Senior Manager of New Product Development

The Wine Group•Acampo, CA

1d•$128,000 - $192,000

About The Position

This role leads the development and commercialization of new beverage concepts from ideation through launch. It requires a blend of technical expertise, creativity, and hands‑on execution. Responsibilities include managing daily development activities—such as lab work, ingredient sourcing, and prototyping—while driving project timelines, innovation priorities, and cross‑functional alignment. The ideal candidate is organized, curious, and comfortable balancing strategic planning with practical, on‑the‑groundwork in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

Requirements

MS in Food Science, Chemistry, or related field with 2–4 years of beverage product development experience; or
BS in Food Science, Chemistry, or related field with 4–6 years of beverage product development experience.
Strong understanding of food chemistry and ingredient functionality.
Demonstrated ability to independently manage projects and meet deadlines.
Excellent communication and cross‑functional collaboration skills.
Strong problem‑solving orientation and commitment to continuous improvement.
Experience leading innovation or product development projects from concept through launch.

Responsibilities

Partner with Marketing and internal teams to identify and execute innovation opportunities.
Lead recipe development, reformulation, and rapid prototyping in compliance with food safety, quality, and regulatory standards.
Develop products across alcoholic and non‑alcoholic categories, considering cost targets and production capabilities.
Coordinate New Product Development meetings, including documentation and decision tracking.
Ensure regulatory compliance with TTB, FDA, and USDA requirements.
Build and maintain strategic supplier and academic partnerships to support ingredients and technology innovation.
Maintain project trackers, timelines, and phase‑gate status updates.
Prepare and present product samples for tastings, sensory panels, and demonstrations.
Support pilot runs, stability testing, and line trials with accurate documentation.
Lead product tastings for internal teams and external partners.
Work with Sales and Marketing on presentations, packaging reviews, and product positioning.
Conduct competitive and consumer insight analyses to inform development strategy.
Manage annual project budgets and timelines.
Oversee small‑scale winemaking R&D, including pilot winery operations and personnel management.
Guide ingredient selection, specifications, and process design.
Coach and develop technical team members.