Brand Manager, Away From Home Innovation - Condiments & Sauces

Kraft Heinz • Chicago, IL

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

As a Brand Manager for Away From Home Innovation, you will help lead the strategic development and execution of the innovation pipeline for Kraft Heinz’s Away from Home Taste Elevation Platform. You will help drive ideation, curation, and commercialization of innovative products aligned with global trends and company growth. Working with cross-functional teams, you will help position Away from Home as an innovation engine within the broader Kraft Heinz portfolio while supporting ESG initiatives and sustainability goals.

The role includes developing and prioritizing the innovation pipeline, leading commercialization of key initiatives, supporting the stage-gate process, and coordinating stakeholders and resources. You will manage packaging-design agency relationships, lead consumer validation with consumer insights partners, refine product positioning and messaging with commercial teams, and use syndicated data to assess innovation performance. The position is based in a normal office environment with moderate travel to customer locations, stores, and manufacturing facilities. Office-based employees may work virtually up to two days per week and are expected to work in person at their assigned location at least three days per workweek on defined core days.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• Five to seven years of experience in marketing, product innovation, or brand management.
• At least three years leading innovation or product development from concept to market in the consumer goods sector.
• Proven success developing and executing strategic marketing plans, including situation assessments and tactical initiatives.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams and managing multiple projects simultaneously to deliver results within agreed timelines.
• Strong project management, organizational, and analytical skills, including making data-driven business decisions and developing sound business cases.
• Ability to simplify complex challenges, make quick decisions, and drive progress in fast-paced and ambiguous environments.
• Growth mindset focused on continuous learning, anticipating consumer needs, and using insights to fuel innovation.
• Results-oriented problem-solving skills and a track record of managing ambiguity and overcoming obstacles.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, relationship-building ability, and ability to influence stakeholders and lead collaboratively.
• Strategic thinking skills, including assessing issues from multiple perspectives and anticipating future impacts.
• Organizational agility, including navigating formal and informal channels, delegating, and removing roadblocks.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.

Nice To Haves

• MBA with a marketing focus.

Responsibilities

• Support development of an innovation strategy aligned with market trends, consumer insights, and Away from Home growth objectives.
• Identify opportunities, prioritize projects, and lead commercialization of key pipeline initiatives.
• Collaborate with R&D, culinary, consumer insights, quality, legal, operations, sales, and finance to execute innovation initiatives.
• Foster a culture of innovation, creative thinking, and new product development that reflects global trends and cultural shifts.
• Encourage teams to take calculated risks and challenge the status quo to drive growth.
• Support the innovation stage-gate process, including deliverables, timelines, and approvals.
• Ensure projects are appropriately resourced and prioritized to meet business goals.
• Manage agency relationships for packaging design and lead consumer validation with the consumer insights team.
• Work with commercial teams to refine product positioning and messaging for target Away from Home customers.
• Use syndicated data to analyze internal and competitor innovation performance and provide actionable recommendations.
• Maintain a consumer-first mindset and operator understanding while balancing brand integrity with financial and operational considerations.

Benefits

• Performance-based bonus eligibility.
• Healthcare coverage for employees and eligible dependents.
• Dental and vision coverage.
• Paid time off and company holidays.
• Leave of absence programs.
• Flexible work arrangements.
• Recognition, training, and learning opportunities.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Wellbeing programs and family support programs.
• 401(k).
• Life insurance.
• Accidental Death & Dismemberment coverage.
• Disability coverage.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level