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Food Innovation Manager Jobs in Boston, MA (NOW HIRING)

Haffner's

Sal's Pizza Manager - Littleton

Littleton, MA · On-site

$18.25 - $23/hr

Assists and directs store employees on the importance of effectively managing food safely. About us ... Our culture thrives on growth, innovation, and excellence. As a part of our team, you'll contribute ...

ViziRecruiter,LLC.

Manager II Wine Sourcing

Quincy, MA · On-site

$150 - $200/hr

Introduction Ahold Delhaize USA, a division of global food retailer Ahold Delhaize, is part of the ... Identify and develop exclusive SKUs, premium offerings, and private brand innovation. * Serve as ...

Taco Bell

Shift Manager (Hourly Manager)

Marlborough, MA · On-site

$17.50/hr

Shift Manager (Hourly Manager) (Must be 18+ Years of Age) Are you a highly skilled and motivated ... Apply now and join us in serving delicious food with a smile! At Taco Bell, we've had innovation on ...

Taco Bell

Shift Manager / Hourly Manager

Danvers, MA · On-site

$17.50 - $18.50/hr

Shift Manager / Hourly Manager (Must be 18+ Years of Age) Are you a highly skilled and motivated ... Apply now and join us in serving delicious food with a smile! At Taco Bell, we've had innovation on ...

Taco Bell

Shift Manager / Hourly Manager

Salem, MA · On-site

$16.50 - $18/hr

Shift Manager / Hourly Manager (Must be 18+ Years of Age) Are you a highly skilled and motivated ... Apply now and join us in serving delicious food with a smile! At Taco Bell, we've had innovation on ...

Playa Bowls

Store Manager

Brockton, MA · On-site

As the Store Manager, you will be doing a variety of tasks from training new employees to ... innovation, and an occasional silly food pun, we want you!What Youll Do:Checking products to ensure ...

Playa Bowls

Store Manager

Brighton, MA · On-site

As the Store Manager, you will be doing a variety of tasks from training new employees to ... innovation, and an occasional silly food pun, we want you!What Youll Do:Checking products to ensure ...

Taco Bell

Shift Manager / Hourly Manager

Danvers, MA

$17.50 - $18.50/hr

Shift Manager / Hourly Manager (Must be 18+ Years of Age) Are you a highly skilled and motivated ... Apply now and join us in serving delicious food with a smile! At Taco Bell, we've had innovation on ...

Taco Bell

Shift Manager (Hourly Manager)

Marlborough, MA · On-site

$17.50/hr

Shift Manager (Hourly Manager) (Must be 18+ Years of Age) Are you a highly skilled and motivated ... Apply now and join us in serving delicious food with a smile! At Taco Bell, we've had innovation on ...

Taco Bell

Shift Manager / Hourly Manager

Salem, MA · On-site

$16.50 - $18/hr

Shift Manager / Hourly Manager (Must be 18+ Years of Age) Are you a highly skilled and motivated ... Apply now and join us in serving delicious food with a smile! At Taco Bell, we've had innovation on ...

Playa Bowls

General Manager

Brighton, MA · On-site

Playa Bowls General Manager Opportunity Playa Bowls is New Jersey's Original Acai Shop, and our ... innovation, and an occasional silly food pun, we want you! You will check products to ensure ...

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All JobsFood Innovation JobsFood Innovation Manager JobsFood Innovation Manager Jobs in Boston, MA

Food Innovation Manager information

See Boston, MA salary details

$12

$23

$44

How much do food innovation manager jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 7, 2026, the average hourly pay for food innovation manager in Boston, MA is $23.90, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $18.03 and $26.11 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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 near Boston, MA are hiring for Food Innovation Manager jobs?

Cities near Boston, MA with the most Food Innovation Manager job openings:

Food Innovation Manager jobs near you

Category Manager, Commissary

Cumberland Farms

Westborough, MA • On-site

$90K - $120K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 21 days ago

Key responsibilities

  • Develop and execute long-term category strategy for refrigerated packaged foods across all geographies.

  • Own the category's financial performance, including sales, gross margin, and promotional ROI, and develop pricing strategies.

  • Manage vendor partnerships, including supplier negotiations and joint business planning activities.

Cumberland Farms rating

4.8

Company rating: 4.8 out of 10

Based on 187 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

35th of 47 rated convenience stores

Job description

Description:
Are you curious about solving complex business challenges for a leading convenience retailer? Do you have a passion for cross functional collaboration? Then you may be the perfect addition to our team!
Cumberland Farms is one of the fastest-growing convenience retailers in the United States, committed to becoming America's #1 'one-stop' destination. The business has an established pedigree of delivering excellent fuel, grocery and merchandise, and food service. Headquartered in Westborough, Massachusetts, our Company has grown to over 1,500+ locations across the United States employing over 18,000 team members. You can find us operating under the following store banners: Certified Oil, Coen Markets, Cumberland Farms, Fastrac, Kwik Shop, Loaf N Jug, Minit Mart, Sprint Food Stores, Tom Thumb, Turkey Hill, and Quik Stop. Our US headquarters in Westborough, MA is home to our Store Support Center, Company Warehouse, and Culinary Center.
What We Offer:
  • Competitive Wages
  • Work today, get paid tomorrow through our earned wage access program*
  • Paid Time Off
  • Medical/Health/Dental Coverage
  • 401K with Company Match
  • Team Member Discounts
  • Tuition Reimbursement
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Health Savings Account
  • Company Spirit Days
  • Employee recognition and awards
  • And much more!

