Innovation Manager

OLLY • San Francisco, CA

24d • $120,000 - $158,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

Reporting to the Director of Innovation of VMS, you will have the opportunity in supporting shape the VMS-Co-Op pipeline. As an Innovation Manager, you will play a critical role in leading and supporting the development of new products across the OLLY and SmartyPants brands. This role requires a strong technical foundation in dietary supplements, a passion for innovation, and the ability to drive projects from the exploratory phase through early-stage development with minimal oversight. You excel at hands-on work in a development kitchen setting with little to no oversight and think in disruptive ways to solve problems. You work in a fast-paced and agile manner to ensure efficiency and accuracy.

Requirements

• 5+ years of R&D experience in dietary supplements, food or pharma industry. Gummy and other confectionary experience strongly preferred
• Bachelor's degree in food science, Chemistry, or related science field
• Familiarity with FDA guidelines for dietary supplementation and regulatory processes
• Familiarity with commercialization process of CPG and Pharma products with focus on gummies, capsules, probiotic formulations and confectionary goods
• Comfortable working with kitchen tools and supplies and preparing confectionary, solid and/or non-solid dosage formats
• Familiarity with lab equipment (pH meter, Brix Meter, analytical balance, etc.)
• Proficient in Microsoft Office
• Ability to perform medium physical work, stand for extended periods of time, and lift up to 50lbs occasionally
• Working knowledge of vitamins and dietary supplement formulation, assessing stability data and risks, regulatory standings, and assessing clinical studies
• Ability to execute daily routines and tasks with little to no physical supervision
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment with condensed timelines to deliver innovation quickly to meet consumer demands
• An individual with a strong sense of determination, critical thinker as well as having a creative lens to solve problems in non-traditional ways
• An individual who is can be “Tactfully Transparent” to raise concerns and early findings to help learn from mistakes
• Not afraid to “Grab A Paddle” and help out!

Responsibilities

• Formulation & Benchtop Development
• Partner with Sourcing and Science teams to identify, evaluate, and select novel ingredients for new product initiatives.
• Review and assess raw material documentation during ingredient exploration to ensure compliance and suitability.
• Conduct benchtop evaluation of raw materials to assess organoleptic properties and identify potential formulation challenges.
• Independently draft paper formula cards across various formats, including established (e.g., gummies) and emerging dosage formats.
• Perform early-stage cost modeling to assess formulation cost viability to determine target cost-of-goods to align with financial assumptions.
• Execute benchtop formulations and generate prototypes for internal evaluation.
• Document technical findings and formulation learnings in detailed reports to support seamless handoffs to the Development team.
• Project Management & Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Lead early-phase new product development (NPD) workstreams, ensuring alignment with project timelines, milestones, and strategic objectives.
• Collaborate closely with Brand, Creative, Science, and Development teams to translate technical insights into data-driven decisions shaping the product concept.
• Support or lead the exploration and development of new product formats and technologies.
• Professionally engage with external partners—including development agencies, flavor houses, contract manufacturers and ingredient suppliers—to support NPD efforts and ensure technical alignment.
• Sensory & Innovation Insights
• Conduct and document sensory evaluations (taste, texture, aroma) with cross-functional stakeholders, maintaining organized records of feedback and data.
• Monitor and report on emerging ingredient, flavor, and format trends to inform pipeline innovation.
• Operational Excellence
• Maintain accurate and compliant records, including formula cards and lab notebooks, in accordance with Good Documentation Practices (GDP).
• Manage inventory of R&D ingredients, lab supplies, and prototype samples.
• Oversee the organization and cleanliness of the Product Development kitchen and storage areas.
• Coordinate sample shipments to internal and external stakeholders.

Benefits

• An opportunity to work with an intelligent, inspiring, and extraordinarily fun team
• 100% employer-paid medical coverage for employee only, dental + ortho, and vision insurance
• 4 weeks PTO + paid holidays + 12 Mental Health Days per year
• 100% Paid parental leave, Fertility + Adoption Benefits
• Annual Bonus
• 401(k) plan with Employer Match
• Hybrid Work + Wellness + Cell Phone Stipends
• Free product
• And much more!

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Number of Employees: 101-250 employees