Group Innovation Manager

Job Description

At Hamilton Beach Brands, Inc., a leading designer, marketer and distributor of small household and commercial appliances, our culture is one of hard work, ethical behavior, and teamwork. We roll up our sleeves and work hard to create products that have been pleasing customers for over 100 years. We offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits package which includes health, dental and vision insurances, HSA contributions, Profit Sharing, and a 401(k) plan with vested contributions beginning Day One. We provide paid vacation and holidays, summer hours and a paid charitable day off. To offset the cost of staying fit we offer a quarterly subsidy, and you can purchase our products at a discounted cost. We have a casual dress code, flexible hours, and development opportunities. These are just a few of the advantages of working for this dynamic company.

We are seeking qualified candidates for a Group Innovation Manager at our Corporate Headquarters located in Glen Allen, VA. The Group Innovation Manager leads the strategic execution of the innovation pipeline, ensuring alignment between project objectives and corporate goals. This role manages a team of Innovation Project Leads and Engineers, driving process improvement, removing roadblocks, and delivering measurable results. The Group Innovation Manager is also responsible for tracking and reporting KPIs and will play an integral part in Executive and on-site board meetings focused on innovation. This position is hybrid, on-site 3 days per week.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Industrial Design, Marketing, Innovation, or a related field.
• 12+ years of experience in the consumer packaged or durable goods industry.
• Strategic mindset with ability to manage multiple projects and stakeholders.
• Strong cross-functional leadership and project management experience with ability to influence across all levels of an organization.
• Skilled in innovation strategy, portfolio planning, and governance including deep expertise in front-end innovation frameworks (e.g., Design Thinking, Agile).
• Data fluency with ability to define and track early-stage innovation KPIs.
• Comfortable navigating ambiguity, experimentation, and iterative development.
• Passionate about driving change and continuous improvement.
• Exceptional creativity, intellectual curiosity, and disruptive thinking with an entrepreneurial, curious, hands-on and solutions-oriented mindset.
• Empathic listener with strong consumer insight orientation.
• Outstanding presentation, storytelling, and stakeholder alignment skills.
• Genuine passion for cooking, baking, beverage making, cleaning, and home goods.

Preferred Qualification:

• MBA preferred
• Black Belt certified by Eureka Ranch or equivalent innovation certification.
• Consumer research and consumer interview facilitation experience
• Intellectual Property claims review, development, and filing experience

Our employees enjoy working in a tobacco-free and drug-free environment. We do not consider candidates who use tobacco products. Hamilton Beach Brands, Inc. is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. Our company uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.E-Verify.gov.

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