Position Summary:
The Category Manager, Commissary is responsible for developing and executing the merchandising strategy for one of Cumberland Farms' most important foodservice categories. This leader owns the commercial performance of the refrigerated packaged foods business, including sandwiches, salads, wraps, snack packs, protein offerings, fruit, and other grab-and-go solutions, with accountability for sales growth, gross margin, guest satisfaction, product quality, innovation, and operational execution across 1,500 stores.
The ideal candidate combines deep food industry expertise with strong commercial acumen and financial leadership. They are a proven sales driver, with the ability to understand the customer and tailor products, pricing, and promotions to them. They also understand net margin deeply, including the operational realities of convenience retail. This role requires a data-driven merchant who can identify opportunities, translate insights into action, and consistently deliver profitable growth while helping to build a food culture across the organization.
Responsibilities:
1. Set category strategy
  • Develop and execute long-term strategy for cold packaged foods across all of our geographies
  • Build category plans that drive sales, traffic, margin, market share, and loyalty
  • Identify emerging food trends and translate consumer insights into differentiated products and merchandising strategies
  • Build a balanced assortment that delivers both everyday value and premium offerings while optimizing SKU productivity and regional preferences
  • Lead seasonal, limited-time, and innovation programs that keep the category fresh and relevant

2. Be industry expert
  • Serve as the company's subject matter expert on refrigerated grab-and-go foods
  • Maintain deep knowledge of foodservice trends, competitive offerings, ingredient innovations, packaging developments, consumer behaviors, and convenience retail best practices
  • Benchmark category performance against leading convenience retailers, grocery retailers, and foodservice operators
  • Evaluate evolving consumer preferences around health and wellness, protein, fresh ingredients, indulgence, convenience, and value

3. Deliver financial results
  • Own category P&L performance including sales, gross margin, product mix, inventory productivity, total loss, and promotional ROI
  • Develop pricing strategies that balance guest value perception with profitability
  • Build annual operating plans and financial forecasts
  • Analyze elasticity, promotional effectiveness, competitive pricing, and product mix to maximize financial performance
  • Leverage data and analytics to identify growth opportunities and quickly address underperforming products

4. Manage vendor partnerships
  • Develop strategic partnerships with manufacturers, distributors, and fresh food suppliers
  • Lead supplier negotiations focused on cost, quality, innovation, funding, and service levels
  • Drive joint business planning activities with key vendor partners
  • Evaluate supplier capabilities to ensure consistent product quality and reliability

5. Develop products and innovation pipeline
  • Partner with culinary, health & safety, operations, and supply chain teams to develop, test, and launch new products
  • Lead product lifecycle management from concept through launch and post-launch evaluation, following defined innovation stagegate framework
  • Ensure products align with Cumberland Farms' customer preferences around taste and value

6. Support field execution
  • Develop merchandising standards, planograms, and promotional strategies that drive consistent execution across all stores
  • Collaborate closely with advertising to ensure in-store signage is accurate and on-brand
  • Solicit and regularly action feedback from operations to optimize and improve programs

7. Continuously improve category performance
  • Monitor KPIs and business performance through regular reporting and business reviews
  • Utilize POS data, consumer insights, syndicated research, and competitive intelligence to guide decisions
  • Continuously optimize assortment, pricing, and promotions based on measurable results

Working Relationships:
Collaborate closely with Marketing, Operations, Culinary, Supply Chain, Health & Safety, Legal, and Finance teams.
Requirements:
Minimum Education: Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Food Science, Supply Chain, or related field
Preferred Education: MBA
Minimum Experience:
  • 5-8+ years of progressive experience in category management, merchandising, foodservice, grocery, consumer packaged goods, or convenience retail
  • Strong understanding of food industry economics, sourcing, product development, and trends
  • Demonstrated success growing category sales, profitability, and market share
  • Experience negotiating with national and regional suppliers
  • Proficiency with Excel and category analytics tools
  • Strong commercial acumen, with ability to leverage data to make actionable decisions
  • Exceptional communication, presentation, and influencing skills
  • Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced retail environment

Preferred Experience:
  • Direct experience managing refrigerated food or fresh food categories strongly preferred
  • Experience with food innovation, culinary commercialization, and product lifecycle management
  • Strong understanding of food safety, quality assurance, and cold chain logistics
  • Experience with syndicated data (Circana, NielsenIQ, etc.) is a plus

Licenses/Certifications: None
Soft Skills:
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills
  • Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite

Travel Ability to travel independently up to 20%. Must have clean driving record.
Hours & Conditions Monday - Friday 8 hour day in office setting
Physical Requirements: Ability to maneuver and regularly lift and or move up to 10 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
Additional Info:
At Cumberland Farms, it's important that our employees reflect the world we live in and the communities we serve. We celebrate our differences, so your unique background and skillset could bring a wonderful new perspective to our team. If you have a passion for delivering exceptional results, thrive in a fast-paced corporate environment, and bring experience in business management or related areas, we'd love to meet you - even if you don't meet every single requirement.
Consistent with Massachusetts Pay Transparency Law, we're sharing the base salary range for this position. Final pay within this range will be based on your skills, experience, and qualifications. Base pay represents just one part of our total rewards approach. We're proud to offer a variety of financial and non-financial benefits that invest in your overall growth, well-being, and career journey.

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