Associate Manager Innovation

Job Details:

By applying to this requisition, your application will be in consideration for our Associate Manager Innovation role supporting RVAP (Retail Value Added Poultry) Innovation, RVAP Innovation Project Management, or Retail Fresh and Frozen Poultry Innovation.

Summary:  
The Associate Manager Innovation is a key contributor to the Innovation Team, responsible for leading cross-functional teams through the planning, development, execution, and commercialization of innovation and renovation initiatives. This role requires a strategic mindset, strong business acumen, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment while effectively navigating change throughout the product development process. 

The Associate Manager Innovation will help build and execute the RVAP or Retail Fresh/Frozen Poultry innovation pipeline by identifying consumer, customer, and market opportunities and transforming insights into commercially viable products and packaging solutions. This individual will drive projects from concept to launch while building strong cross-functional relationships and delivering results with speed, agility, and excellence. 

The Associate Innovation Project Manager provides overall project management responsibility for assigned projects that contribute to business growth and efficiencies. Leadership skills in working with a cross-functional team through roadblocks and issues that would impede progress are required. Demonstrated ability to influence across business units and effectively coordinate external and internal resources is needed, along with a proven project management track record leading and delivering large, complex projects. This role requires a strategic mindset, strong business acumen, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment while effectively navigating change throughout the product development process. 

This role sits full time onsite at our World Headquarters in Springdale,  Arkansas. 

 

RESPONSIBILITIES:  

• Support manager to develop innovation pipeline and innovation strategies for assigned brand categories, channels, and customers, reflecting overall corporate and business unit goals. 

• Build, lead, and influence strong cross-functional partnerships across R&D, Packaging, Operations, Supply Chain, Sales, Finance, Marketing, Insights, Engineering, Regulatory, and Procurement to successfully bring innovation initiatives to market.

• Analyze consumer operator and market data and trends to identify insights and translate into innovation initiatives to drive results. 

• Manage strategic customer and category-specific initiatives with a focus on agility, speed-to-market, and execution excellence. 

• Lead innovation and renovation projects across retail poultry categories, ensuring alignment with customer needs, business objectives, and operational capabilities.

• Lead and participate in development and execution of product and packaging innovation projects including concept development, feasibility, validation, product and packaging, R&D business proposal and approval, project execution, operator distributor sell in and tracking of in-market performance.  

• Manage innovation process into launch phase including forecasting with sales channel team, attending initial production coordination of test markets and final coordination of product launch including inventory builds and initial shipments.  

• Work in our innovation project management packaging and specification systems to advance projects with the cross functional team.  

• Work collaboratively with insights R&D Channel Marketing and the BU to identify new ideas, build research and development plans, screen ideas and food and optimize our innovation offerings to meet consumer operator needs and have a clear POD vs. our competitors.

• Work hand-in-hand with the sales and channel marketing organization to understand and integrate operator and or distributor strategies into innovation pipeline. 

• Proactively work with these partners on innovation forecast accuracy maximization of opportunities and development of plans to deliver against JBP objectives 

• Lead innovation private label projects (renovation/innovation projects as well as the need arises) from customer spec through commercialization, helping shape the long range and annual plans for assigned categories in support of corporate and business unit goals. 

• Exercise fundamental, sound project management techniques and workflow process when executing assigned projects.

• Build project plans which clearly outline objectives, timing, and risks. 

• Multi-tasking several projects at once and being able to prioritize and execute in a fast paced environment. 

• Communicate and align key resources at all levels of the organization on assigned projects. 

• Act as a best-in-class project management example for the organization and subject matter expert. 

• Act as a mentor to other parts of the organization who need project management help or information. 

• Work in our innovation project management packaging and specification systems to advance projects with the cross functional team.   

• Report out key project management updates to various functions and levels. 

 

REQUIREMENTS:  

• Education: Bachelor’s degree required. MBA or BBA preferred.  Formal certification in Project Management (from PMI or equivalent Project Management Association) plus. 

• Experience: 2 plus years’ relevant experience. Marketing, Sales or product development experience preferred. 

• Communication Skills: Strong communication and presentation skills are required  

• Special Skills: Demonstrated strong analytical and strategic thinking skills are required. Strong collaborator with a demonstrated ability to lead cross functional teams proven ability to effectively manage multiple projects in a dynamic environment is required. Results-oriented mindset with a focus on execution excellence and ownership. Ability to identify opportunities, solve complex problems, and drive initiatives from ideation through commercialization. Customer-focused mindset with an understanding of retail and consumer trends within the protein category. 

Position Specific Requirements: 

• Applicants should either upload a resume to their application on Workday OR make sure their Career Profile in Workday is up to date and complete. 

• Local candidates will be given priority. No relocation assistance provided.

• Must reside in the United States to be considered. 

• Sponsorship is not available for this position 

All professional team members are expected to demonstrate responsible use of approved AI tools, including safeguarding sensitive information, adhering to company policies, and validating AI-generated outputs. Individual Contributors should demonstrate the ability to integrate AI into daily work, improve efficiency through AI-enabled solutions, evaluate outputs critically, and apply professional judgment when using AI. People Leaders should demonstrate the ability to drive responsible AI adoption, enable effective use of approved solutions, identify opportunities to improve team performance through AI, and ensure accountability for the quality and accuracy of AI-supported outcomes.

Relocation Assistance Eligible:

No

Work Shift:

1ST SHIFT (United States of America)

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