Job Description
The Associate Director, Global Innovation Insights serves as the strategic insights partner to the Global Disruptive and Scale Innovation team, translating emerging consumer, cultural, and marketplace trends into high‑potential innovation opportunities. In a senior oversight capacity, this role leads and guides consumer insights for multiple Global Innovation PODs—. Tasked with uncovering breakthrough solutions and white‑space opportunities, the role accelerates in‑market validation through best-in-class approaches. The Associate Director must also draw from a variety of internal/external resources to develop insights that provide a competitive advantage to the Kraft Heinz innovation agenda.
The Role – Key Skills:
- Strategic: Be a key strategic business partner to Marketing team and a transformational leader. Demonstrating understanding of the consumer, research methodologies/techniques, standard processes and experience to drive the business forward
- Influential: Influence at all levels of organization (above & below) and work seamlessly with cross-functional teams
- Impactful: Influence "so-what’s" by making actionable recommendations routed in deep understanding of marketing, business and consumer
- An Owner: Be versatile with agility! Think and act like a start-up and build out a function against a blank slate without buying pre-packaged solutions or methodologies.
- Flexible: Be flexible and creative to adjust to changing priorities and business challenges. Manage ambiguity, while showing strong drive for results and project leadership skills; Highly adaptable, works well in an environment of change
- Strong Communicator: Showcase strong interpersonal skills through distilled clean/concise insights that drive empathy and storytelling behaviors though the organization
- Self-motivated: Ability to handle many workstreams, challenging priorities and distill a plan that can be implemented for the team
- Analytical: Ability to see through data and recognize patterns to advise brand actions
- Collaborator: Team player, thrives in a fast-paced entrepreneurial environment
- Coach & People Leader: Share knowledge and develop a high-performing team
- Curiosity & Action: High degree of intellectual curiosity and creative insight, coupled with a drive for actionable, tangible results
- Influence: Ability to influence at senior levels of an organization and drive focus and impact
Key responsibilities
- Act as key strategic insights partner to the Global Disruptive and Scale Innovation team
- Lead and implement the Consumer Insights Innovation road map development: whitespace identification, ideation, validation
- Define breakthrough solutions that speed and strengthen consumer learning; set strategy and challenge the status quo.
- Translate emerging consumer, cultural, and marketplace trends and insights into strategic growth opportunities for Kraft Heinz.
- Influence and build buy-in for business opportunities with rigorous consumer understanding
- Operate comfortably in high ambiguity to set 5+ year strategic direction across markets/zones.
- Lead, mentor and develop up to 2direct reports; provide functional leadership for all GDI/GSI pods.
Qualifications
- Advanced experience in a strategic insights/consumer research role, preferably at a CPG manufacturer, or 10+ years with a combination of supplier & manufacturer-side insights experience showcasing increasing responsibilities and scope.
- Has prior experience being a people leader with a passion for leading teams.
- Significant experience in innovation insights, with a strong understand and lead the path from whitespace identification work through ideation and validation.
- Thrives in agile ways of working, the iterative innovation process, and a track record of collaboration with cross-functional partners like Marketing, R&D, Supply Chain, Sensory and more.
- Proficient in various market research techniques, including both qualitative and quantitative methods; Experience using these tools for innovation development strongly preferred.
- Experience working with both primary and secondary data sources
- Proficient in syndicated research tools (e.g. Nielsen, Circana, Mintel, etc).
- Ability to distill insights and drive impact into an organization – bringing the consumer to forefront.
- High level of tolerance for working in ambiguity, leading change and inspiring change management.
- Excel at storytelling in creative and impactful ways - excellent communication, organization and presentation skills (written, oral, and across Microsoft Office Suite).
Our Total Rewards philosophy is to provide a meaningful and flexible spectrum of programs that equitably support our diverse workforce and their families and complement Kraft Heinz’ strategy and values.
New Hire Base Salary Range:
$159,400.00 - $199,200.00
Bonus: This position is eligible for a performance-based bonus as provided by the plan terms and governing documents.
The compensation offered will take into account internal equity and may vary depending on the candidate's geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors
Benefits: Coverage for employees (and their eligible dependents) through affordable access to healthcare, protection, and saving for the future, we offer plans tailored to meet you and your family’s needs. Coverage for benefits will be in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans and associated governing plan documents.
Wellbeing: We offer events, resources, and learning opportunities that inspire a physical, social, emotional, and financial well-being lifestyle for our employees and their families.
You’ll be able to participate in a variety of benefits and wellbeing programs that may vary by role, country, region, union status, and other employment status factors, for example:
Physical - Medical, Prescription Drug, Dental, Vision, Screenings/Assessments
Social - Paid Time Off, Company Holidays, Leave of Absence, Flexible Work Arrangements, Recognition, Training
Emotional – Employee Assistance Program , Wellbeing Programs, Family Support Programs
Financial – 401k, Life, Accidental Death & Dismemberment, Disability
Location(s)
Chicago/Aon Center
Kraft Heinz is an Equal Opportunity Employer – Underrepresented Ethnic Minority Groups/Women/Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity and other protected classes. In order to ensure reasonable accommodation for protected individuals, applicants that require accommodation in the job application process may contact NAZTAOps@kraftheinz.com for assistance.