INNOVATION PROJECT MANAGER (H/F)

We are EssilorLuxottica, a global leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of ophthalmic lenses, frames and sunglasses. Formed in 2018 by the combination of Essilor and Luxottica, our Company combines two centuries of innovation and human endeavour to elevate vision care and the consumer experience around it. We are home to the most loved and widely recognized vision care and eyewear brands in the world. Our proprietary eyewear brands include Ray-Ban, Oakley, Costa, Vogue Eyewear, Persol and Oliver Peoples, complemented by over 20 prestigious licensed brands. Our advanced lens technologies include Varilux, Crizal, Eyezen, Stellest and Transitions. We offer superior shopping and patient experiences with a network of 18,000 stores including world-class retail brands like Sunglass Hut, LensCrafters, Salmoiraghi & Viganò and GrandVision. Every day, EssilorLuxottica’s 180,000 employees in 150 countries work towards a common mission to help people see more and be more. In 2021, the Company’s milestones included a collaboration with Meta to launch Ray-Ban Stories smart glasses; the acquisition of GrandVision bringing 39,000 new employees into our family; expansion of our International Employee Shareholding community, and the launch of Eyes on the Planet, our strategic approach to sustainability.

About the role:

Within the Group Lens Innovation (GLI), integrated to Light Management Category, the innovation Project Manager is responsible for preparing and managing the first phases of product conception in close collaboration with GLI Experts, Marketing teams, IP, Legal, … The innovation Project Manager leads a transversal team to manage the product development in early stages: product definition, product desirability, value ambition assessment, technical realization… One other mission is to identify new territories of interest for the category that will be valuable for the Group taking into account consumer desirability, commercial strategy and technical feasibility. The Light Management category covers innovations on antireflective coatings, Sun filters, Specific filters such as Blue-violet filters, Sleep, Migraine,… for prescription lenses.  

Key role accountabilities:

· Manage the early stages of innovation as well as innovation loop with a cross-functional team - IP, R&D, Operations, GMT, IT

· Identify the axes of work and to build the realization contract of the stage and to define the milestones

· Ensure sharing for approval the realization contract with the main stakeholders (and team management

· Plan the full activity to ensure the agreed deadlines and expectations

· Ensure the follow-up of the budget, the planning, the activities necessaries considering the inherent uncertainties and the validation of the deliverables expected for gate crossing

· Manage the communication/reporting on the progress of the stage (monthly, stage review or committees) and any points of alert or attention

· Develop products (internal and competitive), markets and customers (direct and indirect) knowledge

· Cooperate with main stakeholders - GLI Experts, Marketing; IP (intellectual property) department; legal department; operations – engineering & supply chain

Your profile:

· Master Degree in technical field (ideally Physics, Chemistry or Optics) completed by innovation or business master or by first experience in ophtalmic field

· At least 2-3 years of experience in in the field of project management in innovation or R&D, Engineering, Marketing in ophthalmic field (to know the business, the industry, no need of technical ophthalmic knowledge)

· To be at ease with that R&D / innovation uncertainty type of work, to have this background

· First knowledge of industry: trades, markets, consumer needs (ECP or end customers) or/and interest in product and consumers’ needs

· Ability to consider consumer needs and translate them into innovation

· MS Office knowledge

· Fluent English

· Good command of MS Office

· Strong sense of innovation

· Communication & cooperation skills

· Positive mindset

· Agile, adaptable, and willing to learn person

· Open-minded profile

Additional assets:

· Knowledge of agile innovation methodology – Type Design Thinking to carry out iterations to improve ideas through prototyping and testing phases

· French / Italian knowledge