Brand Manager - Innovation (Multiple Positions)

heinz; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 121,000 - 151,000; Full time

Job summary

Kraft Heinz in Chicago is seeking Brand Managers to drive Innovation Marketing initiatives, guiding consumer insight, concept ideation, product development, and packaging design to deliver bold, market-ready innovations. You will lead cross-functional teams and manage the stage-gate process to balance consumer needs with business goals.

You will partner with Insights, R&D, quality, ops, sales and finance to validate or invalidate key assumptions, leveraging syndicated data to inform

Qualifications

• 5+ years in CPG product commercialization and brand management.
• Experience with the stage gate process from idea to retail launch.
• Familiarity with Nielsen/Circana/IRI data and insights-driven decisions.

Responsibilities

• Manage multi-year innovation strategy and pipeline rooted in consumer pain points.
• Collaborate with R&D, insights, quality, ops, sales and finance to validate ideas.
• Oversee packaging design and consumer validation for new products.
• Lead stage-gate process with visibility on risks and opportunities.
• Leverage syndicated data to drive growth and category insights.
• Maintain a consumer-first mindset in day-to-day decisions.
• Champion an innovation culture within the Marketing team.

Skills

Brand management

Innovation strategy

Cross-functional leadership

Project management

Syndicated data (Nielsen Circana IRI)

Stage-gate process

Packaging coordination

Consumer insights collaboration

Job description

Job Description We are hiring Brand Managers into multiple Innovation Marketing teams. As a Brand Manager focusing on innovation, your responsibilities will span from consumer insight generation and concept ideation to product development, packaging design, and business case development. You'll manage cross-functional teams to bring the brand's innovation plan to life for consumers and drive overall category growth for retailers by focusing on bigger and bolder bets.

What you’ll do:

• Manage the creation and validation of a multi-year innovation strategy and Now, Near, Next pipeline that is rooted in meaningful consumer pain points and white space in the category.
• Execute the innovation strategy by collaborating with cross-functional team (R&D, consumer insights, quality, operations, sales and finance) to take ideas from concepts to reality by validating or invalidating critical desirability, feasibility & viability assumptions.
• Manage agency relationships for packaging design of new products, and lead validation with consumers in partnership with the consumer insights team.
• Own innovation through the stage gate process, providing visibility to senior leaderships on risks & opportunities, and aligning next steps/tradeoffs.
• Leverage syndicated data sources to understand own and competitor category performance, bringing forth insights and recommendations that drive business impact.
• Bring forth a consumer-first mindset to day-to-day decisions, ensuring the integrity of the brand remains protected while balancing financial and operational considerations.
• Be a champion of an innovation culture across the Marketing team, bringing the outside in, challenging the status quo and driving continuous improvement in how we innovate.

What we’re looking for:

• Experience managing the full lifecycle of CPG product commercialization through the stage gate process, from idea generation to product launch and retail distribution.
• Innovative and consumer first mindset - is inherently innovative & collaborative and prioritizes resourcefulness over resources. Has a natural ability to put the consumer first, understand their pain & pleasure points and iterate quickly based on consumer learning
• Experience with syndicated sources such as Nielsen or Circana/IRI
• Strong project management skills with ability to successfully handle multiple projects simultaneously and deliver on timelines (experience in cross-functional team management preferred)

Our Total Rewards philosophy is to provide a meaningful and flexible spectrum of programs that equitably support our diverse workforce and their families and complement Kraft Heinz' strategy and values.

New Hire Base Salary Range: $120,800.00 - $151,000.00

Bonus: This position is eligible for a performance-based bonus as provided by the plan terms and governing documents.

The compensation offered will take into account internal equity and may vary depending on the candidate's geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors

Benefits: Coverage for employees (and their eligible dependents) through affordable access to healthcare, protection, and saving for the future, we offer plans tailored to meet you and your family's needs. Coverage for benefits will be in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans and associated governing plan documents.

Wellbeing: We offer events, resources, and learning opportunities that inspire a physical, social, emotional, and financial well-being lifestyle for our employees and their families.

• Physical - Medical, Prescription Drug, Dental, Vision, Screenings/Assessments
• Social - Paid Time Off, Company Holidays, Leave of Absence, Flexible Work Arrangements, Recognition, Training
• Emotional - Employee Assistance Program , Wellbeing Programs, Family Support Programs
• Financial - 401k, Life, Accidental Death & Dismemberment, Disability

Location(s)

Chicago/Aon Center

Kraft Heinz is an Equal Opportunity Employer - Underrepresented Ethnic Minority Groups/Women/Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity and other protected classes. In order to ensure reasonable accommodation for protected individuals, applicants that require accommodation in the job application process may contact [e-mail] for assistance.