Director of Innovation

The Pictsweet Company is growing! A 4th generation family owned company established in 1945, Pictsweet is a frozen vegetable producer with agricultural roots.  We are currently seeking a Director of Innovation to join our team at the company headquarters in Bells, TN. This position is the lead R&D role and is accountable for the overall delivery of the innovation pipeline for the retail & foodservice channels. Executional focus includes insight development through commercialization, translating prioritized portfolio needs into a platform of concepts that meet the needs of customers and consumers, and developing winning product solutions. Experience with innovation management, design and testing approaches, and product development to full plant scale is crucial to this role.

• Accountable for identification, analysis and delivery of the Innovation Pipeline. Closely collaborate with the Marketing, Sales Teams & Operations, to ensure alignment of the portfolio and resources.
• Sustain & improve our innovation process management approach, inclusive of resource allocation, pipeline value, and measurement of innovation contribution to the P&L.
• Develop pipeline of early-stage concepts and prototypes, in partnership with Marketing. This requires capability to understand portfolio strategy, translate data to insights, create winning prototypes and develop great tasting food. Leverage rapid, iterative prototyping to test and refine consumer, customer and competitive intelligence for successful launches.
• Collaborate within a team-based approach, demonstrating leadership by creating a culture focused on growth. Participate and contribute to strategy and platform ideation and consistently use sense of creativity, foresight and sound business judgment in developing and applying marketplace trends.
• Sell the team's design concepts and propositions internally to Marketing partners, Executive Leadership, and externally with customers. Presenting strategy/concepts in a clear and concise manner is foundational - excellent presentation skills are required.
• Develop food concepts from ideation to full commercialization through partnership with Marketing and Operations teams. Leverage the full capabilities of the Pictsweet manufacturing network to design & develop new product solutions. Must be capable moving from concept to test lab to plant.
• Act as thought leader across the integrated Pictsweet Innovation practice, bringing new technologies and practices on innovation process management, sensory evaluation, packaging design, and similar territories.

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science or related field of study is required. MBA/Master’s in Design & Development is preferred.
• 10 years of relevant experience in the Food and Beverage industry with a minimum of 3 years of managerial or supervisory experience
• Record of having led transformative initiatives, demonstrating an ability to influence the business to achieve positive results
• Candidates must have hands on approach; demonstrate a strong intellect and proficient skills in communications, combined with a drive to deliver results.
• Ability to influence key stakeholders and peers. Ability to stand alone, set clear standards and hold others accountable. Courage to have difficult discussions with groups from all levels of the organization.
• Excellent communication skills: is able to effectively and persuasively articulate positions both verbally and in electronic mediums to various audiences including senior executives in a clear, concise and compelling manner.