Manager, Innovation Insights (Consumer Insights)

Location: Chicago, Illinois, United States

Salary: $113,500–$177,600 per year

Company

Consumer-focused organization developing innovation and portfolio growth opportunities through consumer insights, research, and cross-functional collaboration.

What you will do

• Lead innovation-focused learning plans aligned with business priorities, portfolio strategy, and brand ambitions.
• Design, manage, and synthesize qualitative and quantitative research for concept development, product optimization, packaging, and go-to-market decisions.
• Identify unmet consumer needs, emerging behaviors, cultural trends, and whitespace opportunities for new products, formats, flavors, occasions, and experiences.
• Translate primary research, syndicated data, category trends, and internal learning into clear, story-driven recommendations.
• Partner with Innovation, Brand Marketing, R&D, Strategy, and cross-functional teams on innovation territories, briefs, concepts, and prioritization.
• Manage multiple projects and external research vendors while maintaining quality, timelines, budgets, and business impact.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, business, psychology, sociology, or a related field.
• 6+ years of experience in consumer insights, innovation insights, market research, or strategy.
• Experience with qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, including concept development, innovation screening, product testing, packaging research, and strategic exploration.
• Ability to synthesize diverse information sources into actionable insights and strategic recommendations.
• Strong communication, storytelling, presentation, analytical thinking, and stakeholder-influence skills.
• Proficiency in PowerPoint and Excel; willingness to travel as needed.

Nice to have

• MBA or another advanced degree.
• Client-side insights experience in innovation, brand strategy, or portfolio strategy for iconic brands.
• Experience in beverage alcohol, food and beverage, syndicated data, or trend and cultural intelligence tools.

Culture & Benefits

• Cross-functional collaboration across Innovation, Brand, R&D, Strategy, and marketing teams.
• Opportunity to contribute to research best practices and the thoughtful use of AI-enabled research tools.
• Comprehensive benefits package including paid time off, medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• 401(k) and additional benefits for eligible employees.