Manager, Innovation Strategy & Foresights

The Kraft Heinz Company; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 104,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare coverage

Wellbeing programs

401k and savings plans

Job summary

The Kraft Heinz Company in Chicago seeks a strategic partner to shape the NA zone innovation strategy, translating consumer signals into clear options and aligning priorities with the growth plan. You will lead cross-functional collaboration across Insights, R&D, Supply Chain, Regulatory, Finance, and Sales, building practical tools and governance to move ideas from concept to impact.

You’ll energize the marketing organization, enable brand-agnostic foresight, and coach teams to rigorously test

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in CPG marketing.
• Demonstrated experience supporting (not necessarily owning) innovation strategy—translating ambiguity into clear 'where to play / how to win / what to build' options and decision points.
• Contagious passion for consumer marketing, culture, new product ideas and trends.
• Advanced storytelling skills with the ability to synthesize data/insights into a powerful story for internal or external audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to influence leaders and inspire and lead cross-functional teams.
• Strong IRI skills.

Responsibilities

• Shape the NA Zone innovation strategy by helping identify where to play, setting innovation sufficiency targets, tracking progress against those targets, and aligning innovation priorities and recommendations to the overall Kraft Heinz growth plan.
• Directly lead and / or partner with BU cross-functionals to execute ‘big bet’ whitespace innovation
• Influence how innovation happens across the organization, ensuring teams – regardless of function – operate with a shared innovation for what great innovation looks like.
• Act as consultant to BU Marketers and cross-functional teams, providing hands-on strategic guidance and coaching throughout innovation process to ensure rigor in execution and stronger business outcomes.
• Operationalize innovation strategy & foresights ways of working by building practical toolkits, templates, and governance that connect trends/foresights to innovation briefs, learning plans, decision points, and pipeline choices.
• Enable brand-agnostic trend and foresight integration by translating signals into clear implications and opportunity areas that can be applied across brands, categories, and channels.
• Support non-adjacent category expansion exploration by helping structure hypotheses, learning agendas, and early concepting pathways that teams can pressure-test efficiently.
• Partner closely across functions (Insights, R&D, Supply Chain, Regulatory, and Finance) to ensure strategies and opportunities are grounded in feasibility and executed with pace, surfacing barriers and opportunities that improve decision quality.

Skills

CPG marketing

Innovation strategy support

Storytelling

Influence leaders

Cross-functional leadership

IRI skills

Job description

Job Description

Reporting to the Director of Innovation Strategy and Foresights for the North America Zone, you will serve as a strategic thought partner helping shape the zone innovation strategy—clarifying where to play, how to win, and what to build. You will support the definition of zone innovation sufficiency targets, track progress against those targets, and ensure innovation priorities and recommendations align to the overall KHC growth plan. You will translate brand-agnostic consumer and market signals into clear strategic options, bringing forward recommendations that help define and advance the Zone’s innovation agenda.

Your impact will be felt across our 300+ person marketing organization and partners in Insights, R&D, Supply Chain, Regulatory, Finance, and Sales—energizing collaboration, embedding a modern innovation mindset, and helping us win with consumers across the North America portfolio.

Key Components of the Role

• Shape the NA Zone innovation strategy by helping identify where to play, setting innovation sufficiency targets, tracking progress against those targets, and aligning innovation priorities and recommendations to the overall KHC growth plan.
• Directly lead and / or partner with BU cross-functionals to execute ‘big bet’ whitespace innovation
• Influence how innovation happens across the organization, ensuring teams – regardless of function – operate with a shared innovation for what great innovation looks like.
• Act as consultant to BU Marketers and cross-functional teams, providing hands‑on strategic guidance and coaching throughout innovation process to ensure rigor in execution and stronger business outcomes.
• Operationalize innovation strategy & foresights ways of working by building practical toolkits, templates, and governance that connect trends/foresights to innovation briefs, learning plans, decision points, and pipeline choices.
• Enable brand-agnostic trend and foresight integration by translating signals into clear implications and opportunity areas that can be applied across brands, categories, and channels.
• Support non-adjacent category expansion exploration by helping structure hypotheses, learning agendas, and early concepting pathways that teams can pressure‑test efficiently.
• Partner closely across functions (Insights, R&D, Supply Chain, Regulatory, and Finance) to ensure strategies and opportunities are grounded in feasibility and executed with pace, surfacing barriers and opportunities that improve decision quality.

Qualifications

• 5+ years’ experience in CPG marketing
• Demonstrated experience supporting (not necessarily owning) innovation strategy—translating ambiguity into clear "where to play / how to win / what to build" options and decision points.
• Contagious passion for consumer marketing, culture, new product ideas and trends
• Advanced storytelling skills with the ability to synthesize data/insights into a powerful story for internal or external audiences
• Demonstrated ability to influence leaders and inspire and lead cross-functional teams
• Strong IRI skills

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:

$104,200.00 - $130,200.00

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.