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Your role at Clorox:

We are looking for the next Cat Litter Innovation R&D Manager where you will lead the development of a robust 2-5 year innovation pipeline for the Litter portfolio. As a R&D functional lead with expertise in the digital first innovation tools, you will partner with Brand Marketing, Insights, Sales, and R&D subject matter experts to build innovation platforms with strong consumer desirability, technical feasibility, and financial viability. You will analyze market trends, competitive and technology landscapes to identify consumer tensions and needs and translate them into new product ideas utilizing cutting edge AI tools. You will lead and execute technical learning plans spanning ideation, prototyping (physical or virtual), consumer testing, and development across Product, Process and Package ensuring technical rigor, design-to-value, and sustainability principles are employed. You will champion a growth mindset, fostering creativity and continuous improvement to drive results and team engagement by managing a team up to 5 scientists across product, process, and packaging with responsibilities for coaching, development, technical rigor, and performance appraisal. This role is open to individual contributors on the technical track without the people management responsibilities.

In this role, you will:

• Lead the innovation program and corresponding discovery initiatives for the Litter portfolio, collaborating and leading a cross-functional team through the modernized discovery process.
• Build and manage a robust 2-5 year innovation pipeline to deliver $20+MM/year in Net Innovation Sales, driving cross-functional alignment and resourcing of commercialization projects to deliver innovation goals.
• Identify and champion solutions to consumer, technical, and business challenges by developing a strong understanding of the cat litter category, consumers, technology, leading edge retailers, manufacturing, and our business model.
• Utilize creative problem solving skills and internal/external collaboration to deliver technical and consumer solutions as part of a cross functional team while ensuring technical feasibility for on time and in budget projects.
• Ensure Superior Consumer Experiences through the discovery, development, and/or procurement of product, process, and package technology.
• Develop and lead strategies for sustainability and value creation (design-to-value), ensuring cross-functional support and business action ability.
• Effectively partner with supply chain and sales to ensure seamless execution of new product launches.
• Encourage and foster team's knowledge management and data curiosity through connections with core M&S group.
• Lead a team of up to 5 scientists across product, process, and packaging with responsibilities for coaching, development, technical rigor, and performance appraisal. Fostering inclusion, diversity and engagement of the team. (For individual contributors on the technical track, there will be no direct people management responsibilities but increased technical development responsibilities).
• This is a hybrid role requiring being onsite in the Pleasanton office 3+ days a week.

What we look for:

• B.S., M.S., or Ph.D. from an accredited institution in Science or Engineering required.
• 6+ years of R&D consumer products experience with a focus on Product, Package and/or Process Development.
• Strategic Vision with ability to propose, analyze, and articulate short-, medium- and long-term scenarios for business opportunities.
• Track record of driving innovation and launching successful initiatives.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with a passion for continuous learning and staying updated on industry trends, emerging technologies, and consumer behaviors.
• Digitally savvy and proficient in modernized discovery process, design thinking and/or agile methodologies to enable faster, leaner, and consumer-obsessed idea creation.
• Demonstrated ability to influence leadership and peers. Excellent communication (both written and verbal) and presentation skills, with ability to effectively communicate complex ideas to a variety of stakeholders.
• Knowledge and experience in manufacturing operations.
• High energy, positive drive, and commitment in setting and meeting aggressive goals and enjoy working in a variety of cultures and settings.
• Previous experience managing and developing people a plus.

Workplace type:

Hybrid role requiring being onsite at the Pleasanton office 3+ days a week.

We seek out and celebrate diverse backgrounds and experiences. We’re looking for fresh perspectives, a desire to bring your best, and a non-stop drive to keep growing and learning.

At Clorox, we have a Culture of Inclusion. We believe our values-based culture connects to our purpose and helps our people be the best versions of themselves, professionally and personally. This means building a workplace where every person can feel respected, valued, and fully able to participate in our Clorox community. Learn more about our I&D program & initiatives here.

[U.S.]Additional Information:

At Clorox, we champion people to be well and thrive, starting with our own people. To help make this possible, we offer comprehensive, competitive benefits that prioritize all aspects of wellbeing and provide flexibility for our teammates’ unique needs. This includes robust health plans, a market-leading 401(k) program with a company match, flexible time off benefits (including half-day summer Fridays depending on location), inclusive fertility/adoption benefits, and more.

We are committed to fair and equitable pay and are transparent with current and future teammates about our full salary ranges. We use broad salary ranges that reflect the competitive market for similar jobs, provide sufficient opportunity for growth as you gain experience and expand responsibilities, while also allowing for differentiation based on performance. Based on the breadth of our ranges, most new hires will start at Clorox in the first half of the applicable range. Your starting pay will depend on job-related factors, including relevant skills, knowledge, experience and location. The applicable salary range for every role in the U.S. is based on your work location and is aligned to one of three zones according to the cost of labor in your area.

This job is also eligible for participation in Clorox’s incentive plans, subject to the terms of the applicable plan documents and policies.

Please apply directly to our job postings and do not submit your resume to any person via text message. Clorox does not conduct text-based interviews and encourages you to be cautious of anyone posing as a Clorox recruiter via unsolicited texts during these uncertain times.

To all recruitment agencies: Clorox (and its brand families) does not accept agency resumes. Please do not forward resumes to Clorox employees, including any members of our leadership team. Clorox is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.