Portfolio Manager

Department: Marketing

Reports To: Sr. Manager, Portfolio & Innovation

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 Portfolio Manager is responsible for supporting the development and execution of product and innovation initiatives within assigned product segments. This role works closely with portfolio leadership to translate portfolio and innovation strategies into actionable product plans, and ensures initiatives are grounded in consumer insights, aligned with brand guardrails, and commercially viable.

Working cross-functionally with Brand, Insights, R&D, Sales, Operations, and Finance, the Portfolio Manager identifies growth opportunities, builds and manages a strategic innovation and product pipeline with assigned segments, and executes against key milestones from concept through commercialization and post-launch optimization. This role requires strong consumer empathy, analytical rigor, and the ability to translate strategy into action in a fast-paced CPG environment.

Key Responsibilities

Innovation & Pipeline Development

• Leverage market research, consumer insights, and industry trends to identify, evaluate, and prioritize innovation opportunities, maintaining a forward-looking 3-year innovation and product roadmap for the assigned segment.
• Facilitate ideation sessions and innovation workshops to explore new platforms, formats, blends, flavors, and product extensions.
• Develop compelling product concepts with clear consumer value propositions and validate appeal through qualitative and quantitative research.
• Translate winning concepts into detailed product design briefs; partner with R&D to prototype, conduct sensory testing, and refine formulations—leveraging external consultants, suppliers, and co-manufacturers as needed.
• Lead consumer testing to validate product fit to concept, overall acceptance, and purchase intent.

Product Stewardship & Portfolio Integration

• Ensure innovation and product initiatives align with portfolio architecture, brand guardrails and segment priorities.
• Support development of positioning, naming, claims, and storytelling to ensure product concepts are consumer-relevant, differentiated and brand-appropriate.
• Identify innovation and renovation opportunities to support segment growth objectives
• Ensure assets are aligned, cohesive and commercially ready across packaging, claims, messaging, and in-market execution.

Product Management & Commercialization

• Own assigned products or platforms from concept through commercialization, ensuring alignment across technical feasibility, financial targets, and consumer needs.
• Collaborate with Operations, Finance, and Insights teams to assess feasibility, cost targets, margin expectations, and scalability.
• Partner with the Program Manager to support stage-gate milestones and cross-functional execution.
• Partner with Sales and Marketing to support go-to-market readiness, including selling stories, launch materials, and customer presentations.

Performance Tracking & Optimization

• Track post-launch product performance, consumer feedback, and market trends; recommend data-driven adjustments to formulation, packaging, positioning, or portfolio strategy as needed.
• Support product lifecycle management, including line extensions, renovations, and discontinuations.
• Deliver regular updates and insights to leadership on innovation progress, portfolio alignment, and product performance.
• Promote 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 required.
• 5 years in innovation or brand management within CPG.
• Proven success leading projects in cross-functional environments.
• Strong analytical, communication, and presentation skills.
• Experience with stage-gate processes and product lifecycle management.
• Interest or experience in the coffee industry a plus.
• Genuine passion for understanding consumer needs and translating insights into successful products.
• 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.