Director of Product Innovation

Universal Nutrition · New brunswick, United States

Universal Nutrition has been a foundational name in sports nutrition for decades, and we're not slowing down. We're looking for a Director of Product Innovation who is equal parts scientist, strategist, and competitor - someone who wakes up thinking about what's next before anyone else in the industry has their morning shake.

This is a seat at the table. You'll shape the product roadmap that millions of athletes, bodybuilders, and performance-driven consumers rely on to train harder, recover faster, and push beyond their limits. If you've been waiting for the role where your instincts, expertise, and ambition can operate without a ceiling, this is it.

WHAT YOU'LL OWN

• Own the full innovation pipeline from white space identification through commercialization - new formulations, new categories, and line extensions that keep Universal ahead of the market.
• Define a 1-3 year product roadmap grounded in consumer insights, competitive intelligence, and emerging science.
• Prioritize ruthlessly. Not every idea is a product. Know the difference.

Formulation & Science

• Lead cross-functional R&D efforts with internal formulators and contract manufacturers (CMOs) to develop clinically-informed, efficacious products.
• Stay at the cutting edge of ingredient science - novel actives, bioavailability technologies, combination stacking strategies, and regulatory developments (FDA, NSF, Informed Sport).
• Ensure all products substantiate claims with credible science and can withstand regulatory and consumer scrutiny.
• Partner closely with Marketing, Sales, and Brand to translate product concepts into compelling consumer stories and retail execution.
• Bring products to market on time, on budget, and positioned to win - not just launch.
• Own the brief: define target consumer, key benefits, hero claims, competitive positioning, and success metrics for every innovation.
• Be the internal authority on the competitive landscape - supplement brands, emerging DTC players, functional food crossovers, ingredient suppliers, and biotech disruptors.
• Attend key industry events (Expo West, SupplySide, ISSN, etc.) and maintain an active network across formulators, KOLs, and scientific advisors.

Team & Cross-Functional Leadership

• Lead, mentor, and grow a high-performance innovation team.
• Operate as a true cross-functional leader - aligning R&D, Regulatory, Operations, Marketing, and Sales around a shared innovation vision.
• Present innovation strategy and pipeline updates to senior leadership and ownership with clarity and conviction.

WHAT YOU BRING

Non-Negotiables

• 8+ years of product development or innovation experience, with a minimum of 4 years in the dietary supplement, sports nutrition, or functional food/beverage industry.
• Deep knowledge of supplement formulation - protein systems, pre-workouts, creatine, amino acids, adaptogens, cognitive performance, weight management, and recovery nutrition.
• Proven track record of launching successful SKUs - you've taken products from concept to shelf and can point to the results.
• Strong command of regulatory frameworks governing supplements (DSHEA, cGMP, third-party certification programs).
• Experience managing CMO relationships, ingredient supplier negotiations, and COG optimization.

The Edge We're Looking For

• You think like a consumer, formulate like a scientist, and execute like an operator.
• You're not precious about ideas - you're relentless about outcomes.
• You have strong opinions about what makes a great product and the data and instincts to back them up.
• You've worked in a fast-moving environment where speed-to-market is a competitive advantage, not an afterthought.
• Active network within the sports nutrition ecosystem - athletes, coaches, researchers, retailers, and distributors.

Education

• Bachelor's degree required in Food Science, Nutrition, Exercise Science, Chemistry, Biology, or related field.
• Advanced degree (MS, PhD, RD) strongly preferred but not a substitute for real-world execution experience.

SUCCESS IN YEAR ONE LOOKS LIKE

• A clearly defined, prioritized 18-month innovation roadmap that the organization is aligned behind.
• At least 2-3 new SKUs launched or in final development stages with strong commercial positioning.
• A tightened, more strategic CMO and supplier network that delivers better quality, cost, and speed.
• Cross-functional teams that operate with more clarity, speed, and shared accountability on innovation.
• You've established yourself as the internal and external authority on what Universal Nutrition stands for in product.

WHY UNIVERSAL NUTRITION

• Legacy brand, startup energy.
• Decades of equity in the market with the agility and urgency of a challenger brand.
• This isn't a role where innovation dies in committee. Your decisions move.
• Category breadth.
• From foundational staples to cutting-edge performance science - you'll work across the full spectrum.
• We are the consumer. That drives everything we build.
• Competitive compensation.
• Base salary commensurate with experience + performance bonus + full benefits. Details provided during the interview process.