📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Senior Brand Innovation Manager
🔹 Company: Nestlé Health Science
🔹 Location: Bridgewater, New Jersey, United States
🔹 Job Type: Hybrid
🔹 Category: Health, Wellness & Fitness
🔹 Date Posted: May 7, 2025
🔹 Experience Level: 5-10 years
🔹 Remote Status: Hybrid (Bridgewater, NJ; Chicago, IL; Palm Beach Gardens, FL; Long Island, NY)
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Developing and commercializing innovation pipelines for high growth brands
- Collaborating with cross-functional teams to define and execute innovation strategies
- Building white space opportunities and capturing channel and customer priorities
- Leading new products through stage gate approval process from concept to commercialization
- Partnering with Medical, Regulatory, and Legal teams to develop differentiated new product claims
- Supporting development of launch communication plans with compelling insights and storytelling
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strong understanding of brand marketing, new product innovation, and cross-functional collaboration. The ideal candidate will have experience in building brands and driving business growth through financial and P&L management.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Build and commercialize 3-5 year innovation pipelines that deliver incremental sales growth and achieve financial objectives
✅ Lead short-term opportunity development and execution, and long-term strategic innovation planning
✅ Lead the analysis and identification of new whitespace innovation opportunities and benefit spaces
✅ Partner with Consumer Insights and Data Analytics teams to identify omnichannel category and consumer trends
✅ Lead new products through stage gate approval process with Project Management team
✅ Partner with Medical, Regulatory, and Legal teams to develop differentiated new product claims and claim support strategy
✅ Partner with Sales Strategy to develop pricing strategy, distribution targets, volume builds and strong sales story
✅ Support development of launch communication plans with Brand Experience team
ASSUMPION: The Senior Brand Innovation Manager will be responsible for leading and delivering the innovation strategy across high growth brands within the US Holistic Health portfolio. This role involves building innovation pipelines and collaborating with cross-functional teams from concept to commercialization.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor’s Degree in marketing or related field required; MBA preferred
Experience: At least 7 years of combined experience across Brand Marketing and New Product Innovation with a focus on building brands and driving the business through financial and P&L management
Required Skills:
- Proven success in delivering consumer packaged goods innovation and developing 3-5 innovation strategies
- Strong cross-functional collaboration and leadership through product development and commercialization
- Proven ability to analyze the business and category trends and develop strategies and marketing programs that have driven business results
- Strong leadership, analytic skillset, planning, communication, and presentation skills
- Consumer Understanding (positioning, insights)
- Oral and Written Communication Skills; ease presenting ideas & recommendations to senior leadership
- Analytic Thinking, Project Management, and Strong time management skills
- Financial Acumen, P&L management
- Strategic Thinking and Key Issue/Opportunity Analysis
Preferred Skills:
- Innate creative thinking and problem solving capabilities
- Ability to exhibit professionalism across the organization
- Passion for the health and wellness space
ASSUMPTION: Candidates should have at least 7 years of experience in Brand Marketing and New Product Innovation, with a focus on financial and P&L management. A Bachelor's Degree in marketing or a related field is required, with an MBA preferred.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $160,000 to $200,000 per year
Benefits:
- 401k with company match
- Healthcare coverage
- Performance-based incentives
Working Hours: Full-time (40 hours/week)
ASSUMPTION: The approximate pay range for this position is $160,000 to $200,000 per year. Final compensation may vary based on factors including but not limited to knowledge, skills, and abilities as well as geographic location.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Health, Wellness & Fitness
Company Size: 10,001+ employees
Founded: 1866
Company Description:
- As the world’s largest food and beverage company, Nestlé is driven by a simple aim: unlocking the power of food to enhance quality of life for everyone, today and for generations to come.
- With a portfolio covering almost every food and beverage category, Nestlé offers products and services for all stages of life, every moment of the day, helping people care for themselves and their families.
- The company employs around 273,000 people and has factories or operations in almost every country in the world, with headquarters based in Vevey, Switzerland.
