Director, Innovation - Meals

Job Description About Us The Kraft Heinz Company is one of the largest food and beverage companies in the world, with eight $1 billion+ brands and global sales of approximately $25 billion. We’re a globally trusted producer of high-quality, great-tasting, and nutritious foods for over 150 years. Our brands are truly global, with products produced and marketed in over 40 countries. These beloved products include condiments and sauces, cheese and dairy, meals, meats, refreshment beverages, coffee, infant and nutrition products, and numerous other grocery products in a portfolio of more than 200 legacy and emerging brands. Our Culture of Ownership, Meritocracy & Collaboration We're not afraid to think differently. Embrace new ideas. Dream big. We empower our people at every level – from entry-level intern to senior leader – to own their work. We share a responsibility to think like Owners – to be mindful of the collective and sustained success of Kraft Heinz – which we apply to every situation, every day. As part of Kraft Heinz, you're supported to grow and achieve. You’re expected to bring your authentic self to work every day, to lead with humility, and drive outstanding performance at every level – and you’ll be rewarded. You’re given opportunities to leave a mark and build a legacy. But you won’t do it alone. You’re supported by passionate teammates along the way, and our collective, collaborative spirit fuels our incredible progress. Job Description The Director, Innovation, M&C and Shelf Stable Meals will lead innovation development across several critical areas of responsibility, with a focus on building the long-term growth pipeline for Kraft M&C and Velveeta. This role will be responsible for: Leading expansion and whitespace opportunities for Kraft M&C and Velveeta, including building the 5-year innovation pipeline Developing new categories for Kraft M&C and Velveeta to bring growth plan ambitions to life partnering across multiple innovation teams at KHC, including Disruptive Innovation Pods, AFH, and Canada, as well as R&D, Operations, Brand Teams, and Finance Building strong, two-way cross-functional relationships that foster collaboration, idea-sharing, and effective execution Serving in a highly visible leadership role on the Meals Leadership Team while leading and developing a team of direct reports with a broad range of experience Managing the creation and validation of a multi-year innovation strategy rooted in meaningful consumer pain points Managing agency relationships for packaging design of new products and leading consumer validation in partnership with the Consumer Insights team Owning innovation through the stage gate process, providing visibility to senior leadership on opportunities and aligning stakeholders to next steps and tradeoffs Leveraging syndicated data sources to assess internal and competitor innovation performance, and translating insights into recommendations that drive business impact Bringing a consumer-first mindset to day-to-day decisions while protecting brand integrity and balancing financial and operational considerations Qualifications 10+ years of experience Experience managing direct reports and setting strategic direct for a team Advanced experience in product management, brand management and managing a P&L Experience in cross-functional team management Strong interpersonal and communication skills Ability to handle simultaneous projects and deliver within agreed upon time frames. Ability to effectively lead discussions and share vision with Executive level of KHC 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: $190,300.00 - $237,900.00 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 Long-Term Incentive (LTI): In addition to base salary and bonus, this role is eligible for additional compensation in the form of equity. 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 that prohibits discrimination or harassment of any type. All qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Applicants who require an accommodation to participate in the job application or hiring process should contact View email address on click.appcast.io. ABOUT US Kraft Heinz is a global food company with a delicious heritage. With iconic and emerging food and beverage brands around the world, we deliver the best taste, fun and quality to every meal table we touch. We’re on a mission to disrupt not only our own business, but the global food industry. A consumer obsession and unexpected partnerships fuel our progress as we drive innovation across every part of our company. Around the world, our people are connected by a culture of ownership, agility and endless curiosity. We also believe in being good humans, who are working to improve our company, communities, and planet. We’re proud of where we’ve been – and even more thrilled about where we’re headed – as we nourish the world and lead the future of food. WHY US We grow our people to grow our business. We champion great people who bring ambition, curiosity, and high performance to the table as the guardians of our beloved and nostalgic brands. Good isn't good enough. We choose greatness every day by challenging the ordinary and making bold decisions. All while celebrating our wins - and our failures – as we work together to lead the future of food. Challenging the status quo takes talent. We invest in your purpose and potential by developing skills and nurturing strengths that leave a legacy on our business and a lasting impact on your career. Because great people make great companies, and we’re growing something great here at Kraft Heinz. INCLUSION MATTERS TO US Everyone is welcome at our table. In fact, we thrive on learning and growing from our diverse backgrounds and perspectives. Doesn’t matter who you are, where you’re from, or who makes your heart sing. We want you to show up as your authentic self, excited to work with amazing colleagues to solve complex challenges and innovate in an ever-changing industry. We’re committed to: Hiring and growing talent from diverse backgrounds and perspectives. Growing our Business Resource Groups — vibrant, celebrated communities that enhance our business through thought leadership employee engagement and professional development opportunities. Providing our managers and leaders high quality learning experiences to explore how to foster inclusion and belonging.