The Job Network
Search

Innovation Manager

companyKevin's Natural Foods
locationStockton, CA, USA
PublishedPublished: 6/14/2022
Full Time

We are seeking a creative and strategic Innovation Manager to join our Marketing team. This role is integral to driving our companys growth by leading the development of the innovation pipeline, creating both new product concepts and building on our current platforms, while collaborating closely with the marketing, sales and R&D teams. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in CPG and/or Food, and a passion for innovation.

What Youll Do:

  • Manage the development and implementation of innovation strategies that feed into long-range and annual plans for assigned categories, aligning with overall enterprise goals.
  • Lead the development and execution of product and packaging innovation initiatives, including concept development, category and competitive assessments, feasibility, product and packaging exploration, consumer and sensory validation, size of prize assessment, customer sell-in, and tracking of in-market performance.
  • Identify growth opportunities by leveraging syndicated research, trend data, primary market research, and competitive intelligence.
  • Develop meaningful consumer concepts and positioning for innovation ideas that add value in the category and effectively communicate product benefits to consumers.
  • Collaborate with finance partners to develop Innovation product P&Ls and pricing strategies that meet brand objectives.
  • Act as the project lead and a liaison with other cross-functional partners to ensure that the innovation initiatives progress toward launch and receive the necessary resources and support.
  • Work collaboratively with consumer insights, R&D, and culinary teams to identify and build exploration areas, build research and development plans, and solve business challenges.
  • Partner closely with sales and marketing teams to understand and integrate customer strategies into the innovation pipeline.
  • Other duties as assigned and necessary.

What Youll Need:

  • Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business Administration, or a related field; MBA preferred.
  • 5+ years of product innovation or marketing, preferably in the CPG and/or Food industry.
  • Strong analytical & research skills with the ability to interpret data to make recommendations and informed decisions.
  • Ability to translate consumer and market insights into brand and innovation strategies.
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate across teams.
  • Naturally curious about new products and new consumer behaviors
  • Passion for health and wellness and a deep understanding of consumer behavior in this space.

Healthy, Diverse Teams Breed Innovation:

Kevins Natural Foods is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We deeply believe that diverse backgrounds and experiences make better teams, and we seek to attract talent from all walks of life. The team at Kevins is smart, humble, and passionate and we value a work environment that fosters personal development and opportunities to move within our small, but quickly growing organization.

More About Kevins Natural Foods:

Kevins Natural Foods is a line of healthy entres, sides, and sauces, on a mission to make clean eating delicious and accessible. Kevins guilt-free, sous-vide entres and sides, and signature certified paleo, keto, and gluten-free sauces allow health-conscious home cooks to whip up delicious meals in five minutes or less.

With restaurant-quality ingredients and recipes, Kevins products are readily available on the shelves at leading grocery retailers nationwide including Costco, Whole Foods, Albertsons, HEB and Publix. All Kevins products contain no refined sugar, artificial ingredients, grains, or soy, and are made with antibiotic- and hormone-free meat. A true market disruptor, Kevins Natural Foods is the first clean refrigerated entre brand. For more information, please visit www.kevinsnaturalfoods.com.

Kevins Natural Foods was acquired by Mars, Inc. in July 2023. Kevins Natural Foods joins the Mars Food & Nutrition segment, complementing its portfolio of leading food brands and recent product innovations. Kevins will play a key role in Mars Food & Nutritions ongoing journey to enable delicious, healthier eating to be part of consumers daily lives, while Mars will help Kevins to continue to grow, innovate, and bring its portfolio of products to more people.

Loading interface...
Loading interface...
Loading interface...
Loading interface...
Loading interface...
Loading interface...