Director of Product Development and Innovation

About Imbibe

Imbibe is a dynamic, high-growth food and beverage development company based in Niles, Illinois. We specialize in developing, creating, and manufacturing beverage flavors, ingredient systems, and finished food and beverage products. Our mission is to design ingredients with impact for the food and beverage industry.

Since our founding in 1963, Imbibe has been at the forefront of flavor innovation and product development. We offer a comprehensive range of services, including full product development, taste modulation, and finished product solutions. Our state-of-the-art campus features an Innovation Center and Pilot Plant that enable us to tackle industry-wide taste and texture challenges, ensuring that our clients receive the highest quality products.

At Imbibe, we pride ourselves on our entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to continuous improvement. Our values of collaboration, accountability, and entrepreneurship drive us to deliver exceptional results for our clients. We also believe in giving back to the community. Through various initiatives we support efforts to combat food insecurity in the Chicagoland area by donating ingredients and our time.

If you're passionate about the food and beverage industry and eager to make a meaningful impact, Imbibe is the place for you. Let's create something extraordinary together!

Summary of Position
The Director of Product Development and Innovation will be primarily responsible for building and sustaining a robust innovation pipeline that delivers ingredient and beverage solutions aligned with market trends, customer needs, and business Objectives & Key Results (OKR's). This role requires a strong partnership with the Marketing team to translate consumer insights, brand strategy, and trend data into breakthrough product concepts. By collaborating closely across teams, the Director will ensure that innovation efforts are commercially viable and flawlessly executed using a structured Stage-Gate process.
In addition to leading innovation strategy, the Director will manage and mentor a high-performing team of product developers and formulation experts, which may include approximately 2-3 direct reports and approximately 3-5 indirect reports. They will drive cross-functional alignment with sales, operations, and executive stakeholders to guide concepts from ideation through commercialization. As a champion of Imbibe's culture and values, the Director will implement best practices, foster continuous improvement, and deliver forward-thinking solutions that elevate customer success and competitive advantage.

Essential Job Duties

• Build and manage a robust ingredient and product innovation pipeline by partnering closely with Marketing to translate consumer insights, brand strategy, and emerging trends into technically viable, commercially relevant product concepts.
• Implement and oversee a structured Stage-Gate process to evaluate and advance innovation projects efficiently and strategically.
• Lead the end-to-end execution of Innovation projects, from concept through commercialization, ensuring speed, technical excellence, and regulatory compliance.
• Direct, coach, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of product developers and functional experts by setting clear performance expectations, providing regular feedback, and actively supporting career growth through coaching, training, and development planning.
• Directs annual goal setting of individual direct reports as well as broader team objectives, creating measurable Key Results (KR's) to ensure accountability.
• Create conditions for success by participating in the sales pipeline, assisting in scoping incoming projects and engaging prospective clients in technically driven discussions. In addition, actively contribute to resource planning and project prioritization across multiple workstreams, including new product development, and marketing programs.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Sales, Marketing, Project Management, Operations, and Executive Leadership to ensure alignment of R&D efforts with business objectives and customer expectations.
• Drive continuous improvement and enhance team’s capabilities by standardizing best practices, optimizing R&D workflows, and leading internal process and operational initiatives.
• Champion Imbibe’s core values of Collaboration, Accountability, Results-Oriented mindset, and Entrepreneurial (CARE) thinking in all aspects of team leadership and execution
• This role may require travel to manufacturing plants and clients (<20%).

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in food science, chemistry, biochemistry, engineering, or related field.
• Minimum 15 years’ experience in food/beverage product development, including significant experience working with flavors and specialty ingredients.
• Proven track record of commercializing a robust innovation pipeline, executing projects from concept to commercialization, demonstrating ability to lead cross-functional teams, drive technical excellence, manage timelines and ensure regulatory compliance
• Minimum 12 years of experience coaching and/or managing entry level to sr. level product developers and scientists, organizational development, creating and building high performance teams, creating systems and workflows for optimized efficiency and performance
• Strong presentation skills, ability to communicate complex technical information, and high level of experience interacting with customers
• Strong customer mind set with demonstrated ability to engage directly and honestly with customers and deliver positive experience by creating a partnership mentality
• Strategic thinker with the ability to influence and drive business objectives while maintaining our company and people values
• Highly collaborative and team-oriented mindset and detailed work style.
• Ability to deal with ambiguity, manage change and multiple priorities in a dynamic and ever-changing surrounding. Comfortable with a brisk working pace and environment of changing priorities.
• Hands-on mentality and entrepreneurial thinking skills, capable of working well as part of a team as well as independently

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in food science or related field.
• Direct experience formulation, and successful launch of multiple platforms of beverage products including but not limited to high- and low-acid ready-to-drink, ready-to-mix beverage powders, functional beverages, and concentrates/syrups.
• Direct experience in the product formulation, and successful launch of multiple platforms of food products including but not limited to ready-to-eat snack foods, ready-to-mix food powders, candy, and confections.
• Experience working with manufacturing facilities to scale-up/commission, quality and verify products.

Working Conditions

• Typical office setting for most desk work and paperwork including use of standard office equipment.
• Typical food/beverage laboratory and pilot plant setting for any hands-on development work including the use of standard laboratory equipment.
• Must be able to sit, stand, or remain in a stationary position for extended periods of time.
• May occasionally need to move, lift, or transport containers of ingredients weighing up to 50 lbs.
• Exposure to food and beverage product tastings which may include allergens.
• Occasional travel to manufacturing plants where exposure to confined spaces, loud noise, excessive heat/cold, and/or wet/slippery conditions is possible.

Compensation & Benefits

The salary range listed represents the expected earnings for this role. The low end of the range reflects the starting salary for candidates with less experience or qualifications that meet the basic requirements for the position. The high end of the range reflects potential earnings for candidates with extensive experience, specialized skills, or qualifications above the standard requirements for the role.

Imbibe supports employee well-being and professional growth by offering a comprehensive benefits package that includes the following: 

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision care
• 401k retirement plan with company contribution and match
• FSA and HSA account
• Generous company holidays, PTO, and sick time
• Onsite gym and wellness opportunities 
• Paid parental leave
• Life and disability insurance
• Learning and professional development opportunities