Your Opportunity as the Sweet Baked Snacks Innovation Manager

The Innovation Manager plays a critical role in the execution of long- and short-term innovation strategies, new product and package ideas, and new product pipeline development to drive Sweet Baked Snack business unit growth through innovation and deliver on profit, volume, and share objectives. At a high level, this role will:

Lead and manage platform innovation to help deliver the company growth goals

Expand Sweet Baked Snack Hostess brand and sub-brands into new territories, including new consumers, new usage occasions and new channels

Build strong collaborative partnerships with cross-functional team members including Brand Marketing, Sales, R&D, Insights, Supply Chain/Operations and Finance to successfully develop and launch new products

Location: Chicago Commercial Office

Work Arrangements: Hybrid – in office Tuesday and Thursday every week.

In this role you will:

Lead development and execution of product and packaging innovation projects including concept development, feasibility validation, product and packaging R&D, business proposal and approval, project execution, customer sell-in and tracking of in-market performance

Develop deep understanding of JM Smucker innovation project management, packaging and specification systems to advance projects with the cross functional team

Leverage well-developed analytical skills to recommend fact-based decisions via multiple data sources

Build solid, compelling business cases that demonstrate a deep understanding of trends, competitive data, financials, market research and consumer insights

Synthesize business cases, research findings and creative design (i.e. naming, packaging) into simple and compelling presentations and effectively deliver to executive-level audience

Develop meaningful consumer positioning for new products that creates added value versus competition and effectively communicates product advantages to consumers

Work closely with internal and external team members and agency partners to develop strong and motivating package designs for innovation product launches

Collaborate with cross-functional team to build new product P&Ls and creatively problem solve financial challenges to ensure P&L targets are achieved

Ensure executional excellence around the commercialization of new products with launches completed on strategy, on time and on budget 

Collaborate closely with Marketing and Sales Teams to ensure go-to-market plans are developed and transitions are executed seamlessly

Work closely with key members of the Sales Team to understand and address retailer priorities and to ensure innovation forecast accuracy, maximization of opportunities and development of sell-in plans to deliver against objectives

Support development of innovation pipeline feeding the long range and annual plans, reflecting overall corporate and sub-brand goals

The Right Place for You

We are bold, kind, strive to do the right thing, we play to win, and we believe in a strong community that thrives together. Our culture is rooted in our Basic Beliefs, and we believe in supporting every employee by meeting their physical, emotional, and financial needs.

What we are looking for:

Minimum Requirements:

Bachelor’s Degree in related field required; MBA preferred, if no MBA, then BBA strongly preferred

5+ years’ experience in marketing, brand management and/or new product development at a consumer products company

2+ years’ experience in consumer products innovation and new product design/development

Experience with the principles of innovation, marketing, consumer insights, business/brand strategy, and P&L management through work experience in prior innovation-focused roles.

Self-starter with willingness to roll up your sleeves to make it happen; demonstrated consistent initiative and ability to work independently

Strong creative problem-solving skills

Strong collaborator and experienced leader with a demonstrated ability to provide clear direction to cross-functional teams

Additional skills and experience that we think would make someone successful in this role:

Experience in the food CPG industry is a plus

Excellent planning and project management skills

Proven ability to effectively manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment

Strong analytical skills, comfort with triangulating and interpreting data, as well as the ability to make succinct and actionable recommendations

Comfort with ambiguity

Strong verbal and written communication and presentation skills

Skilled in building/delivering presentations for a range of audiences

Proven ability to influence without authority

Positive, team-oriented attitude

Learn more about working at Smucker:

Our Total Rewards Benefits Program

Our Thriving Together Philosophy Supporting All Impacted by Our Business 

Our Continued Progress on Inclusion, Diversity and Equity 

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