Associate Brand Manager - Innovation

The Associate Brand Manager is responsible for supporting the development of new products that drive category growth for the NA Marketing Organization. Reporting to the Senior Brand Manager of Innovation, this role fully owns the innovation development process for specific brands/products within the portfolio. Key focus areas include uncovering and addressing consumer needs, identifying relevant market trends, and collaborating with cross-functional partners to bring new items from concept to production.

Responsibilities:

• Deeply understand our consumer and their evolving needs, perceptions, and experiences of (category) products to develop people-centric solutions. Knowledge is built through social listening, use of AI and analytical tools, and in partnership with Consumer Insights.
• Support the brand's 3-5 year innovation pipeline by tracking competitive trends, analogous category innovation, and identifying relevant technologies, ingredients, and packaging formats
• Evaluate business opportunity, relevance, fit, and feasibility for all potential new products, ensuring alignment with brand guidelines and stewardship principles.
• Get Financial: In partnership with Finance to set the pricing strategy and develop comprehensive financial assessments of new products (source of volume, costing, pricing, and share targets).

• Lead concept development and testing to create winning solutions that people will love.
• Work with cross-functional partners (including R&D, Legal, Regulatory, Design, Packaging, and Supply Chain) to assess technical/legal feasibility and find ways to bring winning concepts to market.
• Support core product optimization as required, particularly when new formulations or packaging are involved.
• Own the innovation project lifecycle to turn winning concepts into products on shelves, including:
• Leading claims development with Legal and Regulatory teams.
• Managing packaging design with internal and external design agencies.
• Partnering with Supply Chain to manage timelines and oversee manufacturing and shipping to retail.
• Develop selling materials and technical demonstrations (in partnership with R&D) to support the Brand and Sales teams in securing retail listings.

• Education: Bachelor s Degree required. MBA preferred. Candidates should have academic training or professional experience in business or marketing.
• Experience: 6+ years of professional marketing experience in Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG/FMCG) with a focus on innovation,
  OR 4+ years with an MBA.
• Skills: Strong project management skills
  , with the ability to coordinate with diverse stakeholders effectively. Strong data analysis and interpretation skills.

• Skills: Strong written, verbal, and applied storytelling communication skills.
• Mindset: Ability to embrace change; willingness to be flexible.
• Collaboration: Highly collaborative and comfortable with working with cross-functional teams and various levels of management.