Sr. Brand Manager, Innovation
Description
Location - Remote or On-Site
Salary - 159K - 179K
About Nordic Naturals
At Nordic Naturals, we take pride in crafting foundational nutrients to help people all over the world live healthy lives. Our mission is to give people, pets, and families the highest-quality nutrients possible to be well and support optimal health. This seemingly simple mission of global health relies on a dedicated team of motivated employees who share our passion for nutrition and wellness. Join us and discover how rewarding it can be to make a living while contributing to a truly great cause.
Position Summary
The Senior Manager of Brand Management, Innovation owns the commercialization highway and 36-month growth expansion pipeline for Nordic Naturals. Reporting to the Director of Innovation & Insights, this role serves as the commercial lead for translating consumer insights, white-space market opportunities, and breakthrough technology platforms into scalable, market-ready products.
This Sr. Brand Manager, Innovation role manages early-stage product development through concept testing, stage-gate governance, product-market fit validation, and initial commercial launch across omni-channel environments (Retail, DTC, Amazon, Practitioner). The Senior Manager supervises Associate Brand Manager(s) and partners cross-functionally with R&D/Product Development, Consumer Insights, Operations/Co-Man, Regulatory, and Sales to build differentiated, consumer-first platforms that expand the brand beyond core categories.
Essential Functions & Core Responsibilities
- Innovation Strategy & Pipeline Commercialization: Lead the commercial development of Nordic Naturals’ 36-month innovation pipeline, converting consumer insights and macro wellness trends into scalable brand extensions and multi-platform launches.
- Stage-Gate Process Governance: Serve as the brand lead through the cross-functional stage-gate innovation process, owning gate submission readiness, business case development, financial hurdles, pricing strategy, and launch timelines in partnership with the Innovation PMO.
- Product Positioning & Concept Testing: Develop compelling product concepts, consumer-facing value propositions, claims strategy, and packaging briefs; partner with Consumer Insights to execute quantitative/qualitative concept testing, volumetric modeling, and pricing studies.
- Cross-Functional Project Leadership: Partner closely with Product Development/R&D, Co-Manufacturing, Operations, Regulatory, and Sales to take concepts from benchtop prototyping to commercial scale and shelf placement.
- Omni-Channel Go-To-Market Execution: Partner with DTC, Retail, Amazon, and Sales teams to build distinct channel-launch strategies, trial-driving support playbooks, product packaging architecture, and sales enablement tools.
- Rapid In-Market Testing & Post-Launch Loops: Design and execute rapid A/B in-market pilots (DTC/eComm) to validate concepts prior to mass retail rollout; conduct post-launch learning loops to refine product formulations, messaging, and future pipeline releases.
- Budget & P&L Management: Manage project innovation budgets, deliver gross margin targets, and perform margin analysis on pipeline concepts.
- Compliance & Regulatory Alignment: Ensure all product concepts, messaging, and ingredient claims comply with FDA and FTC dietary supplement regulations.
- Team Leadership & Development: Direct and supervise Associate Brand Manager(s), managing project workloads, skill-building, and career growth within the Innovation team.
Position Qualifications
- Experience: 6–9+ years of experience in Brand Management, Product Marketing, or Innovation within CPG, dietary supplements, wellness, or food & beverage.
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business, or related field required; MBA preferred.
- Stage-Gate Expertise: Proven track record of managing products through a formal stage-gate commercialization process from ideation through launch.
- Analytical Skills: Advanced proficiency in Excel, PowerPoint, and syndicated POS data analysis (SPINS, IRI, Nielsen).
- Omni-Channel Acumen: Deep understanding of product requirements across Mass/Grocery, Specialty/Natural, Amazon, and Direct-to-Consumer channels.
Competency Statements
- Create Vision & Strategic Intent: Translates innovation goals into clear pipelines, connecting multi-year category roadmaps to long-term business growth.
- Demonstrate Business Acumen: Evaluates financial hurdles, project COGS, retail margin expectations, and market trends to deliver profitable launches.
- Use Intellect & Critical Thinking: Distills complex market data and scientific ingredients into intuitive, consumer-first product propositions.
- Collaboration & Cross-Functional Alignment: Fosters seamless handoffs between Insights, R&D, Operations, Sales, and Brand Marketing.
- Be Solution Driven: Proactively overcomes stage-gate bottlenecks, supply chain constraints, or formula hurdles to maintain pipeline velocity.
- Coach, Develop, Mentor and Provide Feedback: Invests in direct report development, creating a collaborative, high-performing innovation unit.
Benefits
Eligible employees may be offered a comprehensive benefits package, which may include medical, dental, vision, retirement benefits, paid time off, paid holidays, and other company-sponsored programs. Eligibility and offerings are subject to applicable plan documents and employment status.
Physical Demands – Manufacturing
This position operates on an active plant floor, requiring candidates to remain stationary or move throughout the facility for shifts up to 8–10 hours. Essential duties involve positioning self to operate tools, using fine motor dexterity to adjust components, and lifting or transferring materials weighing 10-50 pounds depending on the position. Work is performed in a manufacturing environment requiring strict compliance with mandatory safety protocols and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
California Applicants
The compensation range above applies to work performed in California and represents the employer’s good-faith estimate of the expected salary or hourly wage range for the position.
Equal Employment Opportunity
We are an equal opportunity employer committed to providing a workplace free from discrimination and harassment. We consider qualified applicants without regard to legally protected characteristics under applicable federal, state, or local law.
Reasonable Accommodations Statement
To accomplish this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform, with or without reasonable accommodation, each essential function satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to help enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Skills
As published by greenhouse · 9 questions
Basics
First Name, Last Name, Preferred First Name, Email, Phone, Resume/CV, Cover Letter, Location
Short answers (2)
- LinkedIn Profile optional
- How did you hear about this position?
Pick from a list (7)
- Will you be able to provide proof of your identity and employment eligibility if you are hired?
- Will you now or in the future require sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g., H-1B visa status)?
- I hereby authorize Nordic Naturals, to thoroughly investigate my references, work record, education and other matters related to my suitability for employment and, further, authorize the references I have listed to disclose to the company any and all letters, reports and other information related to my work records, without giving me prior notice of such disclosure. In addition, I hereby release the Company, my former employers and all other persons, corporations, partnerships and associations from any and all claims, demands or liabilities arising out of or in any way related to such investigation or disclosure.
- I hereby certify that I have not knowingly withheld any information that might adversely affect my chances for employment and that the answers given by me are true and correct to the best of my knowledge. I further certify that I, the undersigned applicant, have personally completed this application. I understand that any omission or misstatement of material fact on this application or on any document used to secure employment shall be grounds for rejection of this application or for immediate discharge if I am employed, regardless of the time elapsed before discovery.
- I understand that nothing contained in the application or conveyed during any interview which may be granted or during my employment, if hired, is intended to create an employment contract between me and the Company. In addition, I understand and agree that if I am employed, my employment is for no definite or determinable period and may be terminated at any time, with or without prior notice, at the option of either myself or the Company and that no promises or representations contrary to the foregoing are binding on the Company unless made in writing and signed by me and the Company’s designated representative.
- Should a search of public records (including records documenting an arrest, indictment, conviction, civil judicial action, tax lien or outstanding judgment) be conducted by internal personnel employed by the Company. I am entitled to copies of any such public records obtained by the Company unless I indicate waiver below. If I am not hired as a result of such information, I am entitled to a copy of any such records even though I have waived below.
- I waive receipt of a copy of any public record described in the paragraph above.