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Global Innovation Director Jobs in Rochester, NY

Senior Global Procurement Lead

Rochester, NY ยท On-site

$93K - $126K/yr

... direct materials within the Packaging and Finished Good Kitting commodities to the QuidelOrtho ... quality and driving innovation into the business. Such as generating supplier performance ...

Site Director

Webster, NY ยท On-site

$150K - $190K/hr

... with global reach, and a team of over 600 experienced professionals across the Midwest and ... innovation; recommendations for product positioning, branding and/or product line extensions; and ...

Site Director

Webster, NY ยท On-site

$150K - $190K/yr

... with global reach, and a team of over 600 experienced professionals across the Midwest and ... innovation; recommendations for product positioning, branding and/or product line extensions; and ...

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Showing results 1-20

Global Innovation Director information

See Rochester, NY salary details

$33.1K

$115.9K

$192.9K

How much do global innovation director jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 7, 2026, the average yearly pay for global innovation director in Rochester, NY is $115,914.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $78,900.00 and $154,900.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a Global Innovation Director do?

A Global Innovation Director is responsible for leading and managing the development and implementation of innovative strategies across an organization on a global scale. They identify emerging trends, analyze market opportunities, and coordinate cross-functional teams to drive growth through new products, services, or processes. This role often involves collaborating with regional leaders, overseeing innovation portfolios, and ensuring alignment with the company's overall business objectives. The Global Innovation Director plays a key part in fostering a culture of creativity and continuous improvement throughout the organization.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Global Innovation Director?

To thrive as a Global Innovation Director, you need expertise in strategic planning, product development, and cross-functional leadership, often backed by an advanced degree in business or a related field. Familiarity with innovation management platforms, data analytics tools, and methodologies like Design Thinking or Agile is common, and certifications such as PMP or Six Sigma are advantageous. Exceptional communication, creative problem-solving, and cultural intelligence are vital soft skills for inspiring diverse teams and driving change across markets. These skills and qualities are crucial for delivering innovative solutions that align with global business objectives and ensure competitive advantage.

How does a Global Innovation Director typically collaborate with cross-functional and international teams?

A Global Innovation Director regularly works with cross-functional teams across various regions, coordinating efforts between R&D, marketing, product development, and executive leadership. They facilitate communication among teams with different cultural backgrounds and business priorities, ensuring alignment on innovation goals and timelines. This role often involves leading virtual meetings, managing time zone differences, and fostering an inclusive environment where diverse perspectives are valued and integrated into global strategies. Successful collaboration requires strong intercultural communication skills and the ability to build consensus across multiple stakeholders.

What is the difference between Global Innovation Director vs Innovation Manager?

AspectGlobal Innovation DirectorInnovation Manager
ResponsibilitiesOversees innovation strategies across multiple regions, sets long-term innovation goals, and manages global teams.Manages specific innovation projects within a department or region, focusing on project execution and short-term goals.
Required CredentialsTypically requires a bachelor's or master's degree in business, engineering, or related fields; extensive experience in innovation or R&D.Usually requires a bachelor's degree in a relevant field; experience in project management or innovation is preferred.
Work EnvironmentGlobal corporate offices, cross-functional teams, strategic planning sessions.Departmental offices, project teams, collaborative workspaces.

The Global Innovation Director focuses on broad, strategic innovation initiatives across the organization, while the Innovation Manager handles specific projects and operational execution. Both roles require strong innovation knowledge, but the director's scope is wider and more strategic.

What cities near Rochester, NY are hiring for Global Innovation Director jobs?

Cities near Rochester, NY with the most Global Innovation Director job openings:

Infographic showing various Global Innovation Director job openings in Rochester, NY as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 96% Full Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 87% In-person, 4% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $115,914 per year, or $55.7 per hour.

Global Head of Product Development & Integrity

OX Tools

West Henrietta, NY โ€ข On-site

$223K - $234K/yr

Full-time

Posted 5 days ago


Key responsibilities

  • Define and lead the global product strategy to ensure sustained profitable growth across all brands, categories, and regions.

  • Build and oversee a global innovation pipeline, including managing the product roadmap and establishing stage-gate processes for new product development.

  • Manage portfolio optimization by conducting quarterly reviews, making lifecycle decisions, and focusing on high-growth, high-margin opportunities.


Job description

POSITION DESCRIPTION


The Global Head of Product is responsible for defining and leading OX Group’s global product strategy, building a multi-year innovation roadmap, and ensuring the portfolio delivers sustained, profitable growth across every brand, category, and region. The role is accountable for portfolio strategy, product roadmap execution, portfolio optimization, and aligning Product, Sales, Marketing, and Supply Chain into a single growth engine.


This role owns and directs product strategy across OX Group’s full portfolio of brands – including OX, BORA, Tracer, and SMART – spanning categories such as Power Tool Accessories, Portable Worksite, Marking Tools, Layout Tools, and Wet Trades, ensuring each brand and category has a clear, well-defined product strategy, roadmap, and portfolio structure that ladders up to a single, coherent Group-wide strategy. The role is also accountable for product integrity across the portfolio, ensuring every brand and category meets the quality, compliance, and performance standards tradespeople expect from OX.


Success is defined not simply by launching new products, but by building a globally scalable, high-margin portfolio – with the strategy, roadmap discipline, and cross-functional alignment required for OX Group to lead its categories long-term.


