Innovation Associate Brand Manager

At Bel, we are not just a company—we are a company on a Mission, built on 160 years of bold innovation, family values, and a commitment to social purpose. With beloved brands like Babybel®, GoGo squeeZ®, The Laughing Cow®, and Boursin®, our snacking solutions bring more than joy; they want to serve as a force for good. Our U.S. Mission? To help close the critical 80% nutrition gap by making it easier for Americans to eat more fruits, veggies, and dairy as part of their daily lives.

The company has headquarters in Chicago and New York City and operates 4 manufacturing plants in Little Chute, WI; Brookings, SD; Traverse City, MI; and Nampa, ID.  #IWorkForAllForGood

Are you passionate about building brands and bringing new ideas to life? We’re looking for an innovative and strategic Assistant Brand Manager (ABM) to join our team and help lead the way in product innovation. In this role, you will support the end-to-end journey of new product ideas—from identifying consumer trends and white space opportunities to collaborating with cross-functional partners and launching new products. Your work will blend market analysis, consumer insights, and creative thinking to help shape our brand’s future.

As an ABM of Innovation, you’ll gain hands-on experience building business cases, supporting commercialization, and enabling our sales team with the tools they need for success. If you’re driven by data, energized by cross-functional collaboration, and excited to make a real impact through new products, we’d love to hear from you!

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Innovation Strategy: Lead the development and execution of new product ideas that support brand objectives and reflect consumer and market trends. Identify white space opportunities through research and validate product concepts using consumer feedback and market testing.
• Product Management & Commercialization: Collaborate with cross-functional teams (R&D, Operations, Finance, Consumer Insights) to develop business cases and proposals for new products. Define clear plans for positioning, pricing, and targeting key consumer segments to maximize market success.
• Data & Analytics: Analyze brand performance, industry, and competitive marketplace trends using syndicated data sources. Provide actionable recommendations that support business objectives and drive innovation.
• Concept Development: Apply basic marketing concepts (brand positioning, brand architecture, SWOT analysis, competitive assessment, marketing strategies, consumer segmentation) in the creation and refinement of marketing plans for new products or initiatives.
• Customer Insights: Assess customer feedback to identify areas for improvement. Integrate customer needs and preferences into product development and marketing strategies to ensure offerings are relevant and competitive.
• Sales Enablement: Work closely with the sales team by providing comprehensive product information, shopper marketing tools, and effective marketing materials to support product sales and in-store activation.

Skills and Qualifications

• Experience: A minimum 2+ years of prior experience in brand management, marketing, or related roles is preferred. 
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business, or a related field required; MBA preferred.
• Leadership: Proven ability to lead and influence cross-functional teams to drive innovation and execute marketing strategies.
• Marketing Expertise: Solid understanding of core marketing principles such as market segmentation, brand positioning, and campaign management.
• Analytical Skills: Strong analytical mindset, able to interpret market data, uncover key insights, and make data-driven recommendations.
• Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage and influence a variety of stakeholders.
• Project Management: Effective project management and organizational skills; comfortable balancing multiple priorities and meeting deadlines.
• Creative Thinking: Demonstrated c