Agile Innovation Manager
abacusDenver (CO)
About the role
Join Our Team in Chicago, IL - Drive Innovation in Food & Beverage Are you ready to be part of a dynamic team in the heart of Chicago? We're seeking a proactive leader to join our cross-functional agile pod, driving innovation and growth within our Disruptive Innovation team. This role offers a unique opportunity to work in a hybrid environment, combining the vibrancy of Chicago with flexible remote work options. In this role, you'll enable agile ways of working, remove barriers to progress, and ensure the continuous delivery of high-impact solutions tailored for our global innovation team. You'll collaborate with R&D, Packaging, Supply Chain, Marketing, Finance, and Strategy leads to bring groundbreaking innovations to market-faster and smarter.
Key Responsibilities:
Lead agile ceremonies such as sprint planning, daily stand-ups, and retrospectives.
Manage the end-to-end innovation and commercialization process from concept to market launch.
Build and manage project timelines, ensuring on-time delivery.
Coach the team on agile principles, balancing speed and structure.
Identify and resolve impediments to progress.
Track key agile metrics and adjust strategies to ensure project success.
Maintain clear documentation of sprint goals, backlog items, and progress.
Ensure alignment across all pod members and foster an environment of shared ownership.
Tailor agile workflows to reflect the unique characteristics of physical product innovation.
Work closely with cross-functional partners to manage and refine the product backlog.
Requirements:
Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, or related field.5 years of project management or agile leadership experience in the Food & Beverage industry.
Experience with physical product innovation, particularly in packaging and manufacturing.
Strong knowledge of Agile/Scrum methodologies.
Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams in a fast-paced environment.
Excellent communication, facilitation, and conflict-resolution skills.
Preferences:
Experience supporting test-and-learn innovation cycles.
Passion for team empowerment and iterative learning.
Willingness to work flexible hours to accommodate global team members.
If you're passionate about innovation and ready to make a significant impact in the Food & Beverage industry, apply now to join our team in Chicago!
Subject Line: Apply Now - Drive Innovation in Food & Beverage Industry
By applying for this job, you agree to receive calls, AI-generated calls, text messages, or emails from and its affiliates, and contracted partners. Frequency varies for text messages. Message and data rates may apply. Carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages. You can reply STOP to cancel and HELP for help. You can access our privacy policy at Privacy Policy - Abacus.
Before you apply
Applying takes about a minute. These four things decide how fast it moves after that.
Your profile is current
It's what we read first. Occupations, seniority and locations matter more than a long history.
Two examples you can talk through
Not a portfolio — just two pieces of work where you can explain the decisions and what you'd change.
A number in mind
What you're on now and what would make you move. We negotiate better when we know both.
Your notice period
Employers plan around it, and it's the question that stalls offers most often.
Once you apply, someone reads it and calls you before anything reaches the employer — usually within two working days.
More like this