Brand Manager Innovation

Brand Manager, Innovation Job Summary:

The Brand Manager of Innovation will support the development of breakthrough product concepts from idea to launch. This role is pivotal in shaping the future of our brand and product portfolio, identifying white space opportunities, and translating emerging consumer trends into tangible, differentiated innovations in the food space. Brand Manager of Innovation will collaborate cross-functionally to bring compelling new products to market that drive growth, delight consumers, and reinforce our brand leadership. The position reports directly to the Director of Innovation in Baltimore, MD. at 4201 Pulaski Highway and is a hybrid role.

Brand Manager, Innovation Requirements:

• Four (4) year BA/BS degree in Design, Graphic Design, Marketing or related field
• MBA or related graduate degree preferred
• 4 - 7 years of experience in innovation, brand management, or product development within food, beverage, or broader CPG
• Proven track record of leading successful product launches, preferably from white space to shelf
• Deep knowledge of the stage-gate innovation process and comfort navigating ambiguity
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills with the ability to turn insights into actionable concepts
• Excellent cross-functional leadership and project management skills
• Passion for food, consumers, and market trends; entrepreneurial mindset a must

Brand Manager, Innovation Pay & Perks:

• Starting range is 130-145K with opportunities for advancement
• 401K
• 401K matching
• Health, Vision, Dental Insurance, 100% monthly premium funded by Pompeian for a single or family
• Health Reimbursement Account
• Paid vacation, 40 hours paid sick leave, 9 paid holidays, 2 paid floating holidays
• Annual safety shoe allowance
• Paid time off for Jury Duty, Bereavement Leave, and Volunteer Events
• Employee Referral Bonus Program
• Free Employee Assistance Program for employees and household members
• Employee led programs for wellness, diversity, and planned community events
• Educational Assistance Program
• Family Scholarship Program
• Opportunity to work with a 2025 USA Today Top Workplace, Top 2026 Workplace in manufacturing, compensation & benefits and one of Maryland healthiest business

Brand Manager, Innovation Responsibilities:

• Manage front-end innovation initiatives, including trend scouting, whitespace opportunity identification, and idea generation across categories and channels for Pompeian brand
• Support management of the end-to-end innovation pipeline, from early-stage concepts through commercialization, in partnership with Marketing, R&D, Consumer Insights, Operations, and Sales
• Support Director of Innovation with Innovation Committee meetings and on-going updates to leadership cross-functional teams to ensure organizational alignment
• Build and champion business cases for new products, including positioning, competitive landscape, financial modeling, and go-to-market strategies
• Use a consumer-centric approach to innovation-leveraging insights, data, and testing to validate ideas and optimize product-market fit
• Monitor the external landscape - CPG trends, emerging food technologies, startups, retailers - to identify threats and opportunities
• Partner with Sales on Club Channel strategy to identify specific needs and opportunities for Costco, Sam's Club, and BJs. Support Sales sell-in with customer meetings
• Present new product concepts and business cases to internal stakeholders and external buyers, with an understanding of club-specific KPIs
• Manage innovation initiatives across private label brand portfolios, leading packaging design transitions, product upgrades, and commercialization of new formats
• Manage product timelines, briefs, packaging, and positioning from concept development through commercialization
• Partner closely with the Quality, R&D, and Commercialization teams to ensure innovations meet brand standards for quality, taste, performance, and regulatory compliance
• Build a network of external agency partners across key business functions to support on-going Innovation Pipeline, consumer research, go-to market strategy
• Develop and maintain relationships with external partners including co-manufacturers, ingredient suppliers, startups, and innovation networks
• Influence cross-functional teams and senior stakeholders to align behind bold, forward-thinking ideas