Innovation Manager

Role Description

OLIPOP is looking for an Innovation Manager to join our Innovation team. This role leads the quantitative and strategic evaluation of our innovation pipeline, combining consumer insights, commercial performance, and financial analysis to shape how our portfolio grows.

You'll lead the evaluation of line extensions, limited-time offers (LTOs), price pack architecture, and assortment opportunities, bringing together data, consumer understanding, and business strategy to prioritize the pipeline. Working cross-functionally across the organization, you'll help translate opportunities into commercially successful innovation that drives long-term growth.

Responsibilities

• Pipeline Strategy & Prioritization: Lead the analytical evaluation of line extensions, LTOs, price pack architecture, and variety pack strategy to prioritize the innovation pipeline and recommend where OLIPOP should invest.
• Portfolio Strategy & Commercial Analytics: Analyze syndicated data, retailer performance, consumer trends, and internal sales data to evaluate portfolio health, identify whitespace opportunities, and optimize assortment and SKU productivity.
• Business Case Development: Develop compelling, data-driven business cases that integrate consumer insights, commercial opportunity, financial return, operational complexity, and brand strategy to guide innovation investment decisions.
• Cross-Functional Partnership: Partner closely with Insights, Brand, Sales, Finance, R&D, Supply Chain, Operations, and Regulatory to evaluate opportunities, balance tradeoffs, and drive successful commercialization.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of experience in innovation, brand management, category management, portfolio strategy, or commercial strategy within a CPG company.
• Demonstrated experience evaluating line extensions, price pack architecture, assortment strategy, SKU productivity, or portfolio optimization. Experience supporting seasonal or limited-time offers (LTOs) is a plus.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate complex data into clear, actionable recommendations—not simply report results.
• Experience using syndicated data (Circana, NielsenIQ, SPINS, Numerator, or similar) and internal business performance data to identify opportunities and inform strategic decisions.
• Strong financial acumen with experience developing business cases and evaluating commercial opportunities.
• Effective cross-functional collaborator across Brand, Insights, Sales, Finance, R&D, Supply Chain, Operations, and Regulatory.
• Excellent project management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Comfortable navigating ambiguity and making recommendations with imperfect information.
• Advanced Excel skills required; experience with Tableau, Power BI, or similar data visualization tools is a plus.
• Experience in a high-growth or entrepreneurial environment is a plus.
• Passion for the OLIPOP brand and excitement for shaping the future of modern soda.

Requirements

• Reports to: VP of Innovation
• Compensation: $120,000 - $135,000 + Bonus

Benefits

• Fully remote work environment with a collaborative spirit.
• Intentional connection through cross-functional projects and thoughtful communication.
• Opportunities for personal and collective growth through feedback and collaboration.

What We Value

• Mission Connectivity: Everything we do ladders up to our shared goal: supporting human health.
• Indomitable Spirit: When things get messy, we get inventive.
• Lead at Every Level: Leadership isn’t about titles, it’s about ownership.
• Courageous Humility: We’re confident in what we bring and curious about what we don’t know (yet).

What We’re Looking For

• Think big, move fast, and take thoughtful risks.
• Thrive in a high-performance, feedback-rich environment.
• Value real human connection and honest collaboration.
• Be fired up by building something new, and making it better every day.