Kinder's Premium Quality Seasonings & Sauces

Kinder's Premium Quality Seasonings & Sauces

Vice President, Innovation

Walnut Creek, CA · Exec

Sponsorship not specified$275k-$300kDetected 1 day ago
SparkA/B TestingLeadershipCommunicationCollaboration

About the role

  • The VP of Innovation will be responsible for leading Kinder's innovation team and driving our pipeline across new products, categories, and emerging packaging formats.
  • Once a platform is technically stable and commercially validated, this role will be responsible for ensuring it is effectively transitioned to the Brand team for long-term ownership and continued growth.
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Responsibilities

  • Drive the innovation pipeline, including long-term opportunity identification, portfolio strategy, and near- and mid-term prioritization of innovation initiatives.
  • Guide the Innovation team in identifying consumer, culinary, and market trends to define whitespace opportunities, product platforms, flavor formats, and adjacent categories that can drive future growth for Kinder's.
  • Develop innovation roadmaps that thoughtfully sequence development based on strategic fit, technical capabilities, category growth opportunities, consumer expectations, and retailer needs.
  • Build "Kinder's friendly" processes and best practices that allow Kinder's to consistently generate, evaluate, prioritize, and scale new ideas.
  • Ensure cross-functional engagement in the development of new platforms and categories, defining work to be done, outlining success criteria, and ensuring the right internal partners are involved.
  • Quickly identify and escalate key risks or roadblocks to maintain quality with speed and ensure successful commercialization.
  • Guide collaboration between Innovation and technical partners to ensure clear articulation of flavor targets, product claims, and refinements for new concept development informed by consumer insights.
  • Most of our work happens in the office to spark creativity and community, but we also offer flexibility so team members have the autonomy to work outside the office when needed to support their work-life balance and personal commitments.

Requirements

  • 12+ years of experience in innovation, product development, or category strategy within food & beverage or adjacent consumer industries.
  • Experience identifying and building the capabilities required to enter new product platforms (e.g., technical, operational, commercial).
  • Experience translating cross-functional innovation initiatives from early-concept through commercialization and scale.
  • Experience working in fast-paced, entrepreneurial environments where teams must move quickly and make decisions with incomplete information.
  • Work with cross-functional partners to identify technical, operational, and organizational capabilities required to successfully enter and scale new platforms
  • To The Table:
  • Education/Experience
  • Demonstrated ability to build and manage innovation portfolios and product platform roadmaps.
  • Strong communication and organizational leadership skills with the ability to align cross-functional internal teams and external partners around complex innovation initiatives.
  • Deep understanding of consumer insights, product development processes, and commercialization dynamics.
  • Personal Characteristics
  • Strategic thinker with a passion for identifying white-space opportunities and breakthrough product platforms.
  • Highly collaborative leader who thrives in cross-functional environments and builds strong partnerships across technical, commercial, and brand teams.
  • Self-starter who takes initiative and is willing to challenge conventional thinking.
  • Comfortable working in ambiguity and making decisions with imperfect information

Compensation

  • The expected starting salary range for this role is $275,000-$300,000 per year.
  • We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range based on the location of the role.
  • The amount a particular employee will earn within the salary range will be based on factors such as relevant education, qualifications, performance and business needs.
  • We offer a range of total rewards that may include paid time off, 401k, bonus / incentive eligibility, equity grants, competitive health benefits, and other family-friendly benefits, including parental leave.

Benefits

  • We offer a range of total rewards that may include paid time off, 401k, bonus / incentive eligibility, equity grants, competitive health benefits, and other family-friendly benefits, including parental leave.
  • Kinder's benefits vary based on eligibility and can be reviewed in more detail during the interview process.

Company info

  • The position will be based onsite in Walnut Creek, CA.
  • We strongly believe in the power of culture and community and have a hybrid work structure with 4 days in the office on a weekly basis to encourage collaboration and personal connections that will allow us to better serve our customers and consumer and to have more fun.
  • We aren't trying to be average - we want to do exceptional things, and we are willing to work hard to achieve them.
  • We're a people-first company built on connection, collaboration, and balance.

Visa & Work Authorization

  • applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, gender, citizenship, marital status, religion, age, disability, gender identity, results of genetic testing,
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