RESPONSIBILITIES


GLOBAL PRODUCT STRATEGY & VISION

  • Objective: Define and own a global product strategy that positions the full portfolio for sustained profitable growth across all brands, categories, and regions.
  • Strategic Portfolio Planning: Develop and maintain a multi-year global product strategy aligned to company vision, brand positioning, and market opportunity across every business unit.
  • Investment Prioritization: Determine where to invest, defend, or exit across the portfolio based on market attractiveness, competitive position, and margin potential.
  • Success Indicators: A clearly documented, leadership-aligned global product strategy refreshed annually, with investment decisions consistently traceable to strategic priorities.


PRODUCT ROADMAP & INNOVATION LEADERSHIP

  • Objective: Build and lead a global innovation pipeline that keeps the company ahead of competitors and responsive to tradesperson needs.
  • Roadmap Governance: Lead regular cross-functional roadmap reviews across all brands and categories, balancing core-range renewal, platform extensions, and breakthrough innovation.
  • Stage-Gate Discipline: Establish and enforce a consistent stage-gate new-product-development process from concept through launch, with clear go/no-go criteria at each stage.
  • Success Indicators: A rolling multi-year roadmap in place for every major category, with new products consistently launched on time and meeting quality and margin targets.

PORTFOLIO OPTIMIZATION & SKU MANAGEMENT

  • Objective: Keep the global portfolio focused on high-growth, high-margin opportunities.
  • Quarterly Portfolio Reviews: Apply a Keep / Grow / Fix / Delete framework across the global range to focus investment and reduce unnecessary complexity.
  • Lifecycle Management: Own end-to-end product lifecycle decisions, from launch through phase-out, in partnership with Supply Chain and Finance.
  • Success Indicators: A measurable reduction in low-performing SKU complexity and sustained improvement in portfolio-level margin and inventory health.

MARKET, CUSTOMER & COMPETITIVE INSIGHT

  • Objective: Ensure every product decision is grounded in a deep understanding of the customer, channel, and competitive landscape.
  • Voice of the Customer: Establish structured mechanisms – contractor research, retailer feedback, and field insight – to inform product requirements.
  • Competitive Intelligence: Maintain an ongoing view of competitor roadmaps, pricing, and positioning to inform product and pricing strategy.
  • Success Indicators: Product briefs consistently backed by documented customer and market evidence, with competitive benchmarking shared regularly with leadership.

CROSS-FUNCTIONAL ALIGNMENT – SALES, MARKETING & SUPPLY CHAIN

  • Objective: Act as the connective tissue between Sales, Marketing, Supply Chain, and Product so the portfolio operates as a single growth engine.
  • Go-to-Market Partnership: Partner with Global Sales and Marketing on positioning, launch sequencing, pricing, and commercial readiness for every major launch.
  • Supply Chain Alignment: Work with Supply Chain from the earliest stages of development on forecast accuracy, sourcing feasibility, and cost targets.
  • Success Indicators: Product, Sales, Marketing, and Supply Chain operating from a shared launch calendar, with minimal late-stage surprises on cost, supply, or go-to-market readiness.


GLOBAL & REGIONAL PRODUCT ADAPTATION

  • Objective: Ensure the portfolio scales globally while remaining relevant to regional market needs.
  • Regional Requirements: Partner with regional commercial leaders to adapt specifications, packaging, and compliance for key markets, including North America, the UK and Europe, and Australia and New Zealand.
  • Global Platform Thinking: Favor shared platforms and components across regions where possible to maximize scale efficiency without compromising local relevance.
  • Success Indicators: An appropriately localized offering in every major region and a growing share of the range built on shared global platforms.


LEADERSHIP & ACCOUNTABILITY

  • Accountability Cadence: Lead monthly, quarterly, and annual business reviews of the product portfolio’s performance and roadmap progress.
  • Culture: Build and lead a high-performing global product team grounded in ownership, customer-first thinking, and data-driven decision-making.
  • Reporting: Report regularly to the CEO and leadership team on roadmap progress, portfolio health, competitive positioning, and cross-functional risks.

SUCCESS DEFINITION

  • Year-End Success Criteria: A clearly defined and actively managed global product strategy and roadmap; a healthier, more focused portfolio with reduced low-performing SKU complexity; strong, trusted alignment across Sales, Marketing, and Supply Chain; and a global product organization capable of scaling with the business.

SKILLS & EXPERIENCE


  • Proven senior product leadership experience (Director of Product, Head of Product, VP Product, or General Management) within tools, hardware, building products, or related durable-goods category.
  • Demonstrated success building and leading global product strategy and multi-year roadmaps across multiple brands or categories.
  • Strong track record of cross-functional leadership across Sales, Marketing, and Supply Chain, with the ability to align diverse stakeholders around a shared plan.
  • Experience with portfolio optimization and SKU rationalization frameworks, and a working understanding of margin, inventory, and cost drivers.
  • Deep understanding of customer and contractor needs, channel dynamics (retail, wholesale, industrial), and competitive positioning.
  • Experience adapting products for multiple regions and markets, with international commercial exposure.
  • Strong data-driven decision-making, executive presence, and the ability to represent the product function at the leadership level.
  • Bachelor’s degree required; MBA or equivalent advanced degree preferred.