Innovation Brand Manager

Job Description Summary Driven by a passion for what’s next, at Constellation Brands we embrace innovation and bold ideas to help shape a future that we truly believe is worth reaching for. We question norms, listen carefully, and anticipate trends. This is just one reason why Constellation Brands is the fastest-growing, large consumer product goods company in the U.S. at retail. Our Growth & Innovation Team exists within Constellation Brands to create bold ideas in and outside of our premium portfolio of iconic Wine & Spirit brands, Kim Crawford, Meiomi, The Prisoner, SVEDKA Vodka and High West Whiskey. With that in mind, we are seeking an Innovation Manager that can act as a creative spark and the cross functional team leader to ignite big ideas, establish strategic foundations, influence and inspire, and build business for innovation platforms worth investing in. The role will be responsible for development and flawless execution of disruptive product innovations that drive portfolio growth and brand equity, while continuously helping to strengthen our innovation capabilities in the organization. This role reports into the Senior Director of W&S Innovation/Growth. Specific Duties and Responsibilities Together with the Innovation Senior Director and the supporting team, this key member of the growth team assesses product innovation opportunities to identify where new wine and spirit brands can be successfully developed. The role is responsible for managing the development of innovation that extends our core portfolio into new spaces as well as the development of disruptive new platforms that together will create our portfolio of tomorrow. This work includes the development of product, positioning, and foundational marketing strategy to set up our innovation agenda for success. Responsibilities include: Pipeline development : Lead and participate in ideation/brainstorming sessions to develop consumer and category trend driven and strategically sound innovation recommendations to the business. Innovation project leadership: Timely creation of new innovation platforms from concept, liquid, package design, and positioning to set up and impactful launch and sustained in market success Internal and External Partner Management: Management of agencies and close partnership with cross-functional partners to support new product development and maximize available resources. Research: collaboration with Innovation Insights and a wide range of external research partners to test, validate & vet ideas and concepts at various stages of development. Utilizing advanced consumer insights to identify opportunities and further validate and optimize concepts that will drive growth and meet objectives Creative & Design Thinking: Use highly creative and design driven approaches to develop innovation that is set up to stand out and engage customers and consumer alike. Best Practice Development : Operate as an innovation thought leader and identify and implement best practices to strengthen how the organization builds and executes innovation. Leadership Alignment: Capture feedback and build consensus around innovation business cases and positioning with the Wine & Spirits Leadership team. Business Acumen: Showcase a thorough understanding of business and category key drivers, including overall competitive framework and brand/product dynamics. Minimum Qualifications Bachelor’s degree with a relevant focus (Marketing, Business, Management, etc.) 5 years’ experience in a CPG company with 3 years brand marketing and innovation focused experience. Strong interest and passion for lifestyle marketing and beverage alcohol categories Comfortable and experience bringing structure to ambiguity Experience thinking both creatively and analytically in a business setting. A passion for innovation, the “what’s next?”, and the drivers behind consumers behavior Clear, concise & persuasive written & oral communication skills Exceptional organization and project management skills Experience in leading strong cross-functional teams and skill in working and influencing within a matrix environment Strong commercial and financial acumen, exposure to working with P&L’s Ability to identify, interpret and apply critical consumer insights to new product development, with experience applying varying research methodologies (qualitative and quantitative) to the process Experience directing and collaborating with external partners (e.g., brand strategy, package design, research agencies) for brand development and execution Experience managing or mentoring talent plus a strong belief in the power of the team Proven track record of successful innovation utilizing a stage-gate process Preferred Qualifications MBA Wine industry and/or consumer product company (CPG) experience highly preferred. Physical Requirements/Work Environment Must be at least 21 years of age. Must be able to sit and/or stand for long periods of time and work on a computer for extended periods. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The salary range for this role is: $108,600 - $201,300 Location San Francisco, California Additional Locations Chicago, Illinois Job Type Full time Job Area Marketing The salary range for this role is: $108,600.00 - $201,300.00 This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range, and the range may be modified in the future. An employee’s pay position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but limited to, the prevailing minimum wage for the location, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, geographic location, performance, shift, travel requirements, sales or revenue-based metrics, any collective bargaining agreements, and business or organizational needs. We offer comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off, medical/dental/vision insurance, 401(k), and any other benefits to eligible employees. Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, or any other form of compensation that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company’s sole discretion, consistent with the law. Equal Opportunity Constellation Brands is committed to a continuing program of equal employment opportunity. All persons have equal employment opportunities with Constellation Brands, regardless of their sex, race, color, age, religion, creed, sexual orientation, national origin or citizenship, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition (cancer or genetic characteristics), marital status, gender (including gender identity or gender expression), familial status, military or veteran status, genetic information, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related conditions (or any other group or category within the framework of the applicable discrimination laws and regulations). Not sure you meet all qualifications? Research shows that women and members of other under-represented groups tend to not apply to jobs when they think they may not meet every qualification, when, in fact, they often do! We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and strongly encourage you to apply. Constellation Brands (NYSE: STZ) is a leading international producer and marketer of beer, wine, and spirits with operations in the U.S., Mexico, New Zealand, and Italy. Our mission is to build brands that people love because we believe elevating human connections is Worth Reaching For. It’s worth our dedication, hard work, and calculated risks to anticipate market trends and deliver more for our consumers, shareholders, employees, and industry. This dedication is what has driven us to become one of the fastest-growing, large CPG companies in the U.S. at retail, and it drives our pursuit to deliver what’s next. Every day, people reach for our high-end, iconic imported beer brands such as those in the Corona brand family like the flagship Corona Extra, Modelo Especial and the flavorful lineup of Modelo Cheladas, Pacifico, and Victoria; our fine wine and craft spirits brands, including The Prisoner Wine Company, Robert Mondavi Winery, Casa Noble Tequila, and High West Whiskey; and our premium wine brands such as Kim Crawford and Meiomi. As an agriculture-based company, we have a long history of operating sustainably and responsibly. Our ESG strategy is embedded into our business and our work focuses on serving as good stewards of the environment, enhancing social equity within our industry and communities, and promoting responsible beverage alcohol consumption. These commitments ground our aspirations beyond driving the bottom line as we work to create a future that is truly Worth Reaching For. To learn more, visit www.cbrands.com and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.