Company Specialties:
- Coffee and beverages
- Dairy
- Confectionary
- Culinary and frozen food
- Ice Cream
- Infant nutrition
- Healthcare nutrition
- Out of home F&B solutions
- and Petcare
Company Website: http://www.nestle.com
ASSUMPTION: Nestlé Health Science is a subsidiary of Nestlé, focusing on health and wellness products. The company is part of a large, multinational corporation with a diverse portfolio of brands and products.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: Managerial
Reporting Structure: This role reports directly to the Head of Brand Innovation for the US Holistic Health portfolio
Work Arrangement: Hybrid (Bridgewater, NJ; Chicago, IL; Palm Beach Gardens, FL; Long Island, NY)
Growth Opportunities:
- Potential to lead larger teams and manage multiple brands as experience and performance grow
- Opportunities to work on high-impact projects and drive significant business growth
- Possibility to transition into other leadership roles within the organization
ASSUMPTION: This role offers significant growth opportunities for the right candidate, with potential to lead larger teams and manage multiple brands as experience and performance grow.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: Hybrid (combination of on-site and remote work)
Office Location(s): Bridgewater, NJ; Chicago, IL; Palm Beach Gardens, FL; Long Island, NY
Geographic Context:
- Bridgewater, NJ: A suburban town in central New Jersey, with easy access to New York City
- Chicago, IL: A major city in the Midwest, known for its diverse culture and vibrant food scene
- Palm Beach Gardens, FL: A city in South Florida, offering a subtropical climate and beach lifestyle
- Long Island, NY: An island off the coast of New York City, known for its beaches, vineyards, and historic sites
Work Schedule: Flexible, with a focus on results and performance
ASSUMPTION: This role offers a hybrid work arrangement, allowing employees to balance on-site and remote work. The specific office location will depend on the selected candidate's geographic location.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Online application submission
- Phone or video screening
- In-depth behavioral interviews with hiring managers and team members
- Final round interviews with senior leadership
- Background check and offer
Key Assessment Areas:
- Brand marketing and new product innovation experience
- Cross-functional collaboration and leadership skills
- Analytical and strategic thinking
- Communication and presentation skills
- Cultural fit and passion for health and wellness
Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant experience and skills for this role
- Prepare for behavioral interviews by providing specific examples of your experience in brand marketing and new product innovation
- Demonstrate your understanding of the health and wellness industry and Nestlé Health Science's portfolio of brands
- Showcase your ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams
ATS Keywords: Brand Marketing, New Product Innovation, Cross-Functional Collaboration, Analytical Thinking, Strategic Thinking, Communication Skills, Leadership, Health and Wellness, Nestlé Health Science
ASSUMPTION: The application process for this role may vary depending on the specific needs of the hiring team. However, it is essential to tailor your application materials to highlight relevant experience and skills for this role.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- Project management software (e.g., Asana, Trello, Jira)
- Data analysis tools (e.g., Excel, SQL, Tableau)
- Consumer insights and market research platforms (e.g., Nielsen, Mintel, Euromonitor)
- Brand tracking and measurement tools (e.g., Brand24, YouGov, Kantar)
ASSUMPTION: The specific tools and technologies required for this role may vary depending on the team's needs and preferences. However, proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, project management software, and data analysis tools is typically expected.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Respect for ourselves
- Respect for others
- Respect for diversity
- Respect for the future
Work Style:
- Collaborative and inclusive
- Focused on results and performance
- Adaptable and open to change
- Committed to continuous learning and improvement
Self-Assessment Questions:
- How do your personal values align with Nestlé's company values?
- Describe a time when you had to adapt to a significant change in your work environment. How did you handle it, and what was the outcome?
- How do you approach working collaboratively with cross-functional teams to achieve common goals?
ASSUMPTION: Nestlé Health Science values a diverse and inclusive work environment, where employees are respected and empowered to achieve their best. Candidates should be able to demonstrate a strong cultural fit with the company's values and work style.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Managing multiple brands and innovation pipelines simultaneously
- Balancing short-term opportunity development with long-term strategic innovation planning
- Navigating a large, matrixed organization with multiple stakeholders
- Working in a fast-paced, dynamic industry with constant change and evolution
ASSUMPTION: The Senior Brand Innovation Manager role may present unique challenges, such as managing multiple brands and balancing short-term and long-term innovation planning. Candidates should be prepared to navigate a large, matrixed organization and work in a fast-paced, dynamic industry.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- This role is unique in its focus on brand innovation within the health and wellness industry, with a specific emphasis on Nestlé Health Science's portfolio of brands
- Compared to other brand management roles, this position requires a stronger focus on new product innovation and cross-functional collaboration
- Career progression in this role may differ from traditional brand management paths, with opportunities to transition into other leadership roles within the organization
ASSUMPTION: While this role shares similarities with other brand management positions, it is unique in its focus on brand innovation within the health and wellness industry and requires a stronger emphasis on new product innovation and cross-functional collaboration.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing and launching a new line of functional beverages for a leading brand in the Nestlé Health Science portfolio
- Conducting consumer research and identifying whitespace opportunities for an established brand in the healthcare nutrition category
- Leading a cross-functional team to reformulate and rebrand an existing product to better meet consumer needs and preferences
ASSUMPTION: The specific projects undertaken by the Senior Brand Innovation Manager may vary depending on the needs of the brands and the organization. However, these projects should focus on building innovation pipelines, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and driving business growth through financial and P&L management.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- What are the most significant challenges facing the brands in the US Holistic Health portfolio, and how can this role address them?
- How does this role collaborate with other teams and functions within Nestlé Health Science?
- What opportunities exist for growth and development within this role and the organization?
- How does Nestlé Health Science support work-life balance for its employees?
- What are the key priorities for this role in the first 30, 60, and 90 days?
ASSUMPTION: Candidates should ask thoughtful questions during the interview process to demonstrate their interest in the role and the organization. These questions should focus on understanding the specific challenges facing the brands, the role's collaboration with other teams, and opportunities for growth and development.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through the provided link
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant experience and skills for this role
- Prepare for behavioral interviews by providing specific examples of your experience in brand marketing and new product innovation
- Demonstrate your understanding of the health and wellness industry and Nestlé Health Science's portfolio of brands
- Showcase your ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams
- Follow up with the hiring manager one week after submitting your application to inquire about the status of your application
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
