Customer Innovation Manager - Costco

Maple Leaf Foods Inc.; Mississauga; On-site; CAD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent food company located in Mississauga is seeking a Customer Innovation Manager to drive innovation and product strategy. The role involves leading cross-functional teams to develop and commercialize new products, while managing the innovation lifecycle. Candidates should have a Bachelor's degree and 2-4 years in a related field, possessing strong leadership, communication, and analytical skills. The company offers a competitive benefits package and values diversity in the workplace.

Benefits

Health and wellness benefits

Defined contribution pension plan

Comprehensive tuition reimbursement program

Paid days for community service

Qualifications

• 2-4 years of retail food industry or consumer packaged goods sales experience.
• Ability to communicate well with all organizational levels, including senior leadership.
• Strong project and time management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead innovation and commercialization of new products.
• Monitor competitive changes and market trends.
• Design and lead innovation sessions.

Skills

Leadership

Collaboration

Presentation skills

Project management

Creative thinking

Analytical skills

Problem-solving

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

Overview

The Customer Innovation Manager (CIM) is a vital part of the Costco Customer Business Team. The CIM will drive the commercial agenda to help the Costco CBT realize its growth potential. Responsible for the strategic development of the innovation pipeline, the CIM, in collaboration with the cross functional team, will lead the idea-generation and commercialization of new innovative products and go-to-market strategies for Costco. Providing expert knowledge of the innovation process, brand and the customer strategies, the CIM leads and maintains the life cycle management of our portfolio through ongoing exit and renovation strategies. The CIM helps manage all Costco innovation projects to ensure they run flawlessly. On these projects, the CIM works closely with many cross functional teams such as Sales, Marketing, Product Development, Finance, Packaging Technology, Supply Chain and Manufacturing. While working with these teams, the CIM acts as the customer expert and provides Costco’s perspective to ensure we employ Costco-specific strategies for pricing, packaging and product design. In collaboration with the Sales Director, CIM will oversee 3-year pipeline development of innovation to drive profitable growth.

Any MLF team member interested in being considered for this role are encouraged to apply online by September 23. Applications received beyond that date are not guaranteed consideration.

Snapshot of a Day-in-the-Life

• Innovation Lead: Bring new innovation to market, win business from competitors and enhance current Costco products through renovation:
  • Build a strategy for growth with innovation/renovation/displacement, including a multi-year innovation pipeline.
  • Architect and internally communicate the plan to achieve our ambitious Sales target
  • Identify new items to sell to Costco based on consumer, market and customer insight (customer branded and branded)
  • Provide pre-flight checklist to marketing/sales for Strategic Alignment on new opportunities
  • Act as conduit between marketing and CBDM to support new item presentations, including pricing, retail slopes, product specifications, samples, consumer and market trends
  • Once Costco accepts a new proposed item, collaborate with CEM and Marketing Managers & Associates to bring the item to market
  • Measure innovation success through regular monitoring of KPIs
  • Design and lead innovation sessions with customer 1-2 times per year
• Competitive Monitoring:
  • Responsible for monitoring competitive changes and market trends at Costco and the rest of retail to help identify new item opportunities
  • Stays up-to-date with new flavour and product trends through attending trade shows and collaborating with marketing and foodservice colleagues and how they integrate into customer strategy

Travel requirements: Some travel required (25%) to meet with customers (Vancouver, Ottawa).

What You’ll Bring

• Bachelor’s degree and 2-4 years of retail food industry or consumer packaged goods sales experience
• Excellent leadership, collaboration and presentation skills
• Ability to communicate well (verbal and written) with all levels of the organization, including senior leadership
• Exceptional project and time management skills are required
• Creative thinking, analytical and problem-solving skills
• Must be able to provide strong, executable recommendations
• Demonstrated ability to affect change through influence
• A team player that can work effectively with all levels of an organization.
• Must be proactive and performance driven, have a bias for action and be able to work under pressure in a fast-paced environment.
• Commitment to the 4 day in-office policy, with Fridays eligible for remote work

What We Offer at Maple Leaf Foods

• Being part of a high-performance, people-focused company that has an inspiring and unique vision to become the most sustainable protein company on earth, and a deep commitment to sustainable protein across North America.
• An inclusive company culture and a work environment that keeps our people safe, rewards excellence, and empowers everyone to learn and contribute their best.
• Competitive Health and Wellness benefits that offer flexibility to meet your individual or family needs, including programs focused on improving mental health and wellbeing. These benefits start on your first day of employment.
• Defined Contribution Pension Plan with company matching that starts on your first day of employment.
• Learning and development opportunities, including workshops, ‘speaker series’ events, and resources that allow you to develop your skills and progress your career.
• Comprehensive tuition reimbursement program that supports continuous learning and development of our team members through investment in eligible degrees, diplomas, professional certification, or trades programs.
• Supporting our deep commitment to community impact, we offer up to two paid days annually to volunteer at a cause of your choice.

About Us

We’re a carbon neutral food company on a purposeful journey to Raise the Good in Food through better nutrition, safer food and workplaces, more humane animal care, and environmental sustainability efforts that protect our planet. We care about our communities and commit to reducing food insecurity in Canada. Join us on the journey. Let’s build a better future, together.

We’re passionate about food. For more than 100 years, we’ve made delicious, healthy protein that Canadians love under iconic national and regional brands, like Maple Leaf, Schneiders, and Greenfield Natural Meat Co. We’re on a journey to become the most sustainable protein company – not just in Canada – but on earth.

• We are carbon neutral.
• We are one of the only food companies in Canada to set science-based targets.

We’re a global food company with more than 13,500 team members. We operate sites in 20+ locations across Canada. We also have locations in the U.S. and Mexico, and do business in Asia.

A diverse and inclusive work environment

Championing diversity and inclusion is a critical component to advancing our collective purpose and vision and living the Maple Leaf Leadership Values. We believe in building, investing in, recognizing, and rewarding remarkable people who value an inclusive workplace, embrace all forms of diversity, and commit to including every voice in our collaborative environment. We’re so much stronger when we know we’re accepted and valued for who we are and what we each bring to the workplace.

We embrace a strong, values-based culture

Our eight Leadership Values are our north star. They guide the decisions we make for all our stakeholders: our consumers, our customers, our people, our communities, our shareholders, and the environment.

• Doing What’s Right
• Shared Value
• High Performance
• Diverse and Inclusive Teams
• Disciplined Decision Making
• Our Accountability
• Intense Curiosity
• Transparency and Humility

We thank all applicants for their interest in exploring employment opportunities with Maple Leaf Foods; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Applicants may be subject to a background check and must meet the security criteria designated for the position.

Championing diversity and inclusion is a critical component to advancing our collective purpose and vision, living the Maple Leaf Leadership Values, and delivering winning results. Accommodation is available upon request for applicants with disabilities in the recruitment and assessment process and when hired; please contact our Talent Attraction Team at [e-mail].

Disclaimer: Please note that salaries posted on sites other than the MLF Careers Page are not a reflection of Maple Leaf Foods and are an estimated salary range provided by that particular job board. Maple Leaf Foods offers competitive wages and an attractive total rewards package, which will be discussed during an interview with our Talent Team.