Innovation Planning Associate Manager

The Magnum Ice Cream Company; Englewood Cliffs (NJ); On-site; USD 89,000 - 133,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Market pay

Flexible working

Health & wellbeing

Time off

Learning & development

Location benefits

Job summary

The Magnum Ice Cream Company is seeking an Associate Innovation Planning Manager for the US Ice Cream team. You will lead key innovations to market on time and in full, acting as project manager and supply chain lead with Marketing, R&D, Sales, Finance and other functions.

You will manage project plans, ensure capacity, coordinate inputs, and drive governance through gate papers, while maintaining quality and safety standards. A background in supply chain or product development is required.

Qualifications

• Has a Bachelor's Degree in business, supply chain, R&D or engineering.
• 5 years' experience in supply chain, project management, or related fields.
• Demonstrates leadership, program management and ability to influence decisions.
• Basic understanding of how manufacturing works.

Responsibilities

• Manage innovation project plans from start to post-launch evaluation.
• Coordinate inputs from all functions and track delivery of activities.
• Ensure supply chain capacity and capabilities for innovations.
• Communicate with key stakeholders and global/regional planners.
• Contribute to business cases with capital expenditure inputs.
• Prepare gate documents for the Unilever PM process.
• Maintain delivery quality and safety standards.
• Own project networks for variants/new hardware with cross-functional teams.
• Co-lead risk assessments and embed actions in timelines.
• Support complexity reduction and sourcing analysis for projects.

Skills

Leadership

Project Management

Business Partnering

MS Project

MS Office

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Tools

MS Project

MS Office

Job description

Life tastes better with ice cream

With 19.000 expert ice cream colleagues and iconic brands like Wall’s, Cornetto and Ben & Jerry’s, loved in 76 countries, we are the world’s largest Ice Cream company leading the industry.

We create iconic ice cream brands that are part of everyday life, bringing moments of joy to millions of people around the world. Everybody loves ice cream. And as the world’s biggest pure‑play ice cream company, we have the scale and ambition to make a real difference.

What Truly Sets Us Apart Is How We Work.

We move fast and keep things simple. We turn ideas into action, trust people to take ownership, and work as one team to win together with integrity. Our culture is high‑performance, collaborative and focused on getting things done.

We’re curious and ready for what’s next. We embrace digital, use data to make better decisions, and keep learning, including how AI can help us work smarter and serve consumers better.

Terms

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full‑time basis without the need for current or future employer sponsorship. Employment eligibility will be verified as part of the hiring process.

The Role

As an Associate Innovation Planning Manager on the Ice Cream US team, you will be instrumental in the category’s ability to launch key innovations to market on time and in full. The Innovation Planner will act as the project manager and supply chain lead in processes that are executed in close cooperation with Marketing, R&D, Sales, Finance, Category Management and other Supply Chain Functional teams.

What You'll Be Responsible For

• Manage the innovation project plans from Pre-Start/Kick-off, through to implementation and post launch evaluation. This is achieved through helping to scope the project, defining activities and timings required to ensure capability is in place, and then following up on these timings throughout the project
• Manage the overall project networks, via MS project, coordinate inputs from all functions and hold individuals accountable for the delivery of their activities to ensure the project remains on time
• Ensure that the Supply Chain has the necessary capacities and capabilities to produce the innovations for all assigned sourcing sites
• Manage communication with all key project stakeholders and with global and regional innovation planners
• Coordinate required inputs to the business case for the innovation projects in terms of capital expenditure and SCC drivers, working closely with the global Procurement, Finance, Planning and Engineering teams
• Prepare all gate documents and decision papers as inputs into the Unilever Innovation Project Management process for all assigned innovation projects
• Ensure delivered Quality for the innovations; maintaining Unilever safety standards
• Own and maintain the overall project networks for new variants and new hardware projects, as required to ensure “on time in full” delivery; by working closely with R&D, Marketing, Finance, Procurement, T&E, Quality and factories
• Co-lead risk assessments, and make sure action plans are embedded in the project timeline
• Support complexity reduction activities and sourcing analysis for the innovation projects, by working closely with Strategic Planning and Finance

We're Looking For Someone Who…

• Has a Bachelor’s Degree (Business, Supply Chain, R&D, or Engineering preferred)
• Has 5 years’ experience in Supply Chain (Project Management, Planning, Procurement, Manufacturing, Engineering or Logistics) or in R&D with experience on new product development
• Brings strong skills in Leadership, Project Management (working knowledge of MS Project, MS Office), and Business Partnering with the ability to influence decisions
• Has a basic appreciation level of how manufacturing works

What You'll Get

Alongside meaningful work and strong development, we offer a reward package that includes:

• Market-competitive pay and performance related rewards
• Flexible ways of working
• Support for health, wellbeing and life outside of work
• Time off to rest and recharge
• Ongoing learning and development opportunities
• Specific benefits vary by location

Pay

The pay range for this position is $88,600 to $133,000. The Magnum Ice Cream Company (TMICC) takes into consideration a wide range of factors that are utilized in making compensation decisions including, but not limited to, skill sets, experience and training, licensure and certifications, qualifications and education, and other business and organizational needs.

Bonus

This position is bonus eligible.

Benefits

TMICC employees are eligible to participate in our benefits plan. Should the employee choose to participate, they can choose from a range of benefits to include, but is not limited to, health insurance (including prescription drug, dental, and vision coverage), retirement savings benefits, life insurance and disability benefits, parental leave, sick leave, paid vacation and holidays, as well as access to numerous voluntary benefits. Any coverage for health insurance and retirement benefits will be in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans and associated governing plan documents.

Why join us?

This is a place for people who are passionate about ice cream and are growth obsessed - both for the business and for themselves. People who act like an owner and drive our business end-to-end. People who are driven by success to deliver more than we ever thought we could!

You’ll thrive here if you value an inclusive culture, with low ego and hierarchy - and if you’re excited to continuously learn and challenge how we work, using digital, data, and new thinking to push us forward.

• Roles with real accountability and visible impact
• Free to move fast, experiment and challenge how things are done
• Continuous learning and development as the business grows
• Reward linked to performance and contribution.

Your career here is shaped by what you deliver, as you work across functions and markets and grow with the business.

If you are an individual with a disability and require assistance at any time during our recruitment process, please let your Talent Acquisition Partner know.

Additional Information

The Magnum Ice Cream Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We embrace diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone can do their best work regardless of age, disability, gender identity, race, religion, sexual orientation, or any other protected characteristic.

Disclaimer

Equal Opportunity Employer: The Magnum Ice Cream Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, or any other basis protected by applicable law, and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.

Employment is subject to verification of pre-screening tests, which may include drug screening, background check, credit check and DMV check.

If you are an individual with a disability in need of assistance at any time during our recruitment process, please contact us at [e-mail]. Please note: This email is reserved for individuals with disabilities in need of assistance and is not a means of inquiry about positions or application statuses. The Protected Veterans or Individuals with Disabilities AAP narratives are available for inspection by any employee or applicant for employment Monday through Friday during normal business hours at establishment.