Innovation Brand Manager

Position Title: Innovation Brand Manager
Position Type: Regular - Full-Time
Requisition ID: 41158
About the role .
The Innovation Manager is a key contributor of the Global Snacking Innovation Team at McCain and is part of a team building out a strategic disruptive growth pipeline. This individual is responsible for executing a multi-year platform strategy to unlock profitable growth and drive more of the menu as part of the 2030 business unit strategy. Reporting to the Director of Global Snacking Innovation the Innovation Manager will lead end-to-end commercialization of breakthrough innovation across the globe, including Foodservice and QSR channels.
This role is responsible for driving scalable innovation from ideation to market readiness that delivers against the company strategy, enhances McCain's market position, builds competitive advantage and fuels momentum for continued business growth. Leveraging market trends and intel to identify opportunities and unmet needs, this role will define propositions and drive initiatives from ideation to launch readiness in collaboration with cross-functional partners (brand marketing, Insights, R&D, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Go to Market Hub, and Agriculture).
The successful candidate will have natural curiosity and the ability to generate breakthrough "what if" thinking. They will thrive in ambiguity, translating emerging trends, market analysis, and insights into groundbreaking product concepts. They possess a strong commercial acumen and the ability to lead cross-functional teams to success, overcoming challenges to drive profitable growth for the brand and the business.
What you'll be doing.

• Deliver compelling disruptive innovation platform strategy, based on consumer, customer and category insights, and market trends, grounded in the McCain long range plan objectives (where to play, how to win, growth targets), category, brand, portfolio strategy and demand space framework
• Deliver a 3-year disruptive innovation pipeline, with a focus on new environments, new occasions and new platform capabilities, with clarity to horizon pathing and pacing of workstreams
• Lead global projects from opportunity to insight to proposition development and validation, through to launch readiness, leveraging the Navigator (Stage Gate) process, liaising with the insights, marketing teams and Go To Market hub. Manage projects to agreed budgets, timelines and KPI's
• Build innovation commercial propositions with clarity to product mix, pricing, packaging, placement and promotion, with end-to-end oversight from design to deployment, leveraging opportunity framing, concept writing, briefing and launch proposal processes from design to deployment
• Support accelerating the company's innovation process and disruptive innovation planning, leading big bet sizing and fueling pipeline sufficiency (reporting into PGR) to meet our growth objectives and contributing to best practices for how we innovate that unlocks collaboration and feeds desirability, feasibility and viability
• Execute innovation process improvement, enhancing process agility while delivering on quality of launch
• Act as a hub of communication to ensure all stakeholders are fully integrated in key disruptive innovation activities, while driving accountability to deliver launch timelines
• Participate in industry events to understand market trends and developments that can be leveraged by the company
• Champion innovation by actively learning and sharing best practices, keeping a pulse on the competitive environment and identifying rising trends and capabilities
• Contribute to an insight-led and demand centric growth culture, putting insights at the heart of our disruptive innovation plans and strategy
• Support global platform innovation strategy & governance, creating strong global partnerships, sharing best practices, leveraging synergies and influencing with global & cross-regional teams

What you'll need to be successful.

• Bachelor's degree required; MBA preferred
• 3-5 years of Marketing or brand management, with a minimum of 1-2 years leading innovation
• Experience developing new-to-world or new-to-company innovation, white space development, new occasion or new environment penetration
• Track record in championing new ideas and initiatives while creating an environment that supports innovation; leveraging fresh perspectives and new paradigms to create value within the market
• Strong project management expertise with experience balancing big-picture with day-to-day execution
• Strong leadership skills and ability to influence people and build strong relationships with both internal and external stakeholders
• High degree of tenacity and persistence to get actions completed on schedule with a hands-on approach when needed
• Proven track record in delivering several complex projects at a time

About McCain .
Click Here to learn more about McCain and how we provide you with opportunities to make an impact that matters.
Leadership principles .
At McCain, our leadership principles guide how we engage with customers, collaborate as a team, and achieve success. We focus on understanding customer needs, driving innovation, empowering people, and taking ownership to clear obstacles and deliver results.
The McCain experience .
We are McCain. This statement is a testament to our collective strength and our individual value. Your contributions play a vital role in our success. Our winning culture is rooted in authenticity and trust, empowering us to bring out the best in one another. Here, you'll find opportunities to learn, grow, and thrive. Join us and experience why we're better together.
Our purpose is grounded in building meaningful relationships. We're big believers in the power of working together in person-it helps us stay connected, collaborate more effectively, and grow as a team. At the same time, we recognize the importance of flexibility. Most office-based roles follow a hybrid model, with the option to work remotely two days a week. There may be exceptions depending on the role and location, so we encourage you to speak with your recruiter for more details.
Compensation Package : $97,500.00 - $130,000.00 . CAD annually + Bonus Eligibility
The above reflects the target compensation range for the position at the time of posting. Hiring compensation will be determined based on experience, skill set, education and training, and other organizational needs. This posting is for an existing vacancy.
Benefits: At McCain, we're on a mission to create a winning culture that puts employee safety and well-being at the heart of what we do, every day. We understand and appreciate that each person's needs are unique and ensure our benefits & well-being programs reflect that. Employees are eligible for the following benefits: health coverage (medical, dental, vision, prescription drug), retirement savings benefits, and leave support including medical, family and bereavement. Well-being programs include vacation and holidays, company-supported volunteering time, and mental health resources. Coverages are aligned with country, provincial and state governing plans and can vary by work level, location and nature of the role. Additional benefit detail available during the application process.
Your well-being matters to us, and we're here to provide you with the necessary resources to support you in being your best self at work - and at home.
McCain Foods is an equal opportunity employer. As a global family-owned company, we strive to be the employer of choice in the diverse communities around the world in which we live and work. We recognize that inclusion drives our creativity, resilience, and success and makes our business stronger. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.
McCain is an accessible employer. If you require an accommodation throughout the recruitment process (including alternate formats of materials or accessible meeting rooms), please let us know , and we will work with you to find appropriate solutions.
Your privacy is important to us. By submitting personal data or information to us, you agree this will be handled in accordance with McCain's Global Privacy Policy and Global Employee Privacy Policy , as applicable. McCain leverages AI in the hiring process, though all final decisions are made by humans. You can understand our approach to AI and how your personal information is being handled here .
Job Family: Marketing
Location(s): CA - Canada : Ontario : Toronto
Company: McCain Foods (Canada)