Associate Director - Innovation (Multiple Positions)

Location: Chicago/Aon Center, Chicago, IL

New hire base salary: $164,200–$205,200 per year, plus eligibility for a performance-based bonus.

Company

hirify.global is a global food company focused on branded consumer products and innovation-led growth.

What you will do

• Develop and maintain a multi-year, consumer-led innovation strategy aligned with business priorities.
• Lead cross-functional teams from early concepts through commercialization, launch, and scale.
• Own the stage-gate process and communicate opportunities, trade-offs, and recommendations to senior leadership.
• Manage agency partners supporting innovation development, design, and consumer validation.
• Use syndicated data, performance tracking, and competitive analysis to evaluate innovation effectiveness.
• Shape portfolio and innovation architecture decisions while articulating strategy, insights, and vision to senior and executive stakeholders.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required; an MBA with a marketing emphasis is a plus.
• 9+ years of relevant experience, including at least 5 years in innovation marketing, brand management, or product management.
• Experience setting strategic direction and mobilizing cross-functional teams toward shared goals.
• Strong innovation leadership and end-to-end commercialization experience.
• Advanced analytical skills, including synthesizing data into clear insights and compelling stories.
• Strong business acumen, P&L understanding, and confidence influencing senior and executive-level stakeholders.

Culture & Benefits

• Full-time employment with healthcare, prescription drug, dental, and vision coverage.
• Paid time off, company holidays, leave programs, and flexible work arrangements.
• Retirement savings support through a 401(k), plus life, disability, and accidental death and dismemberment coverage.
• Employee assistance, family support, wellbeing programs, training, and learning opportunities.
• Performance-based bonus eligibility and benefits designed to support employees and their families.