Vice President Innovation

Vice President InnovationKinder's Premium Quality Seasonings & Sauces Walnut Creek, CABUILT ON FLAVOR. FUELED BY PEOPLE.What's it like to work at Kinder's? Well, there's a lot of snacking and geeking out over what we all cooked over the weekend. Beyond that, there's also plenty of hard work. Because we don't just like flavor, we're obsessed with it.With over 100 products sold nationwide, we're now a top-five brand in multiple flavor categories at Costco, Walmart, Whole Foods, and more.

We're not your typical CPG company. Privately held and founder-led, we like to think of ourselves as a pirate ship in a sea of cruise ships. Our crew is adventurous and fearless. We chart our own course and chase big ideas to make food unforgettable.As we expand globally and approach $1 billion in revenue, we need more smart-and-scrappy, flavor-obsessed people to come aboard. If you're looking for a place where you can see the real impact of your work...

this is it! Every day, you'll be part of a journey to add flavor to millions of meals and lives.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. This leader will play a critical role in shaping the future growth of the company by identifying new opportunities for flavor innovation and driving the development of capabilities required to successfully bring them to market.This role owns development of the strategic innovation portfolio, including the evaluation, prioritization, and advancement of opportunities through the pipeline, building the roadmap for new platforms and categories, and leading the Innovation team to ensure early-stage concepts best meet consumer needs and have strong technical and commercial pathways to scale.The VP of Innovation will work closely with cross-functional partners including Strategy, Consumer Insights, Culinary, R&D, Commercialization, Operations, and Creative (among others) to translate emerging ideas into viable opportunities and ensure strong alignment from concept through commercialization. This role is also responsible for upholding a high bar for innovation, ensuring new platforms meet Kinder's high quality standards and deliver exceptional consumer experiences.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.Key Responsibilities:Innovation Strategy & Pipeline OwnershipDrive the innovation pipeline, including long-term opportunity identification, portfolio strategy, and near- and mid-term prioritization of innovation initiativesGuide 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'sTranslate consumer insights and market signals into clear innovation strategies and priority platforms supported by our ability to achieve strong differentiation and exceptional consumer flavor experiencesDevelop innovation roadmaps that thoughtfully sequence development based on strategic fit, technical capabilities, category growth opportunities, consumer expectations, and retailer needsBuild "Kinder's friendly" processes and best practices that allow Kinder's to consistently generate, evaluate, prioritize, and scale new ideasPlatform & Category ExpansionWork with cross-functional partners to identify technical, operational, and organizational capabilities required to successfully enter and scale new platformsEnsure 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 involvedQuickly identify and escalate key risks or roadblocks to maintain quality with speed and ensure successful commercializationOversee the Innovation Team's role as interim Brand Managers for new platforms and categories, driving concepts from early development through launch and stabilization before transition to BrandFacilitate strong collaboration between Innovation and Brand to ensure successful transfer of ownership when platforms are ready for transitionGuide collaboration between Innovation and technical partners to ensure clear articulation of flavor targets, product claims, and refinements for new concept development informed by consumer insightsProduct Experience InnovationDrive the Innovation team to identify opportunities where packaging, format, or product configuration could unlock new usage occasions or enhance consumer experienceCross-Functional Leadership & CulturePartner with cross-functional partners (e.g., Strategy, Sales, R&D) to ensure innovation priorities are aligned with consumer brand permission, operational capabilities, and commercial goalsWork closely with Portfolio Management to define pre-commercialization viability, support launch readiness, and meet timelines once in flightClearly communicate and drive alignment around innovation strategy, priorities, progress, and risks with senior leadership and key internal partnersFoster a culture of curiosity, experimentation, and disciplined risk-taking within the Innovation organizationMentor and develop individual Innovation team members while encouraging cross-functional learning and collaborationChampion Kinder's mission to deliver exceptional flavor innovation to consumersWhat You Bring To The Table:12+ years of experience in innovation, product development, or category strategy within food & beverage or adjacent consumer industriesDemonstrated ability to build and manage innovation portfolios and product platform roadmapsExperience 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 scaleStrong communication and organizational leadership skills with the ability to align cross-functional internal teams and external partners around complex innovation initiativesDeep understanding of consumer insights, product development processes, and commercialization dynamicsExperience working in fast-paced, entrepreneurial environments where teams must move quickly and make decisions with incomplete informationPersonal Characteristics:Strategic thinker with a passion for identifying white-space opportunities and breakthrough product platformsHighly collaborative leader who thrives in cross-functional environments and builds strong partnerships across technical, commercial, and brand teamsSelf-starter who takes initiative and is willing to challenge conventional thinkingComfortable working in ambiguity and making decisions with imperfect informationGrowth mindset with curiosity and excitement for learningPassionate about developing people, with a demonstrated ability to mentor, coach, and grow team members into stronger leaders while building a high-performing, collaborative cultureLow ego with a strong sense of humilityPassionate about building flavor experiences that delight consumers and push flavor innovation forwardLocation and Travel: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.Pay Transparency: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.Seasoned For Success:No two days here are the sameWe try to be good team members and good communicators, but we don't live by hierarchy and structure – everyone is a difference maker hereWe make a lot of decisions in the face of incomplete information – our team embraces ambiguity and tries to make good decisions fast rather than great decisions slowWe believe our job is to take smart risk, not to eliminate riskWe believe in growing our skills and becoming a better company with more managerial expertise, but we are an entrepreneurial company at heartWe aren't trying to be average – we want to do exceptional things, and we are willing to work hard to achieve themBenefits That Bring More To The Table: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.Our Recipe For Balance:We believe great culture starts with people. We're a people-first company