Kraft Heinz
Associate Director, Global Disruptive and Scale Innovation Insights
Kraft Heinz, Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60290
Associate Director, Global Disruptive and Scale Innovation Insights
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, uncovering breakthrough solutions and white‑space opportunities and accelerating in‑market validation through best‑in‑class approaches.
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, and 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 2 direct reports; provide functional leadership for all GDI/GSI pods.
Key Skills
Strategic: be a key strategic business partner to Marketing and a transformational leader with deep understanding of consumer, research methodologies/techniques, and standard processes.
Influential: influence at all levels of the organization, working seamlessly with cross‑functional teams.
Impactful: make actionable recommendations rooted in deep understanding of marketing, business, and consumer.
Owner: think and act like a start‑up, building out functions from scratch without pre‑packaged solutions.
Flexible: adapt to changing priorities and business challenges, managing ambiguity while driving results.
Strong Communicator: showcase strong interpersonal skills through distilled, clean, concise insights that drive empathy and storytelling.
Self‑motivated: handle many workstreams, challenging priorities, and distill actionable plans.
Analytical: see through data to recognize patterns and advise brand actions.
Collaborator: thrive in a fast‑paced entrepreneurial environment.
Coach & People Leader: share knowledge and develop a high‑performing team.
Curiosity & Action: high intellectual curiosity and creative insight, driving actionable, tangible results.
Influence: influence senior levels of the organization and drive focus and impact.
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.
Prior experience as a people leader with a passion for leading teams.
Significant experience in innovation insights, with a strong understanding and leading the path from whitespace identification through ideation and validation.
Thrives in agile ways of working, iterative innovation processes, and collaboration with cross‑functional partners like Marketing, R&D, Supply Chain, Sensory and more.
Proficient in qualitative and quantitative market research techniques; experience using these tools for innovation development strongly preferred.
Experience working with primary and secondary data sources.
Proficient in syndicated research tools (e.g., Nielsen, Circana, Mintel).
Ability to distill insights and drive impact within an organization, putting the consumer at the forefront.
High tolerance for ambiguity, leading change, and inspiring change management.
Excellent storytelling in creative and impactful ways—strong written, oral, and presentation skills (Microsoft Office Suite).
Compensation Base Salary: $159,400.00 – $199,200.00
Bonus: eligible for a performance‑based bonus as provided by the plan terms and governing documents.
Benefits & Wellbeing
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, Well‑being Programs, Family Support Programs
Financial – 401(k), Life, Accidental Death & Dismemberment, Disability
Location Chicago, IL – Aon Center
Equal Opportunity Employer 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.
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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, and 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 2 direct reports; provide functional leadership for all GDI/GSI pods.
Key Skills
Strategic: be a key strategic business partner to Marketing and a transformational leader with deep understanding of consumer, research methodologies/techniques, and standard processes.
Influential: influence at all levels of the organization, working seamlessly with cross‑functional teams.
Impactful: make actionable recommendations rooted in deep understanding of marketing, business, and consumer.
Owner: think and act like a start‑up, building out functions from scratch without pre‑packaged solutions.
Flexible: adapt to changing priorities and business challenges, managing ambiguity while driving results.
Strong Communicator: showcase strong interpersonal skills through distilled, clean, concise insights that drive empathy and storytelling.
Self‑motivated: handle many workstreams, challenging priorities, and distill actionable plans.
Analytical: see through data to recognize patterns and advise brand actions.
Collaborator: thrive in a fast‑paced entrepreneurial environment.
Coach & People Leader: share knowledge and develop a high‑performing team.
Curiosity & Action: high intellectual curiosity and creative insight, driving actionable, tangible results.
Influence: influence senior levels of the organization and drive focus and impact.
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.
Prior experience as a people leader with a passion for leading teams.
Significant experience in innovation insights, with a strong understanding and leading the path from whitespace identification through ideation and validation.
Thrives in agile ways of working, iterative innovation processes, and collaboration with cross‑functional partners like Marketing, R&D, Supply Chain, Sensory and more.
Proficient in qualitative and quantitative market research techniques; experience using these tools for innovation development strongly preferred.
Experience working with primary and secondary data sources.
Proficient in syndicated research tools (e.g., Nielsen, Circana, Mintel).
Ability to distill insights and drive impact within an organization, putting the consumer at the forefront.
High tolerance for ambiguity, leading change, and inspiring change management.
Excellent storytelling in creative and impactful ways—strong written, oral, and presentation skills (Microsoft Office Suite).
Compensation Base Salary: $159,400.00 – $199,200.00
Bonus: eligible for a performance‑based bonus as provided by the plan terms and governing documents.
Benefits & Wellbeing
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, Well‑being Programs, Family Support Programs
Financial – 401(k), Life, Accidental Death & Dismemberment, Disability
Location Chicago, IL – Aon Center
Equal Opportunity Employer 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.
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