Innovation and Development Manager
About the role
Job Description
ROLE: Innovation & Development Manager
REPORTS TO: SVP Dairy
LOCATION: Delta and Port Coquitlam, BC
We are seeking a dynamic and strategic Innovation & Development Manager to lead innovation initiatives across our production facilities and co-pack partners. This newly created role will drive product development, process improvement and regulatory compliance, while collaborating closely with marketing, quality, sales and operations teams. You will play a key role in shaping the future of our brands: Rolling Meadow, Organic Meadow, Happy Planet, Happy Planet Creamery and a2 Milk™
Opportunities
This is an exciting time for the Dairy Team as we continue to grow and expand. Your challenge will be to develop innovative new products across our portfolio and contribute to strategic product planning, idea generation and screening. This role offers the opportunity to bring creative ideas to life and make a tangible impact on our business.
Here Is Who You Are…
Drive & Motivation
- You are a collaborative leader who thrives in dynamic environments
- You are passionate about healthy living and aligned with our brand values
- You are naturally curious and energized by innovation
- You are comfortable in a hands-on role within a growing organization
Character & Abilities
- You are skilled in planning, developing and executing projects
- You have a strong analytical and detail-oriented mindset
- You are adaptable and resilient when facing challenges
- You are an effective communicator and team collaborator
Knowledge & Skills
- You have a deep understanding of product lifecycle and commercialization
- You have expertise in HACCP, GFSI Schemes (SQF, BRC, or ISO), SOPs, SSOPs, and GMPs applicable to food safety principles
- You have experience working with CFIA and regulatory framework
- You are proficient in managing innovation pipelines and demonstrate strong prioritization, analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities
- You have experience with innovation pipeline management and prioritization
Experience
- You have a Masters degree in Food Science, Dairy Technology or related field
- You have 7 years’ experience in dairy product development or innovation, working in a similar capacity
- Proficient in scaling benchtop prototypes to commercial production, bridging innovation and manufacturing to execute successful product launches
Things you will do…
- Lead the development of innovative, market-leading products
- Create and execute annual innovation plans
- Manage new product development and reformulation projects
- Conduct innovation & trend analysis
- Oversee product and process development to meet quality and cost targets
- Maintain process parameters, product specifications and documentation
- Collaborate with Consumer Experience and Quality teams on complaint resolution
- Manages organic & kosher certification
Other …
- This position requires some travel and schedule flexibility
- Attendance at industry events and trade shows as needed
About Happy Planet Foods
Two boys, Randal Ius and Gregor Robertson, started out in 1994 with a farm full of organic carrots, a blender, a somewhat ambitious dream to make the world a better place and hopefully make some money too.
The idea was to connect big city people back to the land, to farmers who produced great produce that went in foods which tasted good and did some good.
They called the company Happy Planet.
From humble beginnings on the farm Happy Planet has become Canada’s most loved all natural food & juice company.
Food that makes you feel good is our purpose.
We look for the best produce from farms and farmers we know and trust. Mostly they’re small Canadian farmers doing their bit to protect the land. We’re proud to help them. Our produce is all as naked as nature intended. And we squeeze every last drop of goodness from the fruits and veggies whilst adding none of the stuff that might do harm. No preservatives, additives, artificial ingredients or stuff you can’t pronounce. Just good taste.
We love food so we’re constantly adding new foods, tastes and flavours to our offer. Today we make soups, smoothies, and juices. All good and all full of goodness.
We feel that doing the right thing is really simple and so we seek packaging that’s recyclable, do what we can to feed those in need and try to make people happy through the various community programs we have committed to.
Look out for Happy Planet in your local store. It may make you smile to know that whilst you’re sampling our great tastes, all sorts of people along the way are being supported by people like you.
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Innovation and Development Manager
About the role
Job Description
ROLE: Innovation & Development Manager
REPORTS TO: SVP Dairy
LOCATION: Delta and Port Coquitlam, BC
We are seeking a dynamic and strategic Innovation & Development Manager to lead innovation initiatives across our production facilities and co-pack partners. This newly created role will drive product development, process improvement and regulatory compliance, while collaborating closely with marketing, quality, sales and operations teams. You will play a key role in shaping the future of our brands: Rolling Meadow, Organic Meadow, Happy Planet, Happy Planet Creamery and a2 Milk™
Opportunities
This is an exciting time for the Dairy Team as we continue to grow and expand. Your challenge will be to develop innovative new products across our portfolio and contribute to strategic product planning, idea generation and screening. This role offers the opportunity to bring creative ideas to life and make a tangible impact on our business.
Here Is Who You Are…
Drive & Motivation
- You are a collaborative leader who thrives in dynamic environments
- You are passionate about healthy living and aligned with our brand values
- You are naturally curious and energized by innovation
- You are comfortable in a hands-on role within a growing organization
Character & Abilities
- You are skilled in planning, developing and executing projects
- You have a strong analytical and detail-oriented mindset
- You are adaptable and resilient when facing challenges
- You are an effective communicator and team collaborator
Knowledge & Skills
- You have a deep understanding of product lifecycle and commercialization
- You have expertise in HACCP, GFSI Schemes (SQF, BRC, or ISO), SOPs, SSOPs, and GMPs applicable to food safety principles
- You have experience working with CFIA and regulatory framework
- You are proficient in managing innovation pipelines and demonstrate strong prioritization, analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities
- You have experience with innovation pipeline management and prioritization
Experience
- You have a Masters degree in Food Science, Dairy Technology or related field
- You have 7 years’ experience in dairy product development or innovation, working in a similar capacity
- Proficient in scaling benchtop prototypes to commercial production, bridging innovation and manufacturing to execute successful product launches
Things you will do…
- Lead the development of innovative, market-leading products
- Create and execute annual innovation plans
- Manage new product development and reformulation projects
- Conduct innovation & trend analysis
- Oversee product and process development to meet quality and cost targets
- Maintain process parameters, product specifications and documentation
- Collaborate with Consumer Experience and Quality teams on complaint resolution
- Manages organic & kosher certification
Other …
- This position requires some travel and schedule flexibility
- Attendance at industry events and trade shows as needed
About Happy Planet Foods
Two boys, Randal Ius and Gregor Robertson, started out in 1994 with a farm full of organic carrots, a blender, a somewhat ambitious dream to make the world a better place and hopefully make some money too.
The idea was to connect big city people back to the land, to farmers who produced great produce that went in foods which tasted good and did some good.
They called the company Happy Planet.
From humble beginnings on the farm Happy Planet has become Canada’s most loved all natural food & juice company.
Food that makes you feel good is our purpose.
We look for the best produce from farms and farmers we know and trust. Mostly they’re small Canadian farmers doing their bit to protect the land. We’re proud to help them. Our produce is all as naked as nature intended. And we squeeze every last drop of goodness from the fruits and veggies whilst adding none of the stuff that might do harm. No preservatives, additives, artificial ingredients or stuff you can’t pronounce. Just good taste.
We love food so we’re constantly adding new foods, tastes and flavours to our offer. Today we make soups, smoothies, and juices. All good and all full of goodness.
We feel that doing the right thing is really simple and so we seek packaging that’s recyclable, do what we can to feed those in need and try to make people happy through the various community programs we have committed to.
Look out for Happy Planet in your local store. It may make you smile to know that whilst you’re sampling our great tastes, all sorts of people along the way are being supported by people like you.