Innovation Manager
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Job Location:
San Diego, CA - USA
Monthly Salary:
Not Disclosed
Posted on:
30+ days ago
Vacancies:
1 Vacancy
Department:
Job Summary
The Task at Hand:
Big ideas Youll make them real!
As our Innovation Manager youll partner with the VP of Product to dream up test and launch whats next for JuneShine Brands! From first sip to full-scale production youll keep innovation flowing - creating new products leveling up the classics and experimenting with flavors formats and ingredients. Youll drive fast-moving projects from concept to launch and make sure every drop is top-notch.
Responsible for supporting all JuneShine Brands products (JuneShine Flying Embers Willies Remedy and more!)
Who You Are:
- Energized by a fast-paced team-first environment
- Equal parts creative thinker technical doer
- Experienced in turning napkin ideas into shelf-ready products
- Fluent in cross-team collaboration (Marketing Supply Chain Manufacturing Quality)
- A builder who hits deadlines and raises the bar
What Youll Do:
- Lead the Innovation department and all correlating initiatives
- Collaborate with Supply Chain to execute NPI (New Product Innovation) timelines in accordance with the product roadmap
- Oversee new product development ingredient validation and prototype formulation
- Maintain inventory of raw materials for R&D working with Supply Chain to source new inputs
- Optimize internal R&D lab processes for batching carbonating filling and pasteurizing samples
- Implement tasting panel processes and revise formulas based on feedback
- Evaluate shelf-life performance and provide samples for customer presentations
- Ensure formulations meet quality specifications and COGS (Cost of Goods) expectations
- Lead SKU optimization and reformulation initiatives
- Partner with Quality to scale formulas finalize nutritional panels and establish production specs
- Manage 3rd-party lab relationships for testing and regulatory compliance
Must-Haves:
- Must be 21 years of age or older at the time of application
- Open to tasting alcohol and/or THC products as part of sensory testing yes its part of the job
- 5 years of experience in product development innovation or R&D in the beverage CPG food or THC/psychopharmacology industries
- Hands-on experience with product formulation shelf-life testing and scale-up to commercial production
- Proven success leading cross-functional innovation projects from concept to launch
- Strong knowledge of regulatory compliance nutritional labeling and food safety standards
- Experience managing an R&D lab including equipment calibration and safety protocols
- Travel and schedule flexibility is required (up to 20 days per year)
- JuneShine Brands expanding external manufacturing network may occasionally require unscheduled travel beyond standard expectations to address time-sensitive issues related to external manufacturing 3PL partners distribution or external storage
Nice to Haves:
- Bachelors degree in Food Science Chemistry Biology or related field
- Prior experience in alcoholic beverage kombucha or functional beverage innovation
- Familiarity with carbonation pasteurization and sensory testing processes
- Demonstrated success reducing COGS while maintaining product quality
- Experience managing external manufacturing or 3PL partners
Compensation:
- $110000 - $120000 a year
- The final salary offer will be determined by several factors including years of expertise skills and experience
- Unlimited Paid Time Off
- Healthcare coverage: up to 90% company contribution for employees and 25% for dependents
- Voluntary vision dental and accidental plans
- 401(k) with up to 4% company match
- 12 weeks of paid Equal Parental Leave $500 Baby Bonding Bucks and a sustainable baby gift
- Booch spirit beer and soft good perks
- And more!
Perks Benefits:
Who We Are
Our Purpose: To make quality purpose-driven beverages
Our Business: Our vision is to create the next-generation beverage platform comprising distinct brands each with its own ethos and purpose. Despite being a multi-billion dollar industry it lacks options that cater to the next generation of drinkers who will demand more from their alcohol than a mere buzz. Disrupting this industry is a worthy and massive opportunity.
Our Culture: Our core values are Quality Transparency and Team-First. We derive much of our management policy from a book we give you upon hiring Let My People Go Surfing by Yvon Chouinard (founder owner Patagonia). Our policy is to allow workers flexible hours provided the work gets done with no negative impact on others. Our let my people go surfing policy demands that we hire very unique individuals; those with a combination of self-motivation self-discipline and energy.
JuneShine Brands is a purpose-driven organization composed of a diverse and dynamicgroup of individuals with varied backgrounds passions and beliefs. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where everyones unique perspectives are valued. We seek to hire self-motivated independent thinkers who embrace challenging the status quo. Join us at JuneShine Brands where youre encouraged to bring your authentic self to your craft every day. As a proud equal opportunity employer we are dedicated to ensuring fairness and equity in our hiring practices.
You must reside in the United States to be considered for this position.
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process such as reviewing applications analyzing resumes or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed please contact us.
Required Experience:
Manager
Key Skills
- Restaurant Experience
- Customer Service
- Employee Evaluation
- Management Experience
- Math
- Employment & Labor Law
- Sanitation
- Leadership Experience
- P&L Management
- Mentoring
- Supervising Experience
- Restaurant Management
About Company
JuneShine makes insanely delicious, better-for-you beverages—canned cocktails and hard kombucha. They're sustainably brewed, made with real ingredients, and range from 6-10% ABV. Real. Refreshing.
