Sr. Director, Consumer Insights & Innovation

Hungry for a career that’s as rewarding as it is delicious? 

At Aspire Bakeries, we don’t just bake breads, cookies, and cakes - we create foods that bring people together. From La Brea Bakery® artisan breads to Otis Spunkmeyer® cookies, our products are enjoyed by millions of people every day. And behind every bite are talented manufacturing and support teams who take pride in their work and our food. 

We’re looking for hard-working people who will bring integrity, creativity, and a passion for excellence to everything they do - whether that’s on the bakery floor, in the office, or supporting customers. In return, we offer a workplace culture built on care, ownership, and growth - where your contributions matter and your career can rise as high as our bread loaves! 

With 13 commercial bakeries across North America and a reputation as an industry leader, Aspire Bakeries is rising together with our people and our customers to be the best all-around bakery solution. If you’re ready to grow with us, we’d love to hear from you.

We are seeking a Senior Director, Consumer Insights & Innovation to join our team in Los Angeles. In this role, you will shape the future of our baked goods and snacking portfolio by transforming deep consumer understanding, advanced analytics, and trend forecasting into strategies that accelerate growth. You will modernize our innovation pipeline - leveraging AI‑enabled insight generation and partner closely with R&D and Marketing to deliver breakthrough products that delight consumers and strengthen our category leadership. 

Core Accountabilities (What You’ll Be Doing) 

• Lead the enterprise insight strategy, embedding a consumer‑first mindset across brands and business units. 

• Translate syndicated, custom, and AI‑driven data into actionable narratives that shape brand strategy and in‑market performance. 

• Build and evolve a 3+ year innovation pipeline in partnership with R&D, identifying whitespace and future growth platforms. 

• Monitor global food, ingredient, packaging, and cultural trends to anticipate emerging consumer needs and disruptive opportunities. 

• Champion modern research methodologies, including AI‑enabled tools and advanced analytics, to accelerate insight generation. 

• Influence senior leadership with objective, insight‑led recommendations that guide portfolio and investment decisions. 

• Lead, mentor, and develop a high‑performing insights team that thrives on curiosity, accountability, and continuous learning. 

Minimum Qualifications (What You Bring to the Table) 

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business, Consumer Insights, Data Analytics, or related field. 

• 12+ years of experience in consumer insights, innovation strategy, or related functions within CPG or adjacent industries. 

• Expertise in quantitative and qualitative research methods, including advanced analytics and social listening. 

• Proven ability to influence cross‑functional teams and senior leaders in a matrixed environment. 

• Experience partnering with R&D or product development teams to shape innovation pipelines. 

• Strong storytelling skills with the ability to translate complex data into clear, compelling insights. 

• Ability to thrive in ambiguity and drive clarity in fast‑moving environments. 

Preferred Qualifications (Extra Ingredients for Success) 

• Experience in baked goods, snacking, or broader food and beverage categories. 

• Familiarity with AI‑driven research platforms and emerging insight technologies. 

• Background in trend forecasting or cultural insights. 

• Leadership experience managing multi‑disciplinary insights teams. 

• Master’s degree in a related field. 

Aspire Bakeries is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic. We do not use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to screen, assess, or select applicants.