Job Details

Manager, Product Development & Innovation (CPG)

The Manager of Product Development & Innovation is responsible for leading the execution of product development and R&D initiatives within a dynamic Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) environment. The role oversees the end-to-end development lifecyclefrom concept ideation and formulation through commercialization assuring products are delivered on time, within budget, and in compliance with consumer, customer, regulatory, and quality standards.

This role serves as a key integrator across R&D, Marketing, Sales, Finance, Supply Chain, Quality, Regulatory, and Manufacturing, translating consumer insights and business priorities into scalable, market-ready solutions.

Key Responsibilities

Product Development & R&D Execution

• Lead end-to-end product development activities including formulation, prototyping, validation, scale-up, and commercialization
• Partner with R&D to guide technical feasibility, ingredient selection, product performance, and claims support
• Execute product renovation and optimization initiatives to improve cost, quality, sustainability, and consumer experience
• Ensure compliance with food safety, quality, regulatory, and labeling requirements across markets

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Act as the primary development lead across Marketing, Sales, Supply Chain, Finance, Quality, Regulatory, and Manufacturing
• Translate consumer and customer insights into clear development briefs and technical requirements
• Align development timelines with launch plans, customer commitments, and operational readiness
• Communicate risks, tradeoffs, and progress with clarity and accountability

Commercialization & Scale-Up

• Lead pilot and plant trials to ensure successful scale-up and production readiness
• Partner with Supply Chain and Procurement on sourcing strategies, supplier qualification, and cost optimization
• Support smooth handoff from development into full-scale manufacturing

Budget & Investment Management

• Oversee innovation-related development budgets and resource allocation
• Ensure disciplined investment of R&D and development spend toward highest-impact initiatives
• Partner with Finance to build business cases, validate assumptions, and track financial performance and ROI across projects

Process Discipline & Continuous Improvement

• Manage multiple development programs simultaneously in a fast-paced environment
• Apply standardized development processes, governance, and documentation
• Identify opportunities to improve speed-to-market, predictability, and execution efficiency

In This Role, You Will Bring

• Bachelor's degree required, Food Science, Product Development, R&D, or innovation roles.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with experience supporting growth of new products, platforms, or brands
• Proven ability to work cross-functionally with Marketing, Insights, Sales, Finance, Operations, and Manufacturing.
• Strong strategic thinking paired with hands-on execution and commercialization.
• Consumer-obsessed, with strong intuition for trends, unmet needs, and evolving preferences
• Analytical and data-driven, able to translate insights into clear actions and decisions
• Influential collaborator capable of aligning stakeholders and driving outcomes without direct authority
• Results-driven with a strong sense of ownership, urgency, and accountability
• Comfortable operating in ambiguity and making sound decisions with incomplete information.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, Outlook, and any project management software.

Additional Requirements

• Up to 30% of travel required
• This role is based at the corporate office in Sioux City, IA