Sr. Brand Manager, Kinder Innovation

Parsippany, NJ (Hybrid)

$155K/yr – $206K/yrSenior Level8+ years expFull time

Posted 3 months ago

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Job Summary

Drive end-to-end brand innovation for Ferrero Kinder in the US, overseeing strategy, go-to-market, and cross-functional leadership to grow share.

  • Must-have: 8+ years in Brand Management with end-to-end innovation experience.
  • Global-local collaboration and stage-gate leadership across US initiatives.

Job Description

Responsibilities

  • Long-range strategy and planning: Define long term kinder innovation vision and strategy to grow US share within Sweet Packaged Foods, identifying and expanding brand into new territories; i.e. new consumers, new usage occasions, new segments, based on a deep understanding and analysis of consumer insights and unmet needs, market trends, competitive arena and customer interest.
  • Influencing global and local stakeholders: Act as a strong voice for brand initiatives with senior stakeholders in global headquarters and local business unit, presenting clear, data-driven, convincing case for deploying resources and unlocking innovation opportunities for the US
  • Educate Global team on local context related to Category, Competition, Channels, Customers, Consumer as well as lead times for go-to-market
  • Influence Globally-led development of brand assets to ensure they fit with US consumer and Legal/ Institutional Affairs requirements
  • Launch planning and execution: Drive and manage all aspects of innovation from idea to launch. Includes identifying insights, translating them to research inputs, crafting the mix in line with brand guidelines, business case modeling, developing consumer and shopper plans through to launch execution, and sell-in through each stage gate.
  • Build strong and solid business cases, including development of the range, volumes forecast, margin analysis, price strategies and P&Ls to ensure opportunities meet financial objectives.
  • Lead stage-gate commercialization process from early stages to launch; strong ability to manage stakeholders, influence cross-functionally to deliver final products on strategy, on time and on budget.
  • Formalize and socialize best practices playbook for planning, commercialization and monitoring of launches evolving the document as new learnings emerge, so as to ensure we get better with each launch
  • Work closely with Category Management, Trade Marketing, Sales Teams to develop a successful go-to-market plan
  • Lead IAT in development and presentation of activities and communication strategies to management as well as briefing and managing agencies on a day to day basis, owning SOWs
  • Provide research inputs to Global teams where they are leading research to investigate feasibility/ potential of launches in the US market
  • Lead local research related to Creative development
  • Team Leadership: Set clear expectations and provide guidance to team members to deliver their best work to continue to develop the Kinder brand and build business growth
  • Coach team members to ensure they’re well-versed with Ferrero processes and ways of working, and fully trained to play their roles
  • Manage Brand Manager Kinder Innovation

Requirements

  • Bachelor’s Degree required
  • 8+ years of experience in Brand Management or Brand Marketing
  • Proven innovation leadership with experience managing end‑to‑end innovation pipelines (concepting → validation → commercialization)
  • Strong experience working with syndicated data (IRI, Nielsen) and conducting/commissioning qualitative and quantitative research
  • Demonstrated strategic agility and ability to turn insights into actionable innovation opportunities
  • Experience developing business cases, building forecasts, and partnering cross‑functionally on P&L‑related decisions
  • Experience with stage-gate processes, cross-functional governance, and launching new products or platforms
  • Ability to partner effectively with R&D, Sales, Supply Chain, Category, and Shopper Marketing teams
  • Proven success managing relationships with Global Brand leadership and influencing without authority
  • Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to build compelling narratives and persuasive arguments
  • Experience in communications planning and managing asset development
  • Highly analytical with strong commercial and financial acumen
  • Creative problem-solver with an entrepreneurial spirit
  • Tenacity, resilience, and resourcefulness in a fast-moving, global environment
  • Excellent project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously
  • Structured, disciplined, and highly organized
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint) and comfort with digital tools for insights and GTM work
  • Understanding of packaging development, claims, regulatory considerations, and go-to-market execution

    Benefits

    • Careers with caring built in - discover our benefits here .
    • In addition to base salary, we offer a comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance, retirement plans, paid time off, and other benefits.
    Ferrero logo

    Ferrero

    Founded in 1946 by Pietro and Giovanni Ferrero, the Ferrero Group is a family-owned business in its third generation. It has been built by talented people who share a commitment towards continuous improvement to achieve the highest quality and care. This same commitment is put into everything we do for our consumers and characterizes the environment in which we operate.Some of the world’s most iconic confectionery products come from Ferrero, including Nutella®, Tic Tac®, Ferrero Rocher®, and Kinder Surprise®. Sold in more than 170 countries, our products are part of the collective memory and traditions of consumers all around the world; loved by generations.In 2015, we entered a new era of acquisitions. Since then, we have acquired several brands and businesses, including Fannie May, the confectionary division of Nestlé, and Eat Natural, expanding our footprint and product offering also into the healthy snack segment.The secret to our global success is our 38,767 employees across the world, all dedicated to delivering the care and quality to craft the business, the careers and the brands we are proud of. From the moment you join us, we make sure you can nurture your curiosity and natural abilities. We provide the resources you need to succeed personally and professionally in a diverse work environment that is multicultural, innovative, and highly rewarding.In 2021, Ferrero was the confectionary company with the best reputation in the world, according to RepTrak. This achievement reflects our determination to bring consumers only the very best; an approach which is at the heart of everything we do. Our dedication to quality and excellence, our heritage and our family values, as well as our respect for the environment and the communities in which we work, are all seen in our desire to sustain and celebrate life’s special moments.Be part of it! Visit www.ferrerocareers.com to explore the opportunities Ferrero can offer when you craft your career with us.

    Founded in 1946
    Niederanven, Luxembourg, LUX
    22K employees (2,873 in marketing)

    Traffic Signals

    Monthly Visitors
    173.2K
    Traffic Source Mix
    Search
    38.3%
    Direct
    38%
    Referral
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    Social
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    Paid
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    Headcount Trend

    Current headcount: ~21.6K

    Marketing Team

    Marketing Team Size
    2,729 (13% of company)
    Median Career Experience
    14 years
    Median Tenure
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    Marketing Roles Posted (Last 30 Days)
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