer healthcare is required

• Preferred 5 x years New Product Development (NPD) background in complimentary medicine, health food innovation, beverages, specific to the Australian market is a significant plus

• Familiar with the scope of innovations: BD opportunities, NPD, claims with significant impact that need clinicals, novel ingredients & formulation technologies, and sustainable solutions

• Experienced in risk discussions and risk mitigation plans

• E2E innovation, together with examples of project management from ideation to launch of the innovation pipeline

• Highly familiar with the scope of innovations: BD opportunities, NPD, claims with significant impact that need clinicals, novel ingredients & formulation technologies, and sustainable solutions

Soft Skills:

• Strong science leader who can translate consumer insights and needs into science solutions and a sustainable brand led pipeline

• Leadership: Ability to partner and influence across a matrix environment and senior stakeholders, with excellent level of communication skills and confidence is key!

• Proactive and Hands-on approach, positive attitude and team-player

• Passion for coaching, mentoring and leading by example

Why choose us?

• Discover endless opportunities to grow your talent and drive your career, whether it’s through a promotion or lateral move, at home or internationally.

• Enjoy a thoughtful, well-crafted rewards package that recognizes your contribution and amplifies your impact.

• Multi-national organisation of globally loved Consumer Healthcare brands and exciting portfolio of OTC and VMS (multivitamin and supplement) brands!

• State-of-the-art Science lab and manufacturing facilities on-site at our beautiful Brisbane based HQ

• Brand new, modern offices in both our Virginia, Brisbane and Macquarie Park, Sydney locations offering a hyrbrid and flexible working environment

• Highly collaborative and supportive team environment and working culture