Brand Portfolio Manager

Role overview

Community Coffee is hiring a Brand Portfolio Manager to support the shaping and delivery of product, portfolio, and innovation plans for assigned segments. This role works with portfolio leadership to turn brand and portfolio strategy into practical product actions that reflect consumer insight, fit brand standards, and make commercial sense.

In this position, you will collaborate with teams across Brand, Insights, R&D, Sales, Operations, Finance, and Program Management to spot growth opportunities, build and manage the innovation pipeline, and support work from idea development through launch and post-launch improvement. The role calls for strong consumer focus, sharp analytical thinking, ownership of projects, and the ability to move strategy into execution in a fast-moving consumer packaged goods environment.

Key responsibilities

• Use market research, consumer feedback, category data, and industry trends to find, assess, and rank innovation opportunities for assigned product areas.
• Maintain a 3-year view of innovation and product planning that supports portfolio direction, brand priorities, and segment growth goals.
• Run ideation sessions and innovation workshops to explore new platforms, product formats, blends, flavors, packaging ideas, and extensions.
• Create product concepts with clear consumer benefits and help validate them through qualitative and quantitative research.
• Turn approved ideas into detailed product briefs, then work with R&D on prototypes, sensory evaluation, and formulation refinement.
• Bring in external consultants, suppliers, and co-manufacturers when needed to support exploration, feasibility, and development work.
• Lead or assist with consumer testing to confirm concept fit, overall appeal, purchase intent, and opportunities to improve the offering.
• Make sure innovation work aligns with portfolio structure, brand guardrails, segment priorities, and business objectives.
• Support positioning, naming, claims, and product storytelling so ideas stay consumer-relevant, differentiated, and appropriate for the brand.
• Identify opportunities for innovation, renovation, line extensions, and rationalization that improve segment growth and portfolio health.
• Work with Brand and other functions to keep packaging, claims, messaging, and market execution consistent and commercially ready.
• Monitor assigned segments for gaps, risks, competitive moves, and opportunities to strengthen the portfolio.
• Own assigned products or platforms from concept through commercialization, ensuring alignment across consumer needs, technical feasibility, financial targets, and brand strategy.
• Partner with Operations, Finance, R&D, and Insights to evaluate feasibility, cost targets, margin expectations, scalability, and operational readiness.
• Support Program Management with stage-gate milestones, timing, decisions, and cross-functional execution.
• Work with Sales and Marketing on launch readiness, including selling stories, launch assets, customer presentations, and internal communications.
• Track project status, flag risks or obstacles, and help resolve issues with cross-functional partners in a timely way.
• Ensure product decisions are based on consumer insights, business performance, and portfolio strategy.
• Monitor post-launch performance, consumer feedback, customer response, and market trends to judge product effectiveness.
• Recommend data-backed changes to formulation, packaging, positioning, pricing, claims, or portfolio approach when needed.
• Support lifecycle management, including line extensions, renovations, discontinuations, and broader portfolio optimization.
• Provide leadership with regular updates and insights on innovation progress, portfolio alignment, commercialization status, and product performance.
• Encourage a team culture centered on innovation, curiosity, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• A bachelor’s degree is required.
• At least 5 years of experience in innovation or brand management within consumer packaged goods.
• Demonstrated ability to lead projects in cross-functional settings.
• Strong skills in analysis, communication, and presentations.
• Experience working with stage-gate processes and product lifecycle management.
• Interest in, or exposure to, the coffee industry is considered a plus.
• Ability to understand consumer needs and turn insights into successful products.
• For internal candidates, prior experience with Community Coffee in any capacity may satisfy the experience requirement at the hiring manager’s discretion, with Human Resources approval.
• Candidates should ensure their browser is updated to the newest version, as older versions have caused application submission issues.

Physical demands and work environment

• The role involves tasting and evaluating product prototypes and competitive products on a frequent basis.
• Sitting is required frequently.
• Standing, walking, using hands to handle or feel objects/tools/controls, reaching with hands and arms, and speaking or hearing are required occasionally.
• The job regularly requires lifting and/or moving items up to 25 pounds.
• Required vision abilities include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• Reasonable accommodation may be provided to support individuals with disabilities in performing essential job functions.

Work details

This is a hybrid role based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Travel may be required up to 25% of the time. The position sits within the Marketing department.

Benefits and culture

Community Coffee describes itself as America’s leading family-owned and operated retail coffee brand, combining tradition with innovation in a fast-paced environment. The company offers a competitive salary and benefits package that includes health, dental, vision, life insurance, 401(k), short- and long-term disability coverage, paid time off, and an employee assistance program.

Core values highlighted for the organization include Champion People, Inspire Creativity, Wow Our Customers, Serve Our Communities, and Win Together.

Equal opportunity and application note

The company provides equal employment opportunities regardless of protected characteristics under federal or state law and will offer reasonable accommodations for the hiring process and job performance when required by law. This application is considered active for 60 days only; if you remain interested after that period, you must submit a new application.