Iacollaborative

While we have worked within this vertical many times, we are formalizing and deepening our approach to this exciting, challenging and valuable industry. We are looking for a talented leader with a passion for design strategy, with extensive experience and proven success in providing viable, user-centered innovations to leading Food & Beverage companies across the areas of retail, service, entertainment, beverages, restaurants and packaging.

This individual will join the IA team in the role of our Food & Beverage Director and, as an expert in this industry, will act as the catalyst to help us grow our impact on this industry, while championing this offering internally at IA and with clients. He/She will lead the practice to help expand our comprehensive research, strategy, design and commercialization practices within this space.

As a Food & Beverage Director, you will:

• Build our capability, win business, lead and contribute to projects and represent the best of IA Collaborative internally and to the world.
• Specially, you will act as the senior most client partner for IA’s Food & Beverage accounts. Along side IA’s account staff, you will inspire and shepherd clients through the research, strategy, design, and commercialization process, facilitating and leading collaborative planning sessions, regularly scheduled meetings, ideation sessions and presentations.

• Own and extend client relationships, set the direction for the new business development process, create innovative and memorable ways to differentiate IA and win business within Food & Beverage categories. This includes the development of project approaches, strategic components of new business proposals, and the execution of pitch meetings. 
• Plan and lead global workshops, as the primary client food & beverage thought partner, including collaborative workshops educating clients on research, strategy and design process and solutions across Innovation, Package, Brand, Nutrition, Retail, Entertainment, Experience, Distribution, etc. 
• Apply and build a strong competency in the F&B development process from insight generation and strategy through to product/experience design and commercialization.

• Manage the growth and development of the Food & Beverage team. Conduct the training and development of direct reports. Lead in the identification, recruitment and hiring of internal F&B staff.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field required. Advanced degree preferred. 
• Adept design thinking acumen.
• At least ten years of professional work experience in client-facing management role(s) within a strategic design firm, management consultancy, and/or food & beverage focused company.

• Extensive experience within business strategy, product design, product management, and user driven design and research.
• Familiarity with applicable food and beverage industry governing standards, regulatory requirements, stakeholder roles, industry standards and trends.
• Dynamic presentation and client management skills. Adept at leading large scale work sessions and client collaboration models.