**Job Summary:**
arenaflex is a global food company with a rich heritage, dedicated to delivering the best taste, fun, and quality to every meal table we touch. We're on a mission to disrupt not only our own business but the global food industry. As an Experienced Senior Brand Manager, you will play a pivotal role in leading the strategic development and execution of the innovation pipeline for the Away from Home (AFH) Customer Innovation Platform at arenaflex. Your purpose will be to drive the ideation, curation, and commercialization of innovative products that align with global trends and contribute to the company's growth. By collaborating with cross-functional teams and fostering an innovation-driven culture, you will ensure that Away from Home serves as a key engine of innovation within the broader arenaflex portfolio, while also supporting ESG initiatives and sustainability goals.
**Key Responsibilities:**
* Lead the end-to-end innovation process for the Away from Home (AFH) Customer Co-Created Platform, overseeing the entire pipeline from ideation to product launch. This includes identifying opportunities, prioritizing projects, and managing the commercialization of new products in line with arenaflex's broader business objectives.
* Develop a strategic approach to innovation, ensuring the pipeline is aligned with market trends, consumer insights, and AFH's growth objectives.
* Collaborate with customers and key stakeholders across multiple functions, including R&D, culinary, consumer insights, quality, legal, operations, sales, and finance, to ensure seamless execution of innovative initiatives.
* Foster a culture of innovation within the AFH division by championing creative thinking and new product development that reflects global trends and cultural shifts. Inspire teams to take calculated risks and challenge the status quo to drive transformational growth.
* Manage the innovation stage gate process, including all key deliverables, timelines, and approvals. Ensure that all projects are resourced appropriately and prioritized effectively to meet business goals.
* Manage agency relationships for the packaging design of new products and lead consumer validation efforts in partnership with the consumer insights team.
* Work with commercial teams to refine product positioning and messaging, ensuring that new innovations meet target customers' needs in the Away from Home market.
* Build and maintain strong partnerships with Customer, Sales, and Marketing BAP teams, as well as Platform, Global Disruptive Innovation, Canada (Platform & AFH), and Global R&D teams, to ensure cohesive innovation plans and seamless execution for our AFH customers and arenaflex.
* Utilize syndicated data sources to analyze internal and competitor innovation performance, providing actionable insights and recommendations to drive impactful business decisions.
* Maintain a consumer-first mindset and strong operator understanding, ensuring day-to-day decisions protect the brand/operator's integrity while effectively balancing financial and operational considerations.
**Essential Qualifications:**
* Bachelor's degree in business, marketing, or a related field; MBA with a marketing focus preferred. Equivalent experience will be considered.
* 5 to 7 years in marketing, product innovation, or brand management, with at least 3 years leading product development from concept to market in the consumer goods sector.
* Proven ability to build, lead, and inspire high-performing teams, providing clear direction, coaching, and accountability.
* Experience setting strategic direction and mobilizing cross-functional teams to achieve common goals.
* Results-oriented, proactive in navigating complex challenges and ambiguity, with a track record of resolving obstacles.
* Strong verbal and written communication skills, with a history of building effective business relationships and presenting clear narratives.
* Passion for consumer marketing, culture, new product trends, and innovation, with the ability to foster an innovation-driven culture.
* Skilled at managing multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring timely delivery within scope.
* Ability to translate data into actionable insights, driving product and brand strategies.
* Demonstrated ability to communicate vision effectively to executive leadership and cross-functional teams.
* Strong at navigating both formal and informal organizational channels to get things done, while delegating effectively.
* Ability to prioritize tasks for self and team, focusing on key objectives and removing roadblocks.
* Advanced skills in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook).
**Work Environment and Schedule:**
Our office environment fosters collaboration, connection, and community, enabling employees to grow and thrive. We embrace a flexible and agile work model, recognizing its importance in today's workplace. Most office-based employees may work remotely up to two days per week. Additionally, those in our hybrid model can work remotely for up to six weeks within a rolling 12-month period, in increments of up to two weeks, subject to benefits and tax guidelines. Work location requirements vary by role. If you choose to be based in our downtown Chicago office, you must be willing and able to travel to the Glenview R&D Center at least once per week.
**Total Rewards:**
Our Total Rewards philosophy is to provide a meaningful and flexible spectrum of programs that equitably support our diverse workforce and their families and complement arenaflex's strategy and values. New Hire Base Salary Range: $137,400.00 - $171,700.00. Bonus: This position is eligible for a performance-based bonus as provided by the plan terms and governing documents. The compensation offered will take into account internal equity and may vary depending on the candidate's geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors.
**Benefits:**
Coverage for employees (and their eligible dependents) through affordable access to healthcare, protection, and saving for the future, we offer plans tailored to meet you and your family's needs. Coverage for benefits will be in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans and associated governing plan documents. Wellbeing: We offer events, resources, and learning opportunities that inspire a physical, social, emotional, and financial well-being lifestyle for our employees and their families.
**Why Join arenaflex:**
We grow our people to grow our business. We champion great people who bring ambition, curiosity, and high performance to the table as the guardians of our beloved and nostalgic brands. Good isn't good enough. We choose greatness every day by challenging the ordinary and making bold decisions. All while celebrating our wins - and our failures – as we work together to lead the future of food.
**Inclusion Matters to Us:**
Everyone is welcome at our table. In fact, we thrive on learning and growing from our diverse backgrounds and perspectives. Doesn't matter who you are, where you're from, or who makes your heart sing. We want you to show up as your authentic self, excited to work with amazing colleagues to solve complex challenges and innovate in an ever-changing industry.
**How to Apply:**
If you're a motivated and innovative professional looking to make a meaningful impact in the food industry, we encourage you to apply for this exciting opportunity. Please submit your application through our website, and we'll be in touch to discuss further.