Job Location: Hershey, PA

This position can be located in Hershey, PA, Austin, TX but is also open to 100% remote

Summary:
The Associate Brand Manager (ABM) will have the primary responsibility of building and commercializing Salty snack innovation strategy & pipeline. Supporting the Brand Manager, the ABM will help create the Innovation Strategy, with clear growth platforms and guardrails by identifying deep unmet consumer needs and connecting insights back to Brand and Category opportunities. This includes playing a key role in the process to build a 3Y innovation growth pipeline, including idea generation, concept validation, and pipeline development. This role also requires partnering with internal, cross-functional teams and external agencies and leading end-to-end Commercialization of projects and ensure brand objectives and financial goals are delivered.

Individuals must have a keen view of the external environment including general trends impacting the business, competitive assessments, and an understanding of both consumers and customers. Must be able to work in a fast-paced environment with an emphasis on building strategy and insights and cross-functional collaboration and teamwork.

Responsibilities:
Project Commercialization: Lead commercialization of innovation projects through stage gate process, from idea to launch. Partner with agencies, cross-functional partners, and key senior stakeholders to ensure communication of project updates and changes. Demonstrate the ability to manage projects on time and in line with financial goals as well.
Cross-Functional Collaboration & Leadership: Lead and collaborate with cross-functional team of R&D, finance, operations/supply chain, external agency partners and the base marketing team to execute innovation initiatives. Contribute to a culture of innovation and brand building across the broader team.
Analysis & Insights: Develop insights from analysis of market data, competitor intelligence, and consumer research and lead ideation sessions and concept generation and validation to create Innovation platforms.
Communication & Storytelling: Partner with Sales and CatMan to integrate Customer insights and build strong sell-in story for new launches
Strategy Development: Support creation of inputs to develop and deliver viable long-term, 3-year innovation pipeline for Salty snack aligned with business objectives for both top-line and bottom-line

Qualifications(Knowledge, Skills, Education, Experience, etc.):
* 3+ years experience in Marketing, Sales, Strategy and / or General Management
* Bachelor's Degree required, MBA or equivalent marketplace experience preferred
* Self-starter with high degree of personal initiative
* Strong project and timeline management skills
* Ability to lead cross-functional teams
* Outstanding strategic thinking and analytical abilities
* Strong verbal and written communicator to wide breadth of audiences
* Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, rapidly evolving, and collaborative entrepreneurial environment

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