Innovation Manager

Department: Marketing

Reports To: Sr. Manager Product Marketing

Travel Required: Up to 25%

Work Type: Hybrid

Why Join Community Coffee?

At Community Coffee, every cup tells a story. As America’s #1 family-owned and operated retail coffee brand, we blend cherished traditions with innovative thinking to create a dynamic, fast-paced environment that’s as energizing as our coffee. Here, you’ll thrive in a setting that challenges you to grow professionally while making a meaningful impact every day. Join our family and transform your passion for coffee into a rewarding career—where every day is an opportunity to craft exceptional experiences and build lasting connections.

Position Overview

The Innovation Manager is a strategic, results-driven role that will lead the development and launch of exciting new products that delight our consumers and attract new brand lovers. As an individual contributor, this role collaborates closely with Insights, R&D, Brand, Operations, Finance, and Sales teams to build an innovation pipeline aligned with brand, corporate, and financial goals.

Key Responsibilities

• Leverage market research, consumer insights, and industry trends to identify, evaluate, and prioritize innovation opportunities, maintaining a robust 3-year innovation roadmap.
• Facilitate ideation sessions and innovation workshops, exploring new platforms, formats, blends, or flavors.
• Generate compelling concepts with clear value propositions and validate consumer appeal and interest.
• Translate winning concepts into detailed product design briefs and partner with R&D to create prototypes, conduct sensory evaluations, and refine product formulations, utilizing external consultants, ingredient suppliers, and co-manufacturers as needed.
• Oversee consumer testing to validate products, measuring fit with concept, acceptance/liking, and purchase potential.
• Collaborate with Operations, Finance and Insights to prove out technical feasibility, business viability, and alignment with strategic objectives.
• Support the Program Manager in establishing clear innovation timelines, ensuring cross-functional teams meet critical milestones from concept through commercialization.
• Present regular project updates and insights to the executive leadership team.
• Work closely with the Brand team to develop strong product positioning, creative assets, selling stories, and impactful go-to-market strategies.
• Monitor post-launch product performance, making data-driven adjustments based on consumer feedback and market conditions.
• Foster a collaborative culture of innovation, curiosity, and continuous improvement across teams.
• May be asked to perform additional duties as necessary

Position Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university required
• Minimum 3 years of experience in innovation or brand management within consumer-packaged goods (CPG).
• Demonstrated success managing multiple projects simultaneously, with strong leadership skills in cross-functional settings.
• Exceptional analytical abilities, combined with outstanding communication and presentation skills across organizational levels.
• Internal Only: Experience with Community Coffee, even if unrelated, may fulfill this requirement at the discretion of the hiring manager with approval from Human Resources

Preferred Qualifications

• MBA or similar graduate-level degree strongly preferred.
• Experience managing product lifecycles and using stage-gate innovation processes.
• Genuine passion for understanding consumer needs and translating insights into successful products.
• Knowledge of, or strong interest in, the coffee industry and related trends.
• Adaptability in a fast-paced, evolving environment, with a proactive, hands-on approach.

Desired Competencies

• Strategic Thinking
• Results-Oriented
• Interpersonal Agility
• Continuous Improvement
• Consumer and Customer-Centric