Sr. Brand Manager, Kinder Innovation

About the Role:

We have a current opening for a Sr Brand Manager, Kinder Chocolate & Innovation and are actively reviewing applications.

Ferrero is looking for an experienced marketer to be our Brand Portfolio Innovation lead to rapidly scale the Kinder brand footprint in the US. This individual will identify, develop and execute new product innovation strategies that will drive profitable and sustainable growth for the company. A proven track record of managing innovation at the local level for a global brand as well as success in management of relationships with Global Brand leadership at Headquarters are key.

This position is hybrid, and will be based in our North American HQ in Parsippany, NJ.

Main Responsibilities:

• Long-range strategy and planning: 
• Define long term kinder innovation vision and strategy to grow US share within Sweet Packaged Foods, identifying and expanding brand into new territories; i.e. new consumers, new usage occasions, new segments, based on a deep understanding and analysis of consumer insights and unmet needs, market trends, competitive arena and customer interest.
• Influencing global and local stakeholders:
• Act as a strong voice for brand initiatives with senior stakeholders in global headquarters and local business unit, presenting clear, data-driven, convincing case for deploying resources and unlocking innovation opportunities for the US
• Educate Global team on local context related to Category, Competition, Channels, Customers, Consumer as well as lead times for go-to-market
• Influence globally-led development of brand assets to ensure they fit with US consumer and Legal/ Institutional Affairs requirements
• Launch planning and execution:
• Drive and manage all aspects of innovation from idea to launch. Includes identifying insights, translating them to research inputs, crafting the mix in line with brand guidelines, business case modeling, developing consumer and shopper plans through to launch execution, and sell-in through each stage gate.
• Build strong and solid business cases, including development of the range, volumes forecast, margin analysis, price strategies and P&Ls to ensure opportunities meet financial objectives.
• Lead stage-gate commercialization process from early stages to launch; strong ability to manage stakeholders, influence cross-functionally to deliver final products on strategy, on time and on budget.
• Formalize and socialize best practices playbook for planning, commercialization and monitoring of launches evolving the document as new learnings emerge, so as to ensure we get better with each launch
• Work closely with Category Management, Trade Marketing, Sales Teams to develop a successful go-to-market plan
• Lead IAT in development and presentation of activities and communication strategies to management as well as briefing and managing agencies on a day to day basis, owning SOWs
• Provide research inputs to Global teams where they are leading research to investigate feasibility/ potential of launches in the US market
• Lead local research related to Creative development
• Team Leadership:
• Set clear expectations and provide guidance to team members to deliver their best work to continue to develop the Kinder brand and build business growth
• Coach team members to ensure they’re well-versed with Ferrero processes and ways of working, and fully trained to play their roles
• Manage Brand Manager Kinder Innovation

About You:

• Bachelor’s Degree required
• 8+ years of experience in Brand Management or Brand Marketing
• Proven innovation leadership with experience managing end‑to‑end innovation pipelines (concepting → validation → commercialization)
• Strong experience working with syndicated data (IRI, Nielsen) and conducting/commissioning qualitative and quantitative research
• Demonstrated strategic agility and ability to turn insights into actionable innovation opportunities
• Experience developing business cases, building forecasts, and partnering cross‑functionally on P&L‑related decisions
• Experience with stage-gate processes, cross-functional governance, and launching new products or platforms
• Ability to partner effectively with R&D, Sales, Supply Chain, Category, and Shopper Marketing teams
• Proven success managing relationships with Global Brand leadership and influencing without authority
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to build compelling narratives and persuasive arguments
• Experience in communications planning and managing asset development
• Highly analytical with strong commercial and financial acumen
• Creative problem-solver with an entrepr