Innovation Manager

Position Overview

Do you want to have an impact shaping the future and growth of beloved consumer brands? Are you looking for a role where curiosity, creativity, strategy, and brand-building are required? Would you like to be part of an entrepreneurial, privately- held company and innovation team that are as committed to winning in the marketplace as they are to investing in the growth and careers of their team members?

Then look no further, because we are expanding the world-class innovation team for the Johnsonville portfolio of brands.

The Innovation Manager plays a critical role in the development and execution of the Company’s new product pipeline, and therefore, is a key player in enabling the company to achieve our future growth targets.

• Elevate the innovation pipeline to the next level by combining consumer driven insights, strategic commercial thinking, creativity, and project and process leadership
• Working with Insights, Sensory, R&D, Operations, and Finance, ensure projects are desired by consumers, financially viable, and technically feasible
• Build compelling business cases that demonstrate a deep understanding of consumer insights and unmet needs, marketplace trends, competitive environment, and customer interest
• Think both tactically and strategically, identifying opportunities that fit both short and long-term organizational goals
• Help our commercial teams expand into new territories for the company with outstanding new products: new users, new jobs, and new retail pathways
• Be a key leader in, and role model of, our enterprise innovation process and continually seek to learn, stretch, and grow further, to continuously elevate the impact of the portfolio
• Understand needs of the commercial team and translate those needs via consumer insights into new projects and products to deliver on commercial objectives
• Lead executional excellence commercializing new products: on strategy, on time and on budget

• Bachelor’s degree in related field
• MBA preferred

• Minimum of 3 years of experience in brand marketing and/or innovation, required
• Proven experience launching new products, required
• Demonstrated ability to partner effectively with cross‑functional teams, including R&D, consumer insights, and sales strategy, required
• Background in consumer packaged goods (CPG) is strongly preferred
• Experience with in the frozen food or snacking categories is a plus

• Curious, creative, tenacious and hypothesis-driven innovator
• Ability to “see the big picture,” taking data points from across multiple sources and threading together to identify opportunities
• Willingness to “go against the flow” when necessary, and tenaciously build the data and story to convince others
• Ability to champion projects end-to-end and be accountable for impact and results
• Strong analytical skills. Comfort with triangulating and interpreting data, as well as the ability to make clear, actionable recommendations
• Experience driving towards objective KPIs, including financial results
• A Persistent and positive attitude with a team-oriented approach is required
• Comfortable balancing strategic rigor and thinking with a willingness to roll up sleeves to make it happen

• Ability and willingness to travel approximately 10-20% of the time

Members have potential for a monthly bonus and 401k with a company match. Members also have access to terrific benefits including affordable medical, dental and vision coverage; flexible spending accounts; disability and life insurance; and fertility and adoption assistance. Johnsonville also offers competitive paid time off, including paid parental time off, as well as access to the 24/7 onsite fitness center, and onsite medical clinic!

Exact compensation may vary based on skills, experience, and location.

Applicants must be eligible to work in the country where this job is located, without requiring sponsorship now or in the future.

About our Company

Since 1945, our family-owned band of sausage-makers has invented better ways to make, eat and prepare crave-able sausage. Today, we are 4,000+ Members strong. We sell our famous sausage in all 50 United…