Innovation Associate Marketing Manager

PepsiCo; Plano (TX); On-site; USD 94,000 - 156,000; Full time

Job summary

PepsiCo in Plano, TX is seeking a strategic, analytical marketer to lead LTO innovation strategy, planning, and execution across annual calendars for iconic brands, collaborating with Brand Marketing, Sales, Insights, Finance, R&D, Design, Supply Chain, and Customer teams.

You will drive cross‑functional stage‑gate processes from ideation to commercialization, develop activation programs, and influence senior leaders with consumer‑driven insights and bold ideas.

Qualifications

• MBA or BBA with 3+ years of direct, full‑time work experience.
• CPG and/or agency innovation experience strongly preferred.
• Strong project management and cross‑functional team experience.
• Ability to translate trends and insights into product ideas that satisfy unmet needs.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead innovation strategy tied to portfolio activation initiatives across key growth platforms, focused on LTOs.
• Develop strategic recommendations linking trends, consumer insights, brand priorities, and customer opportunities to drive growth.
• Identify opportunities, emerging trends, and consumer needs to inform future pipelines.
• Lead cross‑functional teams through stage‑gate processes from ideation through commercialization.
• Partner with Sales and Customer teams to develop activation programs and compelling sell stories.
• Drive alignment across Brand, Insights, Finance, R&D, Design, Supply Chain, and Commercial teams for flawless execution.
• Develop learning agendas and post‑launch assessments to capture insights and improve programs.
• Create executive‑ready recommendations to influence leadership decisions on priorities.
• Champion a consumer‑centric mindset balancing creativity, feasibility, and speed to market.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Drive for results

Creative problem solving

Cross-functional leadership

Communication

Consumer insights

Project management

Influence / collaboration

Brand building mindset

Ambiguity tolerance

Attention to detail

Relationship building

Marketing strategy

Education

MBA or BBA

Tools

PowerPoint

Excel

Job description

Overview

Bring your passion and talent to our stage and help shape the future of snacking through innovation tied to culturally relevant retail platforms and consumer-first experiences.

The Innovation team is looking for a strategic, analytical problem solver and results-oriented marketer who thrives in a fast-paced environment where navigating ambiguity, influencing across functions, and bringing bold ideas to life are critical. This is an exciting opportunity to help define innovation strategy and activate high-impact growth platforms across some of Frito-Lay’s most iconic brands.

This role will lead LTO innovation strategy, planning, and execution across annual playbook calendars and key portfolio moments for some of our most iconic brands, shaping programs that help our brands show up with timely, culturally relevant, and commercially impactful innovation each year.

This is an opportunity to partner closely with Brand Marketing, Sales, Insights, Finance, R&D, Design, Supply Chain, and Customer teams to identify opportunities, build activation strategies, and bring strategic planning and innovation programs to market.

This role offers unique exposure across multiple brands and business priorities, helping develop expertise in portfolio strategy, innovation commercialization, retail activation, and executive storytelling while influencing senior leaders across the organization.

Responsibilities

• Lead innovation strategy tied to portfolio activation initiatives across key growth platforms, focused on LTOs.
• Develop strategic recommendations that connect category trends, consumer insights, brand priorities, and customer opportunities to drive incremental growth.
• Identify and evaluate opportunities, emerging trends, cultural moments, and consumer needs to inform future innovation pipelines.
• Lead cross‑functional teams through stage‑gate processes to bring innovation concepts from ideation through commercialization.
• Partner with Sales and Customer teams to develop compelling activation programs, sell stories, and customer‑specific innovation opportunities.
• Drive alignment across Brand, Insights, Finance, R&D, Design, Supply Chain, and Commercial teams to ensure flawless execution.
• Develop learning agendas and post‑launch assessments to capture insights, optimize future programs, and improve innovation effectiveness.
• Create executive‑ready recommendations and presentations to influence decision‑making and gain leadership alignment on strategic priorities.
• Champion a consumer‑centric mindset while balancing creativity, feasibility, financial performance, and speed to market.

Compensation and Benefits:

• The expected compensation range for this position is between $93,500 - $1,56,450.
• Location confirmed job‑related skills, experience, and education will be considered in setting actual starting salary.
• Bonus based on performance and eligibility target payout is 10% of annual salary paid out annually.
• Paid time off subject to eligibility, including paid parental leave, vacation, sick, and bereavement.
• In addition to salary, PepsiCo offers a comprehensive benefits package to support our employees and their families, subject to elections and eligibility: Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability, Health, and Dependent Care Reimbursement Accounts, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Insurance (Accident, Group Legal, Life), Defined Contribution Retirement Plan.

Qualifications

• Previous CPG and/or agency innovation experience strongly preferred
• MBA degree or BBA with 3+ years of direct, full‑time work experience
• Strong project management skills and cross‑functional team experience
• Strong demonstrative leadership potential and strategic thinking
• A passion for understand consumer behavior and an ability to translate trends and insights into product ideas that uniquely satisfy unmet needs
• Can‑do spirit with an aptitude in dealing with ambiguity facilitated by a penchant for creative‑thinking and problem‑solving
• Ability to keep others engaged and accountable while delivering results flawlessly and on‑time
• A sense of urgency, bias for action, and strong attention to detail
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• A curiosity to learn about all parts of innovation and the functions that go into turning concepts into products
• A flexible and 360 marketing/GM like mindset with strong understand of brand building
• Project Management
• Prior experience leveraging consumer insights to develop effective marketing programs and campaigns
• Ability to effectively collaborate, communicate and influence in a matrix environment
• Creative thinking and problem‑solving skills
• Demonstrated ability to develop and cultivate relationships
• Strong Strategic Thinking, Drive for Results, Creative Problem Solver, Optimistic, and Entrepreneurial
• Advanced Powerpoint and Excel skills
• The role is based in Plano, TX

Our Company will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, and all other applicable laws, including but not limited to, San Francisco Police Code Sections 4901-4919, commonly referred to as the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance; and Chapter XVII, Article 9 of the Los Angeles Municipal Code, commonly referred to as the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability status.

PepsiCo is an Equal Opportunity Employer: Female / Minority / Disability / Protected Veteran / Sexual Orientation / Gender Identity / Age