Brand Manager, Knorr Innovation & Commercialization

About the brand Knorr:

Launched in 1838, Knorr is Unilever’s second-largest global brand and one of the world’s most iconic food names, famous for delivering nutritious, delicious, and accessible products that unlock the potential of home cooking every day. 

In the US, Knorr serves over 150 million consumers and is currently in an exciting transformation, leveraging Unilever’s technologies to drive category growth and capture high-potential spaces. Recent innovations, such as our Ready to Heat Cups, demonstrate how we are utilizing our capabilities to win in high-growth markets and act as true market makers.

Job Purpose:

The Knorr Innovation Deployment Brand Manager owns the end-to-end innovation funnel, a key engine of growth for the brand. Reporting to the Associate Director, Innovation Strategy & Commercialization Knorr, this role leads a direct report and cross-functional teams to identify consumer trends and unmet needs, while conceptualizing and deploying disruptive innovations in the market.

You will transform how Knorr is perceived by consumers, evolving our portfolio by crafting a compelling, long-term innovation funnel within the US Bouillon and Meal Makers categories to reach new heights.

Key Accountabilities:

• Drive strategic innovation by deeply analyzing consumer pain points to conceptualize and develop breakthrough products and formats that deliver superior benefits.
• Lead cross-functional teams (R&D, SC, CMI, Finance) and collaborate with world-class external partners, including research and design agencies and global flavor experts.
• Own the development and end-to-end execution of 'big bet' innovations within the Bouillons and Meal Makers categories.
• Manage end-to-end innovation projects, including strategy and concept development, pricing, P&L creation, and forecasting.
• Secure resource prioritization by building clear, persuasive business cases for high-potential projects.
• Partner with the commercial team to develop compelling selling stories for your innovations, rooted in category growth strategies.
• Integrate best-in-class innovation trends, emerging technologies, and competitive market intelligence into all initiatives.
• Own and manage the allocation of innovation budgets and resources.
• Manage and mentor high-potential talent, including a direct report.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree.
• 5+ years of experience in Brand or CPG marketing, with a minimum of 2 years specifically in innovation and product management.
• Excellent oral, written, and presentation skills; ability to tailor communication across disciplines and leadership levels.
• Demonstrated track record of successful product launches, including executing communication campaigns in the US market.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams and the ability to influence global partners and build rapport.
• Strong proficiency in using data to turn consumer and social insights into strategic thinking and building viable financial models.

Preferred Qualifications:

• MBA preferred.
• Highly curious and analytical, with a proven ability to develop disruptive ideas that challenge category norms.
• Passion for crafting product mixes and breakthrough formats that drive consumer excitement and market growth.
• Prior experience managing direct reports or mentoring junior talent to foster team development.

Pay: The pay range for this position is $103,000 to $154,400. Unilever takes into consideration a wide range of factors that are utilized in making compensation decisions including, but not limited to, skill sets, experience and training, licensure and certifications, qualifications and education, and other business and organizational needs.

Bonus: This position is bonus eligible.

Long-Term Incentive (LTI): This position is LTI eligible.

Benefits: Unilever employees are eligible to participate in our benefits plan. Should the employee choose to participate, they can choose from a range of benefits to include, but is not limited to, health insurance (including prescription drug, dental, and vision coverage), retirement savings benefits, life insurance and disability benefits, parental leave, sick leave, paid vacation and holidays, as well as access to numerous voluntary benefits. Any coverages for health insurance and retirement benefits will be in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans and associated governing plan documents.

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