• Senior Associate Brand Manager - Innovation

    Wells Enterprises (Chicago, IL)


    The Senior Associate Brand Manager, Innovation plays a key role in identifying growth opportunities, developing new product ideas, and executing innovation initiatives from concept to shelf. This role needs someone who is passionate about consumer insights, category trends, and building compelling brand experiences. Partners cross-functionally with R&D, Insights, Sales, Finance, and Supply Chain to deliver breakthrough innovation that meets consumer needs and drives business impact.

    Responsibilities Include:

    + Lead key innovation projects from concept development through commercialization, including business case development, product positioning, and launch strategy

    + Partner with Consumer Insights and Category teams to identify emerging trends, unmet needs, and whitespace opportunities

    + Translate consumer, category, and competitive insights into product concepts with strong brand fit and commercial potential

    + Collaborate with cross-functional partners (R&D, Sales, Finance, Supply Chain) to drive timely and efficient project execution

    + Build and manage project timelines, budgets, and internal approval processes

    + Support annual strategic planning and innovation pipeline development

    + Monitor in-market performance of new launches and recommend optimizations

    + Present innovation strategies and project updates to senior leadership and key stakeholders

    + P&L Management: Demonstrate comfort and fluency with managing a full brand P&L, including understanding key financial levers (e.g., pricing, trade, COGS, advertising) to drive brand profitability and growth.

    + Data Analysis & Insights: Leverage syndicated data sources such as Nielsen, IRI, and other retail measurement tools to analyze category and competitive trends, identify growth opportunities, and inform innovation strategy

     

    Wells Enterprises, Inc. is the largest privately held ice cream manufacturer in the United States. Founded in 1913 by Fred H. Wells and run by the Wells family for generations, the company is an independent operating company of the Ferrero Group, one of the global leaders in sweet, packaged foods.

     

    Wells produces more than 200 million gallons of ice cream per year and distributes products in all 50 states. Wells manufactures its signature brand Blue Bunny®, lower-calorie Halo Top®, the iconic Bomb Pop®, and Blue Ribbon Classics®.

     

    Wells employs nearly 4,000 ice cream aficionados across the country. The company is headquartered in Le Mars, Iowa, where Wells has made Le Mars the “Ice Cream Capital of the World” as the largest manufacturer of ice cream in one location. Wells operates two manufacturing plants in Le Mars, Iowa, a manufacturing plant in Dunkirk, New York, and a manufacturing facility in Henderson, Nevada. Learn more at www.wellsenterprisesinc.com .

     

    What We Offer

     

    At Wells, we’re proud to support our employees with comprehensive benefits that enhance health, financial wellness, and include paid time off (PTO). Eligible employees may also receive an annual incentive bonus based on Company performance. Learn more about our benefits here (https://wellsenterprisesinc.com/news/benefits) .

     

    **Requisition ID** : 2208580