Product Innovation Leader Candidate

SEEKING A ROLE AS:
Product Innovation Leader, Early Development Lead, Product Manager, Innovation Manager, or R&D Commercialization Leader for a small or mid-sized food processing company in the Food Science, Consumer Products, or Food & Beverage industry.

IN LOCATION:
Currently living in Durham, NC.
Willing to relocate for the right role
Worksite Preference: Open (Onsite, Hybrid, Remote).

SKILLS & ACHIEVEMENTS:
This candidate is a strategic product innovation and commercialization leader with more than 8 years of experience driving consumer-centric product development, innovation strategy, and portfolio growth within highly regulated industries.

Combining a strong scientific foundation with business acumen, this candidate has successfully led cross-functional teams, accelerated development timelines, and brought disruptive products to market through data-driven decision-making and consumer insights.

– Product Innovation & Commercialization: Led the development and launch of innovative products from concept through commercialization, managing complex portfolios and accelerating time-to-market through structured innovation processes and strategic prioritization.

– Portfolio & Business Growth Leadership: Responsible for product portfolios exceeding $80 million in value, driving innovation initiatives, product launches, and growth strategies designed to maximize market impact and business performance.

– Consumer Insights & Market Strategy: Utilizes consumer research, market intelligence, competitive analysis, and data-driven methodologies to identify unmet needs, validate concepts, and develop successful go-to-market strategies.

– Cross-Functional Leadership: Experienced managing internal teams, external vendors, laboratories, manufacturing partners, and stakeholders across multiple projects and geographies, ensuring alignment from ideation through execution.

– Scientific & Technical Expertise: Classically trained researcher with deep expertise in biological sciences, advanced formulations, biological solutions, RNAi technologies, and essential oils, bringing a unique blend of technical credibility and commercial leadership.

– Innovation Methodologies & Emerging Technologies: Skilled in lean startup principles, rapid experimentation, AI-enabled insights, and modern innovation frameworks that improve decision-making and accelerate product development cycles.

EDUCATION:
Ph.D. in Biology, North Carolina State University

MBA, Marketing, Finance & Entrepreneurship, Quantic School of Business and Technology

Master of Science in Biology, Winthrop University

COMPENSATION:
Base salary expectation is approximately $150,000, dependent on responsibilities, location, and total compensation package, plus incentives.

If you are interested in speaking with this Product Innovation and Commercialization leader who:

– Has successfully managed large-scale product portfolios and high-impact innovation initiatives,
– Brings a unique combination of scientific expertise, business strategy, and consumer-driven product development,
– Can accelerate innovation pipelines, commercialization efforts, and go-to-market success, and
– Thrives in cross-functional environments where innovation, growth, and strategic execution are critical to success,Contact:
Stephanie Mattice
stephaniem@kinsa.com
Worksite Preference:Open
Employment Preference:Permanent