Director of Product Innovation & Growth

Universal Nutrition; New Brunswick (NJ); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Full benefits

Performance bonus

Job summary

Universal Nutrition seeks a Director of Product Innovation to blend science and strategy, shaping a roadmap that drives growth across categories and formulations.

You will lead cross-functional teams, define consumer-focused benefits, and ensure timely, compliant product launches that win in a competitive market. This role requires industry experience, leadership, and a passion for breakthrough nutrition science.

Qualifications

• 8+ years in product development or innovation
• Experience in dietary supplements or functional foods
• Proven SKU launches from concept to shelf
• Strong knowledge of DSHEA, cGMP, third-party certs
• Experience managing CMO relationships and supplier negotiations

Responsibilities

• Own the full innovation pipeline from white space identification through commercialization
• Define a 1-3 year product roadmap grounded in consumer insights, competitive intelligence, and emerging science
• Prioritize ruthlessly. Not every idea is a product. Know the difference.
• Lead cross-functional R&D with formulators and CMOs to develop clinically-informed, efficacious products
• Stay at the cutting edge of ingredient science and regulatory developments
• Ensure all products substantiate claims with credible science and withstand regulatory scrutiny
• Partner with Marketing, Sales, and Brand to translate concepts into consumer stories and retail execution
• Bring products to market on time, on budget, and positioned to win
• Own the brief: define target consumer, key benefits, hero claims, competitive positioning, and success metrics
• Be the internal authority on competitive landscape across brands, DTC, and biotech disruptors
• Attend industry events and maintain an active network of formulators, KOLs, and advisors

Skills

Cross-functional leadership

Product strategy

Regulatory knowledge

Competitive intelligence

Consumer insight analysis

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Food Science / Nutrition / Chemistry or related field

Advanced degree (MS, PhD, RD) preferred

Job description

Universal Nutrition seeks a Director of Product Innovation to blend science and strategy, shaping a roadmap that drives growth across categories and formulations.

You will lead cross-functional teams, define consumer-focused benefits, and ensure timely, compliant product launches that win in a competitive market. This role requires industry experience, leadership, and a passion for breakthrough nutrition science.