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Food Innovation Manager Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Mezzetta

Sr. Project Manager, Innovation

Larkspur, CA · On-site

$170K - $180K/yr

We believe that when we share our food, we share a part of ourselves - and that's the only way we'd ... Mezzetta is seeking a Senior Project Manager, Innovation to serve as the operational backbone of ...

Woodlands Market

Food Service Manager

Tiburon, CA · On-site

$28 - $36.06/hr

Reporting directly to the Store Manager, the Food Service Manager has ultimate operational and ... Who Are We. Woodlands Market is a leader in gourmet retailing, service and innovation in the ...

Aminov Search Partners

Food Quality Manager

San Diego, CA · On-site

$110K/yr

... innovation- Create and run training programs that uphold company goals concerning quality and food safety throughout the plant- Assist the sales team with label compliance for new products- Manage ...

Sodexo

Food Operations Manager 3

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$89K - $115K/yr

Seeking a hands-on Food Operations Manager 3 to lead Sodexo's dining services at Cedars-Sinai ... Creative mindset supporting culinary innovation, sustainability, and continuous improvement.

Sodexo

Food Operations Manager 3

Los Angeles, CA

$89K - $115K/yr

Seeking a hands-on Food Operations Manager 3 to lead Sodexo's dining services at Cedars-Sinai ... Creative mindset supporting culinary innovation, sustainability, and continuous improvement.

Sodexo

Food Operations Manager 3

Los Angeles, CA

$89K - $115K/yr

Seeking a hands-on Food Operations Manager 3 to lead Sodexo's dining services at Cedars-Sinai ... Creative mindset supporting culinary innovation, sustainability, and continuous improvement.

Sodexo

Food Operations Manager 3

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$89K - $115K/yr

Seeking a hands-on Food Operations Manager 3 to lead Sodexo's dining services at Cedars-Sinai ... Creative mindset supporting culinary innovation, sustainability, and continuous improvement.

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Food Innovation Manager information

What does a Food Innovation Manager do?

A Food Innovation Manager is responsible for developing and implementing new food products, processes, or technologies within a company. They lead cross-functional teams to research market trends, identify consumer needs, and oversee the creation and launch of innovative food items. Their role involves collaborating with chefs, food scientists, marketing teams, and suppliers to ensure products are both creative and commercially viable. They also monitor industry developments to keep their company at the forefront of food trends and innovation.

What are the typical cross-functional collaborations for a Food Innovation Manager, and how do they impact daily work?

Food Innovation Managers regularly collaborate with teams such as R&D, marketing, supply chain, and quality assurance. These interactions are essential for aligning product development with market trends, ensuring feasibility in production, and maintaining compliance with food safety standards. Daily activities often involve joint meetings, brainstorming sessions, and coordinating timelines to bring innovative products from concept to launch. Successful collaboration helps streamline processes, fosters creative solutions, and accelerates time-to-market for new products.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Food Innovation Manager, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Food Innovation Manager, you need expertise in food science, product development, and market trend analysis, often supported by a degree in food technology, culinary arts, or a related field. Familiarity with food safety regulations, sensory analysis tools, and product lifecycle management software is typically required. Creativity, project management, and strong communication skills help drive successful cross-functional collaboration and innovative product launches. These skills and qualities are crucial for developing market-ready food products that meet consumer demands and regulatory standards.

What is the difference between Food Innovation Manager vs Food Product Developer?

AspectFood Innovation ManagerFood Product Developer
Primary FocusOversees innovation strategies, explores new food concepts, manages R&D teamsDesigns, develops, and tests new food products
Required SkillsInnovation management, project coordination, food science knowledgeFood formulation, product testing, culinary skills
Work EnvironmentCorporate R&D, innovation labs, cross-functional teamsProduct development labs, manufacturing facilities
Common EmployersFood companies, FMCG brands, innovation consultanciesFood manufacturing companies, startups, R&D centers

While both roles involve food development, the Food Innovation Manager focuses on strategic innovation and managing teams to explore new concepts, whereas the Food Product Developer concentrates on creating and testing specific food products. The roles often collaborate but differ in scope and responsibilities.

What cities in California are hiring for Food Innovation Manager jobs?

Cities in California with the most Food Innovation Manager job openings:

Food Innovation Manager jobs near you
Infographic showing various Food Innovation Manager job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 90% Full Time, 9% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 81% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 17% Remote job distribution.

