Senior Associate Brand Manager, Ritz Innovation
About The Position
The Senior Associate Brand Manager on the Ritz Innovation team helps drive the innovation pipeline for the Ritz brand. The role works across brand and cross-functional teams to identify consumer-driven growth opportunities, develop and launch products, and build the brand’s long-term innovation strategy. It is suited to a curious, analytical, and creative marketer who can thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment. The position advances innovation projects through commercialization, coordinates cross-functional teams, develops consumer insights to inform strategy, and creates selling stories for retail customers. It also supports pipeline management, new product business cases and forecasts, stage-gate execution, launch planning, budget management, and presentations to senior leadership.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, or a related field.
- 3–5 years of brand management or marketing experience in CPG.
- Experience working with Nielsen data platforms.
- Empathy for consumers and ability to turn insights into compelling brand and product experiences.
- Ability to thrive in ambiguity and a fast-paced environment.
- Ability to build and deliver against strict timelines.
- Proven ability to manage complex cross-functional teams with multiple stakeholders.
- Strategic thinking and problem-solving capabilities.
- Strong business acumen.
- Analytical and creative thinking skills.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
- Strong Excel and PowerPoint skills.
- Highly organized.
Responsibilities
- Support development and management of the innovation pipeline, aligning it with brand strategy and category growth objectives.
- Conduct consumer, competitive, and market analyses to identify market opportunities and emerging snacking trends.
- Build business cases for new product concepts, including volume forecasts, P&L development, and strategic rationale.
- Manage innovation projects from concept through commercialization in partnership with R&D, Supply Chain, Finance, Sales, and other teams.
- Manage stage-gate processes and ensure projects meet milestones on time and within budget.
- Own and manage forecasts for innovation items in partnership with Finance, Sales, and Demand Planning.
- Use qualitative and quantitative consumer research to inform decision-making.
- Monitor competitive activity, category trends, and the retail landscape to identify risks and opportunities.
- Translate consumer and market insights into actionable innovation briefs.
- Coordinate R&D, Operations, Finance, Sales, Legal, Pack, Insights, and Regulatory teams to advance innovation projects.
- Integrate innovation work with Ritz brand plans and communications in collaboration with the broader brand team.
- Present recommendations and project updates to senior leadership.
- Partner with Sales and Customer Marketing to develop sell-in materials, distribution strategies, and launch plans for new items.
- Manage innovation-related budgets and allocate resources efficiently.
Benefits
- Health insurance
- Wellness and family support programs
- Life and disability insurance
- Retirement savings plans
- Paid leave programs
- Education-related programs
- Paid holidays and vacation time
- Eligibility for a competitive bonus program, with potential overachievement based on performance and company results
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
