Ice Cream Innovation Planning Associate Manager

Life tastes better with ice cream

With 19.000 expert ice cream colleagues and iconic brands like Wall’s, Cornetto and Ben & Jerry’s, loved in 76 countries, we are the world’s largest Ice Cream company leading the industry.

We create iconic ice cream brands that are part of everyday life, bringing moments of joy to millions of people around the world. Everybody loves ice cream. And as the world’s biggest pure‑play ice cream company, we have the scale and ambition to make a real difference.

What Truly Sets Us Apart Is How We Work.

We move fast and keep things simple. We turn ideas into action, trust people to take ownership, and work as one team to win together with integrity. Our culture is high‑performance, collaborative and focused on getting things done.

We’re curious and ready for what’s next. We embrace digital, use data to make better decisions, and keep learning, including how AI can help us work smarter and serve consumers better.

Job Description

Location: Englewood Cliffs, NJ (hybrid)

Terms & Conditions: Full time - Hybrid, International sponsorship nor local or international relocation not supported

The Magnum Ice Cream Company (formerly a division of Unilever) is now a standalone, independent, EUR 7.9 billion publicly listed company. We’re on a mission to create the ultimate snacking company. A place where growth, innovation, founder and ownership mentality, and performance are cultivated and rewarded. And where we craft extraordinary ice cream experiences - transforming ordinary moments into lasting memories. Because we know, life tastes better with ice cream.

We dream big but keep things simple to act fast. If you want to grow with us, make an impact, and shape the future of Ice Cream, this is the place for you!

Job Purpose

As an Associate Innovation Planning Manager on the Ice Cream US team, you will be instrumental in the category’s ability to launch key innovations to market on time and in full. The Innovation Planner will act as the project manager and supply chain lead in processes that are executed in close cooperation with Marketing, R&D, Sales, Finance, Category Management and other Supply Chain Functional teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the innovation project plans from Pre-Start/Kick-off, through to implementation and post launch evaluation. This is achieved through helping to scope the project, defining activities and timings required to ensure capability is in place, and then following up on these timings throughout the project
• Manage the overall project networks, via MS project, coordinate inputs from all functions and hold individuals accountable for the delivery of their activities to ensure the project remains on time
• Ensure that the Supply Chain has the necessary capacities and capabilities to produce the innovations for all assigned sourcing sites
• Manage communication with all key project stakeholders and with global and regional innovation planners
• Coordinate required inputs to the business case for the innovation projects in terms of capital expenditure and SCC drivers, working closely with the global Procurement, Finance, Planning and Engineering teams
• Prepare all gate documents and decision papers as inputs into the Unilever Innovation Project Management process for all assigned innovation projects
• Ensure delivered Quality for the innovations; maintaining Unilever safety standards
• Own and maintain the overall project networks for new variants and new hardware projects, as required to ensure “on time in full” delivery; by working closely with R&D, Marketing, Finance, Procurement, T&E, Quality and factories
• Co-lead risk assessments, and make sure action plans are embedded in the project timeline
• Support complexity reduction activities and sourcing analysis for the innovation projects, by working closely with Strategic Planning and Finance
• You’re a born leader: You will have the opportunity to lead meetings with cross-functional team members and drive decisions to achieve one common goal
• You’re a dot connector: You will work with your cross functional partners to develop timelines; understanding when key actions are needed and how the project team will navigate to successfully meet launch ambition
• You love to win, and have fun doing it: You will face several hurdles throughout the innovation process. You will need to work collaboratively with your cross functional teams to overcome these challenges and successfully delivery your innovations to market.
• You’re a changemaker: You influence team members to develop creative solutions when things go off-course, resulting in a different way to execute the project
  
  

What You Need To Succeed

• Bachelor’s degree (Business, Supply chain, R&D, Engineering preferred)
• 5 years’ experience in Supply Chain (Project Management, Planning, Procurement, Manufacturing, Engineering or Logistics) or in R&D with experience on new product development
• Project management skills (working knowledge of MS Project, MS Office)
• Basic appreciation level of how manufacturing works
• Strong leadership and business partnering skills with the ability to influence decisions
  
  

What You Can Expect

• A unique mix of global scale & start-up spirit—€7.9 bn powerhouse with an agile, entrepreneurial mindset. We’re building a new high growth Ice Cream company from the ground up.
• Career without limits—42 markets, international opportunities, and fast-tracked growth.
• A performance-driven culture—Freedom to act, disrupt and grow – your success is measured by impact.
• A company that celebrates joy, innovation, and purpose—We create extraordinary careers, just like our ice cream creates extraordinary moments.
  
  

Pay: The pay range for this position is $88,600 to $133,000. The Magnum Ice Cream Company (TMICC) takes into consideration a wide range of factors that are utilized in making compensation decisions including, but not limited to, skill sets, experience and training, licensure and certifications, qualifications and education, and other business and organizational needs.

Bonus: This position is bonus eligible.

Benefits: TMICC employees are eligible to participate in our benefits plan. Should the employee choose to participate, they can choose from a range of benefits to include, but is not limited to, health insurance (including prescription drug, dental, and vision coverage), retirement savings benefits, life insurance and disability benefits, parental leave, sick leave, paid vacation and holidays, as well as access to numerous voluntary benefits. Any coverage for health insurance and retirement benefits will be in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans and associated governing plan documents.

#TMICC

#TMICC

Why join us?

This is a place for people who are passionate about ice cream and are growth obsessed - both for the business and for themselves. People who act like an owner and drive our business end-to-end. People who are driven by success to deliver more than we ever thought we could!

You’ll thrive here if you value an inclusive culture, with low ego and hierarchy - and if you’re excited to continuously learn and challenge how we work, using digital, data, and new thinking to push us forward.

• Roles with real accountability and visible impact
• Free to move fast, experiment and challenge how things are done
• Continuous learning and development as the business grows
• Reward linked to performance and contribution.
  
  

Your career here is shaped by what you deliver, as you work across functions and markets and grow with the business.

Ready to build the future of Ice Cream?

If this sounds like the place where you'd thrive, we'd love to hear from you. Apply online and share your CV. We'll review your application and be in touch with the next steps.

If you are an individual with a disability and require assistance at any time during our recruitment process, please let your Talent Acquisition Partner know.

Additional Information

The Magnum Ice Cream Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We embrace diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone can do their best work regardless of age, disability, gender identity, race, religion, sexual orientation, or any other protected characteristic.

For more information about your Federal rights, please see Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal and Pay Transparency Non discrimination Provision.

Employment is subject to verification of pre-screening tests, which may include drug screening, background check, credit check and DMV check.

The Protected Veterans or Individuals with Disabilities AAP narratives are available for inspection by any employee or applicant for employment Monday through Friday during normal business hours at establishment.