Innovation Director
Minneapolis, MN
Full Time
Mid Level
Innovation Director
Duke Cannon Supply Co. is a growth-oriented CPG company that operates with an entrepreneurial mindset – and has become one of the fastest-growing brands in the men’s grooming category. Our mission is to better the day of hard-working men, and we fulfill this mission through the products we build, the conversations we create, and our give-back program to veterans.
We are currently seeking applicants for the role of Innovation Director.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Own a multi-year innovation pipeline, accountable for delivering approximately 50% of Duke Cannon’s projected growth across near-, mid-, and long-term horizons.
- Lead the front end of innovation from Discovery through Concept Development, building a consumer-led, brand-right pipeline aligned to Duke Cannon’s growth strategy.
- Lead cross-functional Discovery and Design, including trend exploration, category learning, consumer interactions, competitive analysis, ideation, and concept creation.
- Own concept quality and strategic fit, ensuring all concepts clearly deliver on consumer insight, brand intent, differentiation, and commercial viability before entering development.
- Steward concepts through Development, partnering with Product & Packaging Development and Supply Chain to ensure products and packaging deliver against approved concept, consumer, and business requirements.
- Support Brand, Creative and Sales in go-to-market development, including claims substantiation, positioning, packaging design alignment, and creation of compelling sales and marketing materials.
- Support Commercialization execution, partnering with Product Development and Quality to ensure production meets design intent and product performance expectations.
- Lead cross-functional post-launch evaluation, assessing in-market performance, consumer feedback, and learnings to inform optimization and future innovation.
- Provide innovation leadership and storytelling, aligning teams and leadership through clear opportunity framing, decision support, and concept narratives.
REQUIRED:
- 7–10+ years of product innovation experience within high-growth CPG, with demonstrated ownership of front-end innovation and concept development.
- Proven track record of building and advancing innovation pipelines, translating consumer insight into commercially viable products.
- Bachelor’s degree required (or equivalent practical experience).
- Strong executive communication skills, with the ability to clearly present ideas, strategies, and recommendations to senior leadership.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to craft compelling concept narratives and decision materials.
- Demonstrated leadership and influence, with the ability to build alignment, inspire cross-functional teams, and lead without direct authority.
- Highly organized and detail-oriented, with strong project discipline and a continuous improvement mindset.
PREFERRED:
- Experience in personal care, cosmetics, or adjacent consumer categories, with a strong understanding of formulation-led products and brand-driven innovation.
COMPANY CULTURE
Duke Cannon Supply Co. offers a fast-paced environment where decisions are vetted quickly, and opportunities are relentlessly pursued. We work hard, but we value flexibility as well. We have an informal culture with an emphasis on having fun (we sell soap, after all), though we have the most fun when we exceed our goals. The company’s leaders are dedicated to the growth and development of the team; as such, we want to ensure that our people have a rich and rewarding experience with unique opportunities to grow.
Duke Cannon Supply Co.’s Main Lodge (aka the office) is in Minneapolis’ North Loop, one of the city’s most vibrant and walkable neighborhoods, with award-winning restaurants, fashionable boutiques, live music and Major League Baseball just steps away.
SALARY AND BENEFITS
Duke Cannon offers a competitive market salary and bonus based on role and professional experience. The salary range for this position is $130,000 - $150,000. Our benefits are top-notch and include health & dental insurance, HSA and 401k programs supported by regular company contributions, a tuition reimbursement program, and monthly parking stipend. We also host monthly moments of Team camaraderie ranging from community service events to social hours in the Main Lodge (aka the office) to Lunch & Learns covering business, team, and industry topics.
Duke Cannon provides equal access to and opportunity in employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.
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