Sr. Manager, Innovation- Strategic Demand KIND

Chicago, IL (On-site)

$134K/yr – $185K/yrSenior Level5+ years expFull time

Posted 3 days ago

Job Summary

Own and steer innovation strategy and omni-channel launches, while shaping the pipeline, go‑to‑market plans, and performance across channels.

  • Lead cross-functional efforts to translate trends into actionable programs and ROI.
  • Own demand forecasting and AMPS-based channel optimization to drive growth.
  • Deliver volume, share, and profit targets within budget constraints.

Job Description

Responsibilities

  • Innovation Strategy & Development: Partner closely with Innovation Marketing, Consumer Insights, and R&D to identify consumer needs, whitespace opportunities, and category trends, shaping pipelines and commercialization strategies that deliver meaningful growth.
  • Innovation Launch Excellence: Develop and execute omni-channel launch strategies that maximize awareness, trial, and sustainable adoption, ensuring selling stories and launch tactics are optimized across key customers.
  • Sales Plan Execution: Drive the annual sales strategy to deliver net sales and operating profit goals, proactively identifying risks and opportunities across go-to-market channels to balance the business.
  • Channel & Customer Leadership: Own the AMPS strategy (Availability, Merchandising, Pricing, Space), serving as the voice of the customer to co-create pack and channel solutions with cross-functional partners.
  • Trend & Competitive Intelligence: Maintain continuous intelligence on industry trends, shopper behaviors, and competitor actions to ensure innovation pipelines remain differentiated and commercially relevant.
  • Innovation Performance Management: Track and evaluate innovation health throughout the lifecycle (sales, velocity, distribution, repeat, financial ROI) and translate post-launch learnings into future programs.
  • Demand Forecasting & RGM: Collaborate with Sales, Demand Planning, and Finance to translate market trends into reliable demand signals and accurate launch forecasts.
  • Delivering Results: Drive volume, share, and profit results that contribute to divisional financial targets while managing marketing budgets to ensure expected return on investment.

Requirements

  • Experience: Minimum 5 years of experience in CPG marketing, innovation, commercial strategy, category management, or demand planning.
  • Commercialization Leadership: Proven track record leading the commercialization and launch of new products within a fast-paced CPG environment.
  • Go-to-Market Expertise: Deep understanding of innovation pipelines, customer activation, and omni-channel commercial execution.
  • Strategic Problem Solving: Consultant-style analytical toolkit with strong structured problem-solving skills and agility across strategy and execution.
  • Customer & Shopper Strategy: Demonstrated experience building customer-centric growth plans, AMPS strategies, and promotional plans.
  • Cross-Functional Influence: Proven ability to influence, align, and lead multi-disciplinary teams without direct authority, backed by exceptional presentation and communication skills.
  • Data-Driven Decision Making: Strong acumen in analyzing market performance metrics (velocity, distribution, trial/repeat) to extract actionable insights.
  • Nice-to-Have: Working knowledge of Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) and Strategic Revenue Management (SRM) / Revenue Growth Management principles.

Preferred

  • Working knowledge of Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) and Strategic Revenue Management (SRM) / Revenue Growth Management principles.

Benefits

  • Work with diverse and talented Associates, all guided by the Five Principles.
  • Join a purpose-driven company, where we’re striving to build the world we want tomorrow, today.
  • Best-in-class learning and development support from day one, including access to our in-house Mars University.
  • An industry-competitive salary and benefits package, including company bonus.
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We’re a unified force of 150,000+ Associates, taking action every day toward the world we want tomorrow. Our Five Principles have kept us true to ourselves and to our commitment to treat others in ways that are consistent with those values. Having stood the test of time, these principles will continue, keeping us free to move quickly and plan for the future. Quality - The consumer is our boss, quality is our work and value for money is our goal. Responsibility - As individuals, we demand total responsibility from ourselves; as Associates, we support the responsibilities of others. Mutuality - A mutual benefit is a shared benefit; a shared benefit will endure. Efficiency - We use resources to the full, waste nothing and do only what we can do best. Freedom - We need freedom to shape our future; we need profit to remain free. Note to Parents: https://www.mars.com/about/policies-and-practices/note-to-parents/np-english For more information, please visit mars.com. Follow us: facebook.com/mars, twitter.com/marsglobal, instagram.com/marsglobal/, youtube.com/mars For more information about careers at Mars, please visit careers.mars.com Follow us: facebook.com/LifeAtMars, instagram.com/LifeAtMars/, tiktok.com/LifeAtMars Mars, Incorporated is not responsible for any content or activity made available via third party sites or services. Page subject to: mars.com/legal mars.com/privacy

Founded in 1911
McLean, Virginia, US
64K employees (5,033 in marketing)
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Salaries

Posted range

$134K/yr – $185K/yr

Taken straight from the job posting.

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  • Mar 2025
    Debt Financing

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