Brand Manager - Innovation (Multiple Positions)

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

Job summary

Kraft Heinz is hiring Brand Managers to lead innovation marketing across consumer insights, concept ideation, and product development. You will steer multi-year plans, collaborate with R&D, quality, operations, and finance, and drive category growth through bold bets.

The role emphasizes consumer-first decision making, cross-functional leadership, and expertise in syndicated data to shape strategic recommendations. Chicago location with comprehensive benefits.

Qualifications

• Experience managing the full lifecycle of CPG product commercialization through the stage gate process.
• Ability to translate consumer insights into viable product concepts and business cases.
• Experience collaborating with R&D, quality, operations, sales and finance.

Responsibilities

• Lead the creation and validation of a multi-year innovation strategy and pipeline.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to validate desirability, feasibility, and viability.
• Manage packaging design agencies and validate concepts with consumers.
• Own the stage gate process and brief leadership on risks and opportunities.
• Leverage syndicated data to inform insights and recommendations.
• Maintain a consumer-first mindset in day-to-day decisions.

Skills

Consumer insights

Cross-functional leadership

Project management

Strategic thinking

Consumer-first mindset

Tools

Nielsen data

Circana/IRI data

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 savingfor the future, we offer plans tailored to meet you and your family’s needs. Coveragefor 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 aphysical, social, emotional, and financial well-being lifestyle for our employees and their families.

You’ll be able to participate in a variety of benefits and wellbeing programs that may vary by role, country, region, union status, and other employment status factors, for example:

• 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.