Innovation Project Manager

Overview
Innovation Project Manager – AMEA at Opella. Location: Brisbane (Preferred); Open to Sydney. Hybrid work arrangement: 2 days on-site/at home per week.
About The Job
As the
Innovation Project Manager – AMEA
, you will drive end-to-end innovation initiatives across the consumer healthcare portfolio to drive growth and fuel Australia and the region's innovation ambition. This role translates consumer insights and business opportunities into commercially viable solutions with speed and precision. You will collaborate cross-functionally to shape innovation pipelines, manage project execution, and ensure timely market delivery. The role requires an outcome-obsessed mindset, strategic influence, agility, and the courage to challenge convention to gain competitive advantage. You are expected to drive measurable business outcomes, enhance consumer relevance, and enable long-term brand and category growth across diverse AMEA markets.
Main Responsibilities
Lead cross-functional project teams to deliver innovation initiatives from concept to launch, with full accountability for scope, timeline, budget, and value creation
Define and drive project strategies aligned with business objectives and functional input, ensuring consumer relevance and commercial viability
Manage the full project lifecycle, including scope, schedules, risks, resources, and financials, applying agile and outcome-focused methodologies
Facilitate project alignment through structured kick-off, planning workshops, and recurring team meetings to monitor progress, resolve issues, and enable fast decision-making
Present the project to the relevant Innovation Committee for gate submissions, status updates, major project changes and escalation of decisions and issues; make recommendations for critical decisions
Perform risk management strategies as required and take necessary risk mitigation steps
Provide project updates, KPIs and business impact metrics with stakeholders
Conduct post-launch reviews and champion continuous improvement by capturing learnings and embedding best practices
Actively contribute to the innovation project management community by sharing knowledge, tools, and standards across teams and regions
About You
Qualifications
Bachelor's Degree in Science, Pharmacy, Business, Marketing or related field
Experience
Preferably with 8+ years of experience in innovation, project management or product development in the consumer healthcare, OTC, personal care, food, or other FMCG industries
Proven track record of delivering innovation projects end-to-end, with measurable business impact (e.g., sales growth, speed-to-market, consumer engagement)
Strong understanding of consumer behavior, health trends and regulatory environments in consumer healthcare (an advantage)
Experience working across Australia and other markets within AMEA (Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa) is good to have
Soft and Technical Skills
Strong analytical skills; ability to proactively analyse issues, identify challenges and develop strategic and tactical solutions; design metrics to measure business impact
Prior experience in managing cross-functional teams across multiple geographies
Excellent communication and influencing skills
Strong stakeholder management and ability to interact with senior leaders
Outcome-obsessed mindset; comfortable with ambiguity
Why Us
At Opella, you will work on challenging, purposeful projects and be empowered to develop consumer brands with passion and creativity. This is your opportunity to grow new skills within a bold, collaborative, and inclusive culture where people can thrive. We are challengers by nature, dedicated to making self-care as simple as it should be. We value honesty, collaboration, courage, accountability, and simplicity.
Join us on our mission: Health. In your hands.
Seniority level
: Mid-Senior level
Employment type
: Full-time
Job function
: Project Management and Information Technology
Industries
: Retail Health and Personal Care Products
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