Sr. Project Manager, Innovation

Mezzetta

Larkspur, CA • On-site

$170K - $180K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 10 days ago

Key responsibilities

  • Own and continuously improve Mezzetta's innovation stage gate process.

  • Provide a clear, consolidated view of innovation project portfolio health and translate complex project data into executive-level insights.

  • Establish and enforce project management best practices, tools, and methodologies, and drive consistency in project scoping, planning, and execution.

Job description

About Us:Since 1935, we've been on a mission to bring a little extra happiness to everyday life and inspire connections over food. We select the finest ingredients the world has to offer, craft premium products made with love, and never settle for shortcuts. We believe that when we share our food, we share a part of ourselves - and that's the only way we'd put our name on it.
Today, our small family company has grown into a national leader in specialty olives, peppers, and sauces under the leadership of CEO Jeff Mezzetta, and our commitment to quality has never wavered. With an 80-year legacy behind us and a bright future ahead, we're seeking passionate, driven candidates to help us bring our cherished family traditions to a new generation.
The ideal candidate will have an immediate connection to our Core Ingredients:
  • Crunchy Crunchy: We are hungry for excellence.
  • Own It: We think and act as an owner - with appetite, initiative, and responsibility.
  • Connection: We build authentic relationships that foster trust and open communications.
  • Vibrance: We come to work eager and passionate about fulfilling our vision. When we share our work, we share a part of who we are.

Mezzetta is seeking a Senior Project Manager, Innovation to serve as the operational backbone of our pre-launch innovation project portfolio. This role will bring structure, clarity, and decision discipline to a fast-paced, cross-functional environment-particularly within our innovation pipeline and stage gate process.
Reporting to the VP of Strategy & Execution, this leader will standardize and elevate project management practices while also acting as a critical thought partner to functional leaders-ensuring teams understand status, risks, tradeoffs, and implications of key decisions.
This role is not just about tracking projects-it is about driving alignment, enabling better decisions, and improving the success rate of innovation at Mezzetta.
Responsibilities
Innovation & Stage Gate Leadership
  • Own and continuously improve Mezzetta's innovation stage gate process
  • Ensure clear entry/exit criteria, decision frameworks, and accountability at each gate
  • Drive decision clarity and durability-minimizing rework and scope churn
  • Partner with Innovation, Marketing, R&D, and Operations to ensure feasibility, alignment, and execution readiness
  • Surface tradeoffs (cost, timing, complexity) to enable strong decision-making

Portfolio Visibility & Decision Support
  • Provide a clear, consolidated view of innovation project portfolio health
  • Translate complex project data into clear executive-level insights
  • Identify risks, dependencies, and capacity constraints early
  • Enable leadership to make inform

Innovation Project Management Capability Building
  • Establish and enforce best practices, tools, and methodologies
  • Drive consistency in project scoping, planning, and execution
  • Train cross-functional teams on effective project management and stage gate discipline

Execution Excellence
  • Improve predictability, speed, and quality of project delivery
  • Drive accountability across teams for timelines, deliverables, and outcomes
  • Lead retrospectives and continuous improvement efforts
  • Optimize tools (e.g., Smartsheet) to support scalable executioned prioritization and resource decisions

Requirements
  • Bachelor's Degree. MBA Preferred
  • PMP Certified Preferred
  • 10+ years of project management experience, with significant experience in CPG or food manufacturing preferred
  • Demonstrated success leading innovation pipelines and stage gate processes
  • Experience operating in ambiguous, fast-changing environments with shifting priorities
  • Proven ability to drive cross-functional alignment and decision-making without direct authority
  • Strong ability to translate complexity into clear, actionable insights for leadership
  • Expertise in project management tools (Smartsheet preferred)
  • Lean / Continuous Improvement experience (preferred)

Pay Range
$170,000-$180,000 USD
Our Commitment to an Inclusive Workplace:
At Mezzetta, we embrace diversity and strive to create an inclusive environment where you know you belong. Part of that commitment includes a zero-tolerance policy and being an Equal Opportunity Employer that prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. All employment decisions at Mezzetta are solely based on merit, qualifications, abilities and business needs, without regard to race, color, religion or belief, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, age, marital status, national origin, disability, military or veteran status, family or parental status, pregnancy, or any other status protected by law. All of us share in the responsibility of fulfilling this commitment and creating a culture where our team can thrive.

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