Director, Product Innovation – Contract

Jobtailor; Toronto; On-site; CAD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Saje seeks a senior product leader to drive the product portfolio and innovation roadmap. You will coach and align cross-functional teams across Marketing, R&D, Regulatory, and Finance to deliver compelling product claims and market-ready stories.

You will own a multi-year pipeline, guide launches, and ensure pricing and post-launch performance align with strategic objectives. This role emphasizes leadership and a growth-focused culture.

Qualifications

• 8+ years in product innovation, strategy, category management, or product development in a consumer-focused environment.
• 5+ years of people leadership with coaching and building high-performing teams.
• Exceptional cross-functional leadership to align stakeholders and functions.
• Strong strategic thinking translating priorities into product and innovation strategies.
• Proven ability to lead through complexity and ambiguity with prioritized execution.
• Entrepreneurial, collaborative mindset; drive momentum in a fast-paced environment.
• Are you legally eligible to work in Canada?

Responsibilities

• Lead the team of Product Category Managers and advance the product portfolio.
• Ensure products reach market with clear, compelling, and defensible claims and storytelling.
• Provide strategic direction, coaching, prioritization, and decision-making across category roadmaps, innovation programs, and product launches.
• Own the innovation pipeline from white-space exploration and concept creation through product marketing and creative execution.
• Ensure cross-functional alignment across Marketing, Creative, R&D, Regulatory, Operations, and Finance.
• Lead Product Category Managers in maintaining and executing 2–3 year Product Category Roadmaps.
• Oversee creation, presentation, and approval of Product Concept Briefs.
• Oversee accurate SOP forecasting for innovation initiatives.
• Execute claims, product substantiation, and storytelling roadmaps across innovation and core portfolio initiatives.
• Coordinate claims and storytelling deliverables through development, approval, and implementation; maintain claims and storytelling tools and records.
• Monitor roadmap progress, surface risks and required decisions, and provide updates to the VP, Product.
• Ensure approved claims and product stories are implemented consistently across consumer touchpoints.
• Own and evolve a 2–3 year innovation pipeline supporting product strategy and brand differentiation.
• Partner with R&D and Regulatory to co-innovate and refine concepts.
• Ensure innovation options are quantified and qualified through business cases and Product Concept Briefs.
• Refine and accelerate the pace and quality of innovation.
• Partner with the VP, Product and Project Management on new product launch execution.
• Share accountability for product launch timelines and develop risk mitigation options for delays.
• Maintain accountability for pricing strategy and post-launch performance.
• Lead and develop Product Category Managers and strengthen the internal talent pipeline.
• Build a culture balancing creativity, accountability, rigor, and fun.
• Coach team members and strengthen innovation capabilities.

Skills

Product Strategy

Product Development

Innovation Pipeline Management

SOP Forecasting

Product Concept Briefs

Cross-Functional Leadership

Strategic Thinking

People Leadership

Decision-Making

Influencing Stakeholders

Creativity

Tools

Product Roadmaps

Forecasting

Job description

• Lead the team of Product Category Managers and advance the product portfolio
• Ensure Saje products reach market with clear, compelling, and defensible claims and storytelling
• Provide strategic direction, coaching, prioritization, and decision‑making across category roadmaps, innovation programs, and product launches
• Own the innovation pipeline from white‑space exploration and concept creation through product marketing and creative execution
• Ensure cross‑functional alignment across Marketing, Creative, R&D, Regulatory, Operations, and Finance
• Lead Product Category Managers in maintaining and executing 3-year Product Category Roadmaps
• Oversee creation, presentation, and approval of Product Concept Briefs
• Oversee accurate SOP$ forecasts for innovation initiatives
• Execute claims, product substantiation, and storytelling roadmaps across innovation and core portfolio initiatives
• Coordinate claims and storytelling deliverables through development, approval, and implementationMaintain claims and storytelling tools, documentation, approval pathways, and decision records
• Monitor roadmap progress, surface risks and required decisions, and provide updates and recommendations to the VP, Product
• Ensure approved claims and product stories are implemented consistently across consumer touchpoints
• Own and evolve a 2–3 year innovation pipeline supporting product strategy, financial objectives, and brand differentiation
• Partner with R&D and Regulatory to co‑innovate, refine, and pivot concepts
• Ensure innovation options are quantified and qualified through business cases and Product Concept Briefs
• Refine and accelerate the pace and quality of innovation
• Partner with the VP, Product and Project Management team on new product launch execution
• Share accountability for product launch timelines and develop risk mitigation options for delays
• Maintain accountability for pricing strategy and post‑launch performance
• Lead and develop Product Category Managers and strengthen the internal talent pipeline
• Build a culture balancing creativity, accountability, rigor, and fun
• Coach team members and strengthen innovation capabilities

Requirements

• 8+ years of progressive experience across product innovation, product strategy, category management, or product development, ideally within a consumer-focused environment
• 5+ years of people leadership experience, with a demonstrated ability to coach, develop, and build high‑performing teams
• Exceptional cross‑functional leadership skills, with the ability to build strong partnerships, influence stakeholders, and drive alignment across diverse functions and levels
• Strong strategic thinking, with experience translating business priorities, consumer needs, and market opportunities into clear product and innovation strategies
• Proven ability to lead through complexity and ambiguity, balancing long‑term vision with strong prioritization, decision‑making, and execution
• Entrepreneurial, collaborative, and growth‑oriented mindset, with the ability to challenge thinking, move ideas forward, and create momentum in a fast‑paced environment
• Are you legally eligible to work in Canada?

Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in product innovation, strategy, and category management, with a strong focus on cross‑functional leadership and team development. Proven ability to drive product launches and maintain alignment across diverse functions while ensuring compelling storytelling and claims.

Highest-signal resume keywords

• Product Innovation
• Cross‑Functional Leadership
• Strategic Thinking
• People Leadership
• Category Management

ATS Optimization Keywords

Hard Skills

• Product Strategy
• Product Development
• Innovation Pipeline Management
• SOP Forecasting
• Product Concept Briefs

Soft Skills

• Coaching
• Collaboration
• Decision‑Making
• Influencing Stakeholders
• Creativity

Industry Keywords

• Consumer‑Focused Environment
• Market Opportunities
• Risk Mitigation
• Consumer Touchpoints
• High‑Performing Teams