Job Location: Hershey, PA
Pay Level: 2B
This position will be posted internally until the close of business on February 16, 2022.

Summary:
The individual in this position is the “prime mover” of the development of strategic, consumer-based innovation initiatives in support of the various Hershey Company flagship brands. Develops and leads strategy formation to address trends/unmet consumer needs and brand white-space opportunities to achieve company innovation growth and profit targets. This includes the identification and assessment of strategic opportunity areas and development of new initiatives, from discovery and ideation, through to commercialization using Hershey’s innovation stage gate process. Strategies will include a formulation of the 3/5-year growth plan, from inception through to sustainable commercial success addressing any change management needs required to align and excite the organization around the initiatives.

The Innovation Manager is responsible for translating the general strategic direction from senior management into a set of concrete strategies and plans for the brands he or she is responsible for. The job requires strategic skills, leadership, and a highly developed set of marketing and general management skills that can translate into successful sales, share and profit results. Objectives will be accomplished through leadership and development of direct reports, cross-functional teams, suppliers and various external partners.

The Innovation Manager must have a keen view of the external environment including a) general trends impacting the business b) competitive assessment and c) an understanding of both consumers and customers. An Innovation Manager requires strong strategic skills and an ability to formulate the strategic direction for the business including all major marketing decisions on advertising, promotion, product changes, pricing, new products, retail programs, and other key programs that could affect the short and long term profitability and share position.

An Innovation Manager must be a strong leader of people. He or she will usually manage several Associate Managers who require continued coaching and development. Also, the Innovation Manager plays a leadership role throughout the corporation in his or her coordination with other functional areas to ensure that the necessary actions occur in support of the brand. He or she will play a leadership role with outside marketing suppliers such as ad agencies or other consultants/suppliers.

The Innovation Manager is the individual that is most directly responsible for the success of the brand’s innovation initiatives. He or she is accountable for contributing significantly to sales growth, financial health, and long-term development of the trademark. He or she will need to manage effectively in a 360 degree pattern. An Innovation Manager must be very effective at:
1) developing and presenting recommendations to senior management,
2) engaging direct reports to execute marketing plans,
3) working collaboratively in a leadership role with Marketing Managers and others throughout the marketing organization to ensure successful integration and leverage of packtype, seasons, and new product programs,
4) coordinating and leading activities with virtually every function in the company to achieve the brand’s goals, and
5) leading and directing the activities of outside suppliers including ad and promotion agencies.