Dashen Brewery Share Company, a prominent player in Ethiopia’s beverage industry, is seeking a highly motivated and experienced Research & Innovation Manager to join our dynamic team. We are committed to producing high-quality beverages that resonate with our consumers while fostering a culture of continuous improvement and innovation within our organization. This position presents a fantastic opportunity for a skilled marketing professional to play a key role in shaping the future of our brands through insightful research, strategic planning, and effective project management. We are looking for a driven individual with a passion for understanding consumer behavior, identifying market trends, and developing groundbreaking product innovations.
As the Research & Innovation Manager, you will be responsible for supporting marketing and business planning by identifying crucial information needs and conducting comprehensive research. You will lead cross-functional teams in the development of new products, variants, and packaging formats, while also working to improve existing products through reformulation and redesign. This role requires a blend of analytical skills, creative thinking, and strong leadership qualities to drive projects from conception to successful launch. If you are a results-oriented professional with a proven track record of success in the FMCG sector, we encourage you to apply.
Dashen Brewery Share Company offers a stimulating and rewarding work environment where employees are empowered to make a significant impact. We value innovation, collaboration, and a commitment to excellence, and we are seeking individuals who share these core values. This position offers the chance to work with a talented team of professionals, contribute to the growth of our iconic brands, and advance your career within a thriving organization. If you are ready to take on this exciting challenge, we invite you to submit your application and demonstrate your passion for research and innovation.
Research & Innovation Manager – Detailed Responsibilities and Requirements
The Research & Innovation Manager will be based in Addis Ababa and will hold a permanent employment contract with Dashen Brewery Share Company. The key responsibilities and requirements for this role are detailed below:
Job Summary:
The primary responsibility of the Research & Innovation Manager is to support marketing and business planning through the identification of information needs, conducting relevant research using both qualitative and quantitative methodologies, and analyzing research results to provide actionable insights. Furthermore, this individual will lead cross-functional innovation project teams, guiding them from initial concept to the development of an outline launch plan for both new product development and the improvement of existing products.
Key Responsibilities:
- Leadership Responsibilities: The Research & Innovation Manager will be expected to demonstrate action-oriented leadership, setting priorities effectively, driving for results, and creating collaborative relationships within the team. They will reinforce the company’s values, generate enthusiasm and passion for our brands, demonstrate creativity and sound decision-making skills, exhibit strong problem-solving and process management abilities, and display commercial acumen. The successful candidate will be committed to building self-awareness, actively listening and learning from both successes and failures, and proactively seeking feedback from others to facilitate continuous self-improvement.
- Functional Capabilities: This role requires the ability to manage all continuous and ad hoc research studies, from initial brief to final report, ensuring they are completed on time and within budget. This includes personally managing research fieldwork or supervising fieldwork carried out by other members of the Market Research team or by third-party research agencies. The Research & Innovation Manager will also manage innovation projects from the initial generation of ideas to the launching processes and post-launch assessments. They will analyze data and information received from diverse sources to collate findings into actionable insights for marketing planning and provide results reports, executive summaries, and presentations for the Marketing team, other DBSC functions, DBSC management, and the Board. Furthermore, they will assist the Marketing team in identifying their specific information needs.
- Top Accountabilities: The Research & Innovation Manager will monitor consumer attitudes, behaviors, trends, and the overall market landscape, recommending tracking processes to assess the impact of brand activities. They will analyze data and information received to assist the Brands team in producing regular brand health and competitor reports. This includes developing and testing Innovation concepts through the innovation funnel, managing and executing the research stage gate process of concept development, liquid and package testing, and partnering in the development of the launch plan. This individual will also lead the development and commercialization of new products from ideation to launch, leading the innovation team and closely collaborating with cross-functional teams to foster the process of innovation.
- Financial and Project Management: Providing rationales, volume estimates, and outline financial analyses (in collaboration with the Finance Department) for concepts, to underpin opportunity identification and prioritization. Identifying the internal and external resources required for each project and leading cross-functional project teams, from project brief to outline launch plan.
- Documentation and Best Practices: Producing project timetables and project documentation as required. Act as the specialist point of contact for any research or research analysis required. Assisting the Marketing Manager Brands with the production of a Brand Standards Manual/Brand Book for each new brand developed. Serving as the central point of contact for all research studies carried out by DBSC, coordinating all research requests and executing research studies. Providing data and situation analyses as required to inform business issues that need to be addressed. Maintaining a database of research studies that can easily be referred to by the Marketing team and DBSC management.
- Budget Management: Monitoring and reporting on the approved research budget across the brands portfolio and budgets allocated to new and old product development. Assisting the Marketing team in preparing accruals and expenditure forecasts. Maintaining best practices in carrying out all research studies, to ensure that results are sufficiently robust for decision-making. Leading the Market Research team in best practice processes and developing their capabilities through performance management, coaching, and identification of training needs. Providing coaching as necessary to members of the Marketing team and other DSBC departments on innovation project processes (such as Stage-Gate) and the selection and application of research tools and techniques. Managing the research budget across the brands portfolio and of approved budgets for new and old product development projects.
Qualifications and Skills Required
To be considered for the Research & Innovation Manager position, candidates must possess the following qualifications and skills:
- Educational Background: A Bachelor’s Degree in Sales, Marketing, Business Management, or in a related business field is required.
- Professional Experience: A minimum of seven years of marketing experience is required, preferably within the Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) environment.
- Key Competencies and Behavioral Skills: Experience in the development and execution of marketing strategies. A demonstrated track record of success in terms of market share capture, market penetration, brand building, customer service and satisfaction, and volume growth. The ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate successes in leading, building, and developing a team. IT literacy and the ability to handle electronic data (Advanced Word and Excel skills) are essential. Fluency in Amharic and a strong command of written and spoken English are also required.
Requirement Skill:
- Communication Proficiency
- Critical thinking skills
- Data Collection and Analysis Expertise
How to Apply
Interested applicants who meet the minimum requirements are encouraged to submit their application and CV to the following address from February 27, 2025, to March 6, 2025. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for an interview.
Dashen Brewery Share Company,
Gondar and Debrebirhan Plants
& Addis Ababa Dashen Brewery Head Office building
Alternatively, applications can be submitted via email to: jobs@dashenbeer.et
Please clearly indicate the Title of the position you are applying for in the subject line of your email. We look forward to receiving your application and learning more about your qualifications and experience.