NPI & Project Execution Lead

Description Overview

Join Perrigo as our NPI & Project Execution Lead and take the lead in shaping innovation across the Central & Eastern Europe Cluster.

In this strategic role, reporting directly to the Marketing Director, you’ll drive the execution of high-impact New Product Introductions (NPI) and lead cross-functional project excellence. You’ll be at the heart of innovation, ensuring our processes are aligned, efficient, and market-relevant.

This is more than project management – it’s about influencing strategy, coordinating key stakeholders, and delivering results that matter across multiple markets. You’ll also play a key role in cluster-wide initiatives like Commercial Strategy Reviews (CSR), embedding best practices and ensuring readiness at every stage.

Scope of the Role

Drive the New Product Innovation (NPI) and Stage Gate Process

• Implement a robust NPI process within the Cluster, aligning with global and regional innovation frameworks while tailoring to local market dynamics.
• Foster strong cross-functional collaboration with key internal stakeholders including Category Leads, Market Leads, CS&I, Regulatory, and Finance to ensure seamless integration and continuous improvement of the NPI process.
• Establish clear governance structures, standardized templates, and measurable KPIs to drive accountability, transparency, and success across all innovation projects.

Lead Project Preparation and Quality Assurance

• Ensure end-to-end project readiness by advising cross-functional teams on expectations, timelines, and deliverable standards, serving as the first point of contact for guidance throughout the preparation phase.
• Act as the quality gatekeeper, conducting final reviews of project documentation and materials to ensure they meet strategic, operational, and governance requirements before submission.
• Continuously enhance preparation processes by identifying improvement opportunities, embedding best practices, and promoting a culture of quality and accountability in project execution.

Cluster Strategic Alignment & Initiative Execution

• Drive execution of Cluster-level strategic initiatives, including CSR and other priority projects.
• Ensure alignment with business priorities and facilitate structured coordination among cross-functional stakeholders.
• Develop and maintain governance frameworks for strategic initiatives, including milestone tracking, risk management, and performance reporting.

Monitor Project Progress and Manage Risks

• Track and oversee the status of all innovation projects by consolidating updates from project managers and functional leads, ensuring visibility of timelines, milestones, and key deliverables.
• Escalate critical risks and deviations to relevant stakeholders, providing clear context and facilitating timely resolution through cross-functional alignment.
• Establish structured reporting and dashboards to ensure consistent, transparent communication of project progress and risk status across the organization.

Coordinate Selected Strategic Initiatives and Lead Localization Projects

• Drive execution of selected strategic initiatives across the cluster, ensuring alignment with business priorities and effective coordination among cross-functional stakeholders.

Experience Required

• 8+ years of progressive experience in FMCG and/or Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) industries, with a strong focus on innovation, project management, or marketing operations.
• Experience in designing and implementing cross-functional processes—exposure to New Product Innovation (NPI) or Stage Gate frameworks is highly valued and considered a strong asset.
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex, multi-stakeholder projects across markets or clusters, with success in managing timelines, risks, and governance structures.
• Strong cross-functional collaboration skills, with the ability to influence and align diverse teams including Marketing, Regulatory, Finance, and Supply Chain.
• Proficiency with project tracking tools and reporting dashboards (e.g., Smartsheet, Power BI, or similar), with a data-driven approach to performance monitoring.
• Thrives in fast-paced, dynamic environments, with a growth mindset and a passion for continuous improvement and innovation culture.
• Experience in process standardization and governance, ideally across multiple markets or regions.