Brand Innovation Manager

CRG Search; Knoxville (TN); On-site; USD 81,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

CRG Search is seeking an Innovation Manager to lead consumer-focused innovation across the organization, translating insights into market-ready ideas while balancing feasibility and business viability. You will drive end-to-end processes from ideation to launch, coordinating with R&D, sensory teams, and commercialization to bring innovations to market.

The role emphasizes a hands-on, independent mindset, collaboration, and the ability to manage multiple projects within a highly integrated team

Qualifications

• Self-starter able to work independently.
• Innovation experience in CPG or related consumer product industries.
• Experience translating consumer insights into viable business ideas.
• Track record of working with consumer insights partners.
• Experience guiding products through stage gate processes.
• Ability to balance feasibility, viability, and consumer appeal.

Responsibilities

• Develop innovation ideas with a consumer mindset and business acumen.
• Work with insights partners to understand consumer problems.
• Lead early front-end innovation including product development with R&D and sensory teams.
• Develop packaging concepts.
• Guide products through the stage gate process.
• Prioritize which innovations to move forward based on feasibility, viability, and consumer appeal.
• Serve as the central hub coordinating innovation efforts across the organization.
• Work with commercialization teams to bring products to market.
• Encompasses the full end-to-end innovation process from idea generation through consumer insights, product development, concept testing, packaging development, and final launch.
• Some innovations grow at different speeds and may be parked for later relevance, requiring ongoing nurturing and development

Skills

Self-starter mentality

Innovation experience in CPG

Consumer insights collaboration

Product development & RD

Packaging development/testing

Stage gate guidance

Reading consumer data

Collaborative work style

Job description

Compensation: Up to $135,000.00 plus yearly bonus

About The Role

The Innovation Manager sits within the portfolio team of the marketing department and serves as the hub for innovation strategies across the organization. This role is positioned as a key growth driver for the company, responsible for developing consumer-focused innovation that meets market needs while balancing feasibility, viability, and consumer likability. The position requires understanding how to translate consumer insights into viable business ideas that can be brought to market through the stage gate process.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop innovation ideas with a consumer mindset and business acumen
• Work with insights partners to understand consumer problems
• Lead early front-end innovation including product development with R&D and sensory teams
• Develop packaging concepts
• Guide products through the stage gate process
• Prioritize which innovations to move forward based on feasibility, viability, and consumer appeal
• Serve as the central hub coordinating innovation efforts across the organization
• Work with commercialization teams to bring products to market
• Encompasses the full end-to-end innovation process from idea generation through consumer insights, product development, concept testing, packaging development, and final launch
• Some innovations grow at different speeds and may be parked for later relevance, requiring ongoing nurturing and development

Qualifications/Must Haves

• Self-starter mentality with ability to create work independently
• Innovation experience in CPG or related consumer product industries
• Experience developing innovation from the marketing/consumer perspective
• Track record of working with consumer insights partners to understand consumer problems
• Experience with product development and R&D collaboration
• Experience with packaging development and testing
• Ability to guide products through stage gate processes
• Understanding of feasibility, viability, and consumer appeal in innovation decisions
• Curious mindset about how the business works across functions
• Ability to balance consumer-focused ideas with business viability
• Collaborative work style and comfort with highly integrated team environments
• Experience working in highly collaborative organizational cultures
• Ability to read and interpret consumer data reports and brand health trackers

Preferred Experience

• Experience in retail innovation or adjacent CPG categories
• Experience with food service or away-from-home food innovation
• Diverse marketing experience across different roles (brand management, social, etc.)
• Extroverted personality and/or strong collaboration skills