Overview
Director of Product Innovation Jobs in New Brunswick, NJ at ForceBrands
Title: Director of Product Innovation
Company: ForceBrands
Location: New Brunswick, NJ
***THIS IS NOT A JOB AT FORCEBRANDS***
Title: Director of Product Innovation (sits on the Marketing team)
Location: On-Site in New Brunswick, NJ (3 days a week)
This can be a temp-to-permanent position, a full-time position (ideal) or contract
THE OPPORTUNITY
We're looking for a Director of Product Innovation who is equal parts scientist, strategist, and competitor – someone who wakes up thinking about what's next before anyone else in the industry has their morning shake.
This is a seat at the table. You'll shape the product roadmap for a leading sports nutrition business, developing products that athletes, bodybuilders, and performance-driven consumers rely on to train harder, recover faster, and perform at their best. If you've been waiting for the role where your instincts, expertise, and ambition can operate without a ceiling, this is it.
WHAT YOU'LL OWN
Product Strategy & Pipeline Leadership
- Own the full innovation pipeline from white space identification through commercialization – new formulations, new categories, and line extensions that keep the business ahead of the market
- Define a 1–3 year product roadmap grounded in consumer insights, competitive intelligence, and emerging science.
- Prioritize ruthlessly. Not every idea becomes a product. Know the difference
Formulation & Science
- Lead cross-functional R&D efforts with internal formulators and contract manufacturers (CMOs) to develop clinically informed, efficacious products.
- Stay at the cutting edge of ingredient science, including novel actives, bioavailability technologies, combination stacking strategies, and regulatory developments (FDA, NSF, Informed Sport).
- Ensure all products substantiate claims with credible science and can withstand regulatory and consumer scrutiny.
Go-to-Market Collaboration
- Partner closely with Marketing, Sales, and Brand to translate product concepts into compelling consumer stories and successful retail execution.
- Bring products to market on time, on budget, and positioned to win—not just launch.
- Own innovation briefs, defining target consumer, key benefits, hero claims, competitive positioning, and success metrics for every product.
Market Intelligence
- Serve as the internal authority on the competitive landscape, including supplement brands, emerging DTC players, functional food crossovers, ingredient suppliers, and biotech innovators.
- Attend key industry events (Expo West, SupplySide, ISSN, etc.) and maintain an active network across formulators, key opinion leaders, and scientific advisors.
Team & Cross-Functional Leadership
- Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing innovation team.
- Operate as a true cross-functional leader, aligning R&D, Regulatory, Operations, Marketing, and Sales around a shared innovation strategy.
- Present innovation strategy and pipeline updates to senior leadership with clarity and conviction
WHAT YOU BRING
Non-Negotiables:
- 8+ years of product development or innovation experience, including at least 4 years within dietary supplements, sports nutrition, or functional food and beverage.
- Deep knowledge of supplement formulation, including protein systems, pre-workouts, creatine, amino acids, adaptogens, cognitive performance, weight management, and recovery nutrition.
- Proven track record of taking products from concept through commercialization with measurable market success.
- Strong understanding of regulatory frameworks governing dietary supplements, including DSHEA, cGMP, and third-party certification programs.
- Experience managing CMO relationships, ingredient supplier partnerships, and cost optimization initiatives
The Edge We're Looking For
- You think like a consumer, formulate like a scientist, and execute like an operator.
- You're not attached to ideas – you care about results.
- You have strong convictions about what makes a winning product and can support those decisions with both data and experience.
- You've thrived in fast-moving environments where speed-to-market is a competitive advantage
- You maintain an active network across the sports nutrition ecosystem, including athletes, coaches, researchers, retailers, distributors, and industry partners
- Education: Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Nutrition, Exercise Science, Chemistry, Biology, or a related field required.
- An advanced degree (MS, PhD, RD) is preferred, but not a substitute for hands-on product development experience.
SUCCESS IN YEAR ONE LOOKS LIKE
- A clearly defined and prioritized 18-month innovation roadmap aligned across the organization.
- Two to three new products launched or in final stages of commercialization with strong market positioning.
- A more strategic CMO and supplier network that improves quality, speed, and cost efficiency.
- Cross-functional teams operating with greater clarity, speed, and accountability throughout the innovation process.
- You've established yourself as a trusted innovation leader who consistently brings forward commercially viable, science-backed products that strengthen the company's competitive position.
