Marketing Manager Innovation - Mississauga

Location: Mississauga

Work Setup: Hybrid (3 days in the office, 2 days at home)

The Hershey Company

Your career. Your ownership. Together, we’ll make more Moments of Goodness.

Hershey employees get to make real, impactful changes daily. We are looking for thinkers, leaders and challengers – people who initiate and make a true impact. Here at Hershey Canada, we strike the perfect balance between autonomy and support. Our managers are equipped to foster your career aspirations and empower your growth. With resources like e-learning, coaching, cross-functional projects, your personal and professional growth is paramount to the team. Hershey’s people-focused mindset is what makes our culture so sweet.

Major Canada brands include OH HENRY! HERSHEY’S KISSES, BROOKSIDE, POT OF GOLD, JOLLY RANCHER, REESE’S, TWIZZLERS, HERSHEY’S, SKOR, CHIPITS and ICEBREAKERS.

Hershey Canada is proud of our position as Forbes Canada’s Top Employer. We’ve been recognized as a Greater Toronto Top Employer’s for the 5th consecutive year. We’ve also been named as a Great Place to Work for 2024 - 2025!

At The Hershey Company, we're committed to making a difference in the communities where we live, work and do business. This commitment dates from the earliest years of our company and is a vital part both of our heritage and of who we are today.

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 Responsibilities:

• • 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