Ready To Drink (RTD) Innovation Manager USA/Canada

Brown‑Forman Corporation • Louisville, KY

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

As the Innovation Manager for USA&C Ready-to-Drink (RTD), lead the development, execution, and launch of new RTD products that meet business growth ambitions and consumer needs. This role requires a strategic & creative thinker with strong new product development expertise, a deep understanding of consumer behavior, and the ability to inspire cross-functional teams to achieve ambitious goals. Effective leadership, consumer insight, and a project management process will be crucial. This role will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of Brown-Forman’s RTD portfolio.

Requirements

• Bachelors Degree and 8+ years of marketing and/or brand-building success.
• Spirits/Beverage/CPG industry experience.
• Experience in Team Management, Brand Management, Consumer Insights, Analytical Understanding, and New Product Development is required.
• Ability and willingness to travel 30% of the time, including some weekends.

Nice To Haves

• Expertise in identifying market opportunities and leading the development of new products that meet consumer needs.
• Experience in building brand strategy to maximize market coverage, minimize overlap, and enhance overall brand equity.
• Ability to develop and implement long-term brand strategies.
• Ability to build and lead a team, providing guidance and support for professional development.
• Influence, inspire, and motivate team members to achieve common goals.
• Manage agency partners to deliver on the scope of work and within the strategy.
• Advanced budget management skills, P&L accountability, revenue management, and business performance forecast.
• Ability to effectively collaborate with diverse teams across the organization, including sales, finance, operations, and R&D.
• Ability to identify market opportunities and lead the development of new products that meet consumer needs.

Responsibilities

• Crafting product innovation strategies, visions, and roadmaps that align with the overarching goals of the business.
• Developing a P&L forecast to evaluate the financial feasibility of new concepts.
• Collaborate with consumer insights to leverage qualitative and quantitative research to uncover consumer insights and put them into action.
• Conduct market analyses and competitive assessments to identify "white spaces" and translate these insights into viable business opportunities and new product pipelines.
• Work with the Brand Management communication team to effectively execute the consumer brand strategy, leveraging new production development roles within the portfolio management structure.
• Engaging and influence diverse, internal cross-functional teams—such as Research & Development, Supply Chain, Project Management & Production—to execute operational elements on time and with excellence.
• Oversee product commercialization to build knowledge around new innovations in order to effectively & efficiently sell the RTD portfolio.
• Working hand-in-hand with the commercial team to ensure execution of new production based on channel and customer strategies.
• Presenting innovation strategies to senior leaders to gain buy-in and secure necessary resources.
• Continuously align teams to the product roadmap, influence cross-functional resources, and manage executive expectations regarding product timelines.

Benefits

• equitable pay structures for individual and company performance
• premium employee experience
• premium benefits that reflect our company values and meet the needs of our diverse workforce

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees