Associate Director, CIS Innovation – Meat, Cheese, Coffee, Snacking Innovation

The Kraft Heinz Company•Chicago, IL

23h•$164,200 - $205,200•Onsite

About The Position

The Consumer Insights Associate Director will be responsible for championing the consumer and owning the innovation agenda for the Meat, Cheese, Coffee, and Snacking business unit, which includes brands like Oscar Mayer, Kraft Singles, Lunchables, and Maxwell House. This role involves identifying, developing, and integrating innovation consumer insights across these businesses to foster an innovation growth mindset, moving with speed and agility while driving a consumer-obsessed culture. The Associate Director will oversee the US MCCS BU innovation agenda, partnering with Global Innovation CIS team leads and NA CIS business unit team leads to drive synergies and optimize brand and category success. The position requires accountability for custom strategic market research and the ability to draw from various information sources to develop insights that provide a competitive advantage to Kraft Heinz's innovation agenda.

Requirements

Minimum Bachelor's Degree.
A minimum ten (10+) years in a strategic insights/consumer research role, preferably at a CPG manufacturer, or 10+ years with a combination of supplier & manufacturer-side insights experience showcasing increasing responsibilities and scope.
Prior experience being a people leader with a passion for leading teams.
Significant experience in innovation insights, with a strong understanding and ability to lead the path from whitespace identification work through ideation and validation.
Ability to thrive in agile ways of working, the iterative innovation process, and a track record of strong collaboration with cross-functional partners like Marketing, R&D, Supply Chain, Sensory and more.
Proficiency in various market research techniques, including both qualitative and quantitative methods.
Experience working with both primary and secondary data sources.
Working knowledge of syndicated research tools (e.g. Nielsen, Circana, Mintel, etc).
Proven ability to distill insights and drive impact into an organization – bringing the consumer to forefront.
High level of tolerance for working in ambiguity, managing change and driving change management.
Excels at storytelling in creative and impactful ways - excellent communication, organization and presentation skills (written, oral, and across Microsoft Office Suite).
Strategic mindset to be a key business partner to the Marketing team and a thought leader, leveraging understanding of the consumer, research methodologies/techniques, best practices and experience.
Innovative approach, keen at leveraging foresights and trends to set a future vision and remain curious to test the envelope.
Ability to influence at all levels of the organization (above & below) and work seamlessly with cross-functional teams.
Impactful in driving to "so-what’s" by making actionable recommendations rooted in deep understanding of marketing, business and consumer.
Ownership mentality, possessing a willingness to get hands dirty, think and act like a start-up, and build out a function against a blank slate without buying pre-packaged solutions or methodologies.
Flexible and creative to adjust to changing priorities and business challenges, dealing with ambiguity, while showing strong drive for results and project leadership skills; Highly adaptable, works well in an environment of change.
Self-motivated with the ability to handle many workstreams, competing priorities and distilling a plan that can be implemented for the team.
Analytical ability to see through data and recognize patterns to inform brand actions.
Collaborative team player, works well in a fast-paced entrepreneurial environment.
Curiosity and action-oriented with a high degree of intellectual curiosity and creative insight, coupled with a drive for actionable, tangible results.
Ability to influence at senior levels of an organization and drive focus and impact.

Nice To Haves

Advanced Degree Highly Preferred
Experience using market research tools for innovation development strongly preferred

Responsibilities

Act as a key strategic insights partner to MCCS BU.
Lead the Consumer Insights Innovation road map development (whitespace identification, ideation, validation) across MCCS.
Drive and lead the consumer innovation strategy and execute the learning agenda for Total Snacking and Future of Meats.
Identify breakthrough solutions, ensuring speed and rigor in all aspects of consumer learning; challenging status quo and providing strategic oversight in building out strategy and supporting consumer learning plans.
Drive towards larger/scalable platform ideas versus one-off innovation launches.
Influence and build internal buy-in for the innovation pipeline with rigorous consumer understanding.
Shape the long-term (3, 5, and 10 year) category story and innovation go-to-market strategy for the MCCS categories through right-sized consumer learning and influential storytelling.
Lead, coach, and develop a team of two to deliver on the MCCS BU Innovation Agenda.
Work in high levels of ambiguity, creating strategic direction for growth opportunities.

Benefits

Coverage for employees (and their eligible dependents) through affordable access to healthcare, protection, and saving for the future, with plans tailored to meet you and your family’s needs.
Wellbeing: Events, resources, and learning opportunities that inspire a physical, social, emotional, and financial well-being lifestyle for employees and their families.
Physical - Medical
Physical - Prescription Drug
Physical - Dental
Physical - Vision
Physical - Screenings/Assessments
Social - Paid Time Off
Social - Company Holidays
Social - Leave of Absence
Social - Flexible Work Arrangements
Social - Recognition
Social - Training
Emotional – Employee Assistance Program
Emotional – Wellbeing Programs
Emotional – Family Support Programs
Financial – 401k
Financial – Life
Financial – Accidental Death & Dismemberment
Financial – Disability