Location: Mississauga
Role Overview
The Marketing Manager, Innovation is a dynamic and strategic leader responsible for driving the innovation agenda across Hershey Canada’s brand portfolio. This role is central to identifying and unlocking growth opportunities through consumer-centric innovation, from insight to commercialization. The ideal candidate brings a blend of creative thinking, business acumen, project and people leadership to build a robust innovation pipeline that delivers both short-term wins and long-term brand equity.
This individual will lead the development of the Canadian innovation strategy, leveraging deep consumer insights, market trends, and competitive intelligence to shape breakthrough ideas and new product concepts. They will guide cross-functional teams through the innovation process—from ideation and business case development to launch planning and post-launch tracking—ensuring alignment with strategic priorities and operational feasibility.
Key Accountabilities
Lead and develop the Canadian innovation strategy, ensuring a sustainable pipeline delivering short-term growth and positioning Hershey’s for the future
Monitor and understand consumer behavior, trends, and the competitive landscape
Leading consumer needs and business opportunity mapping
Leading business case development from ideation to launch
Leading a team of 4 direct reports with excellence
Drive leadership decision and gate process for innovation
Develop robust launch strategies and execution plans
Track innovation performance
Elevate Hershey’s innovation capabilities via thought leadership and training
Maintain strong connectivity with cross-functional teams, international teams, and senior management
Lead strategic project-based work with customers to grow the category profitably and demonstrate thought leadership internally and externally
Select, coach, and develop direct reports
Provide leadership in executing annual performance management and compensation processes
Education
MBA or Bachelor of Commerce with Marketing major preferred
Professional Experience
5-7 years CPG experience. Innovation experience strongly preferred
Experience with innovation and marketing essentials, including brand reviews, brand plans, Integrated Marketing Communications process, and formula/packaging development
Experience managing innovation from ground up: insight to idea, commercialization, and in-market launch
Skills & Competencies
Solid foundational marketing training in top-tier CPG (innovation experience preferred but not required)
Strong leadership skills to guide cross-functional teams
Ability to think creatively to develop breakthrough ideas, approaches, and strategies
Dynamic, high energy, curious, and resilient
Expertise in project management
Results- and solutions-oriented with proven problem solve analytical abilities
Proficient in project management and team leadership
Demonstrated ability to collaborate with cross-functional departments including Sales, Category Management, Finance, Operations, Research & Development, and Consumer Insights & Research
Significant exposure to and engagement with senior management
Experience managing a team of 2+ direct reports
