Sr Manager Innovation, NA Foodservice

Position Title: Sr Manager Innovation, NA Foodservice
Position Type: Regular - Full-Time
Requisition ID: 45206
In every role, McCainers are ambitious, curious, and passionate about creating exceptional work experiences - together. With a customer-first mindset, we make doing business with McCain easy.
About the role.
The Senior Brand Manager, Innovation, Foodservice North America will lead the innovation agenda that keeps McCain at the forefront of the potato category across Foodservice North America. Reporting to the Director of Innovation, this role owns the development and execution of a three-year innovation pipeline, transforming consumer, operator, distributor, and category insights into commercially successful product, packaging, and occasion-based innovations. The role requires strong strategic thinking, commercial acumen, and cross-functional leadership to deliver sustainable growth and shape the future of McCain's foodservice portfolio.
What you'll be doing.

• Develop and execute a breakthrough innovation strategy aligned to McCain's long-range growth objectives, category priorities, portfolio strategy, and demand space framework.
• Build and manage a three-year innovation pipeline encompassing product, packaging, occasion, and channel innovations.
• Lead innovation projects from opportunity identification through insight generation, proposition development, validation, and launch readiness.
• Partner with R&D, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Insights, Marketing, and the Go to Market Hub to bring innovation initiatives to market successfully.
• Drive innovation pipeline sufficiency, big-bet prioritization, and portfolio planning to support growth objectives and S&OP processes.
• Define the role of innovation within the broader portfolio and P&L, including product mix, positioning, pricing, and profitability considerations.
• Translate consumer, guest, operator, distributor, and marketplace insights into actionable growth opportunities and differentiated concepts.
• Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders and external customers to create alignment and accelerate innovation adoption.
• Champion a demand-centric, insight-led culture that places consumers and customers at the center of strategic decision-making.
• Coach and develop a Brand Manager through effective performance management, development planning, feedback, and mentorship.

What you'll need to be successful.

• Bachelor's degree required; MBA preferred.
• Minimum of 7 years of marketing or brand management experience.
• At least 3 years of experience leading innovation initiatives within a consumer packaged goods, foodservice, or related environment.
• Proven success developing new-to-world or new-to-company innovations, identifying whitespace opportunities, and creating new occasions or environments for growth.
• Strong strategic thinking skills with demonstrated ability to challenge conventional thinking and generate breakthrough ideas.
• Expertise in turning consumer, customer, and category insights into commercially viable innovations.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to synthesize data from multiple sources and make decisions in ambiguous environments.
• Demonstrated project management capabilities with experience leading multiple complex initiatives simultaneously.
• Strong leadership and people management skills with experience coaching and developing team members.
• Exceptional stakeholder management, communication, and influencing abilities across all levels of an organization.
• High degree of resilience, ownership, and tenacity with a hands-on, results-oriented approach.
• Experience operating within fast-paced, dynamic environments and driving outcomes through cross-functional collaboration.

About the team.
As part of the Foodservice North America Innovation team, you will play a critical role in shaping the future growth of McCain's potato business. Reporting to the Director of Innovation, you will work closely with cross-functional partners across R&D, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Insights, Marketing, and Commercial teams while directly managing and developing a Brand Manager. Together, the team is responsible for identifying growth opportunities, delivering breakthrough innovation, and building the next generation of category-leading products and solutions.
About McCain.
Click Here to learn more about McCain and how we provide 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.
AI & Digital Capabilities.
At McCain, AI and digital capabilities are part of how we work and innovate. We value curiosity toward emerging technologies and the thoughtful, responsible use of AI-enabled tools to improve outcomes as part of our future-ready culture.
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 : $107,600.00 - $143,500.00 . USD 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 applicable law 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): US - United States of America : Illinois : Oakbrook Terrace || US - United States of America : Illinois : Chicago || US - United States of America : Illinois : Lisle
Company: McCain Foods USA, Inc.