Product Innovation Manager
An exciting opportunity for an Product Innovation Manager to drive new product development and trend-focused innovation within a growing pet industry organization. This role offers strong visibility and the ability to bring new ideas from concept to commercialization.
We’re partnering with a growing consumer products organization in the pet industry seeking an experienced Product Innovation Manager to lead the development of new pet nutrition products, formats, and innovation initiatives across a portfolio of brands.
This role is ideal for someone who combines strong market awareness, product development expertise, and consumer insight to bring innovative products to life in a fast-moving category.
Worksite Location: 100% Remote, US Based only
Salary: $125k-$140k/yr base salary plus annual bonus.
Benefits: Includes medical, dental, vision, PTO, 401k match, maternity/paternity leave program, adoption benefits, short-term/long-term disability, continued education, and training reimbursement program.
Key Responsibilities:
Innovation Strategy & Opportunity Identification
Qualifications
About Versique:
Versique: /ver-seek/ adj. being both versatile and unique; n. a high-performance recruiting firm specializing in executive leadership search, direct hire, and interim hiring solutions.
Versique Executive, Professional, & Interim Recruiting is a locally owned and operated hiring and placement firm based in the Twin Cities of Minnesota. With specialized practice areas across our three divisions, Versique delivers tailored expertise to a wide range of industries. What sets us apart is our team of recruiters—seasoned professionals who have worked in the very fields they now hire for, providing unmatched industry insight and connections.
We believe people are more than just resumes—they are transformative, unlocking the potential for organizational growth and success.
Versique is proud to be award-winning, earning recognition on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies and the Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal's Fast 50 list for 2023. We are also consistently recognized as a Star Tribune Top Workplace and were named a Best Place to Work in 2022 by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal.
Let's find your people, together.
Versique is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating a diverse workforce. We consider all qualified applicants regardless of race, religion, color, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or veteran status.
#LI-NP1
#LI-Remote
This role is ideal for someone who combines strong market awareness, product development expertise, and consumer insight to bring innovative products to life in a fast-moving category.
Worksite Location: 100% Remote, US Based only
Salary: $125k-$140k/yr base salary plus annual bonus.
Benefits: Includes medical, dental, vision, PTO, 401k match, maternity/paternity leave program, adoption benefits, short-term/long-term disability, continued education, and training reimbursement program.
Key Responsibilities:
Innovation Strategy & Opportunity Identification
- Support and execute innovation strategies aligned with business and brand growth objectives
- Identify emerging opportunities across areas such as functional nutrition, premium ingredients, alternative proteins, and evolving feeding trends
- Monitor category and consumer trends to help shape future product direction
- Lead concept ideation and new product development initiatives from early-stage innovation through commercialization
- Manage cross-functional innovation projects involving product development, operations, marketing, and regulatory teams
- Support development across multiple product formats including dry food, wet food, treats, and supplements
- Ensure product concepts align with consumer needs, brand positioning, and portfolio strategy
- Translate consumer insights and purchasing behaviors into differentiated product concepts
- Conduct competitive analysis and identify whitespace opportunities within the category
- Support product testing, validation, and performance evaluation efforts
- Collaborate with internal teams to assess product quality, safety, and shelf stability
- Partner closely with teams across R&D, supply chain, marketing, quality, and regulatory
- Coordinate with external vendors, ingredient suppliers, and manufacturing partners
- Help drive alignment between innovation priorities and go-to-market initiatives
- Ensure products meet applicable industry and regulatory standards
- Support labeling, claims review, and ingredient compliance efforts in partnership with regulatory teams
Qualifications
- 3-5+ years of experience within pet food, food & beverage, or consumer packaged goods (CPG)
- Experience launching products in regulated environments
- Background in product innovation, R&D, commercialization, or brand strategy preferred
- Strong project management and cross-functional collaboration skills
- Ability to balance analytical thinking with creativity and consumer insight
- Passion for consumer products and innovation
- Curious, trend-focused mindset
- Strong communication and collaboration skills
- Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, evolving environment
About Versique:
Versique: /ver-seek/ adj. being both versatile and unique; n. a high-performance recruiting firm specializing in executive leadership search, direct hire, and interim hiring solutions.
Versique Executive, Professional, & Interim Recruiting is a locally owned and operated hiring and placement firm based in the Twin Cities of Minnesota. With specialized practice areas across our three divisions, Versique delivers tailored expertise to a wide range of industries. What sets us apart is our team of recruiters—seasoned professionals who have worked in the very fields they now hire for, providing unmatched industry insight and connections.
We believe people are more than just resumes—they are transformative, unlocking the potential for organizational growth and success.
Versique is proud to be award-winning, earning recognition on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies and the Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal's Fast 50 list for 2023. We are also consistently recognized as a Star Tribune Top Workplace and were named a Best Place to Work in 2022 by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal.
Let's find your people, together.
Versique is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating a diverse workforce. We consider all qualified applicants regardless of race, religion, color, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or veteran status.
#LI-NP1
#LI-Remote