Senior Manager/Director of Innovation, Beverage

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in California.

📋 Description

• Collaborate with Retail leadership and Sales to uncover opportunities, address customer needs, and identify white space.

• Utilize consumer insights, market data, and trends to refine product strategy.

• Take ownership of product-level P&Ls, focusing on cost targets, margin expectations, and pricing guidelines based on prevailing market conditions.

• Ensure that all innovations are aligned with financial, operational, and customer criteria.

• Manage a 3-year innovation roadmap and a longer-term (5–7 year) opportunity outlook.

• Develop and expand the innovation function progressively.

• Collaborate with third-party formulators and development partners.

• Oversee the development and management of product P&Ls, incorporating cross-functional insights from Operations, Supply Chain, and Finance.

• Define product and packaging specification needs in conjunction with Operations.

• Assess formulations based on cost, quality, scalability, and sensory benchmarks.

• Manage and optimize the innovation portfolio and stage-gate process.

• Create detailed project plans, timelines, and dependencies across both internal and external teams.

• Promote cross-functional alignment and accountability.

• Lead ongoing enhancements of the stage-gate process to improve speed, visibility, and execution.

• Oversee the complete development of innovation projects from concept to commercialization and full-scale production.

• Collaborate with Operations and Supply Chain to meet manufacturability and cost objectives.

⛳️ Requirements

• A Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Business, Engineering, or a related field (Food Science is preferred but not mandatory).

• For Sr. Manager position: 5 – 8+ years of experience in CPG innovation, product development, commercialization, or technical program management.

• For Director position: 8 – 10+ years of leadership experience in CPG innovation, managing teams and product portfolios.

• Extensive experience in building and managing product P&Ls and cost models.

• Experience collaborating with external formulators, co-manufacturers, or development partners.

• Demonstrated success in launching beverage products from concept to commercialization.

• Proficient in managing innovation pipelines using project management tools (such as Asana or similar platforms).

• Strong understanding of ingredient costs, supply chain, and manufacturing limitations.

• Excellent skills in cross-functional leadership and communication.

🏝️ Benefits

• 11 paid holidays

• 401(K) matching

• Comprehensive health insurance

• Employee Assistance Program

• Life Insurance

• Educational Assistance

• Paid Paternity Leave

• Volunteering Paid Time Off