OLIPOP
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ABOUT OLIPOP
At OLIPOP, we’re on a mission to positively impact consumer health at scale. And we’re doing it through something simple: soda. But not just any soda, a new kind of soda: one that’s delicious, refreshing, and actually good for you.
This mission is deeply personal for our CEO, Co-Founder, and Formulator, Ben Goodwin. Like many of us, Ben grew up consuming the Standard American Diet: lots of soda and processed foods that prioritized convenience over nutrition. But at 14, he took his health into his own hands. After making significant changes to his nutrition and exercise, he lost 50 pounds and saw a transformation in his energy, mood, and emotional clarity.
Those changes sparked a deep curiosity about the connection between nutrition and health. Ben became a relentless student of the gut microbiome and the ways it supports overall wellness. The more he discovered, the more passionate he became about finding credible, science-backed ways to make consumer health accessible to everyone.
The mission was clear. The vehicle? Less so. After exploring the possibilities, Ben landed on an unexpected yet familiar choice: soda. It was something he loved as a kid, and he knew millions shared that same nostalgia. But this wouldn’t be just any soda. With most Americans falling short on daily fiber, Ben set out to create a version with more fiber and less sugar, one that was perfectly balanced. The result? A deliciously refreshing soda with 6 to 9 grams of fiber and 2 to 5 grams of sugar, delivering science-backed benefits without sacrificing the classic taste people crave.
In 2018, the first OLIPOP cans hit the shelves, bringing Ben’s vision to life with a functional soda that anyone could enjoy. And by reimagining soda, we’re also reshaping culture. That means creating products that support health for all and building a business grounded in humanistic values: empathy, integrity, and a belief in better for everyone. From the ingredients we source to the culture we foster, we’re committed to proving that business (and beverage!) can be a force for good, and that soda has the power to bring people together.
So join us, and let’s write a new American soda story together. One we can all feel good about. One OLIPOP at a time.
THE ROLE
The Vice President, Quality, Regulatory & R&D is accountable for building and leading an integrated technical organization that protects consumers, ensures compliant and consistent product quality, and accelerates innovation from concept through commercialization. This Senior Leader role serves as the strategic leader for all quality assurance, regulatory compliance, and research and development activities across the organization. The Vice President willestablish and maintain systems that ensure product safety, regulatory adherence, and innovation excellence while fostering a culture of continuous improvement and technical excellence.
This role serves as the enterprise owner of OLIPOP’s technical risk posture and innovation credibility, acting as a trusted advisor to the CEO, executive leadership team, and Board on matters of product safety, regulatory risk, and long‑term technical capability
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Product Quality Assurance Systems: End-to-end ownership of quality management systems, food safety protocols, product testing and release processes, and manufacturing quality standards across all production facilities and co-manufacturing partners.
- Regulatory Compliance Governance: Complete accountability for regulatory strategy, compliance frameworks, ingredient and labeling governance, claim substantiation, and regulatory submissions across all markets and product categories.
- New Product Development Pipeline: Strategic direction and operational oversight of the innovation pipeline from concept through commercialization, including technical feasibility, formulation development, pilot production, and scale-up to commercial manufacturing. This role also works closely with our founder who formulates all innovation and renovation at Olipop.
Quality Leadership
- Set and steward the enterprise quality and food safety strategy by owning company‑wide quality systems, product release standards, supplier compliance, and data‑driven continuous improvement, ensuring consistent delivery of safe, compliant, and high‑quality products at scale.
- Lead enterprise quality risk management and capability building by serving as the executive decision‑maker during quality incidents and recalls, cultivating a strong quality culture across internal teams and partners, and providing strategic oversight of the OLIPOP Lab to build scalable quality and testing capabilities.
Regulatory Strategy & Governance
- Set and steward the company’s regulatory vision and risk posture by advising executive leadership on regulatory risks, growth tradeoffs, and go‑to‑market decisions; providing oversight of the regulatory roadmap across products and markets; and serving as the executive authority on labeling, claims, and high‑impact or ambiguous matters.
- Enable strong regulatory leadership and execution at scale by coaching and elevating the Regulatory team, guiding governance frameworks and audit readiness, monitoring the evolving regulatory landscape, representing the company externally, and providing executive direction to support domestic and international expansion.
R&D Leadership
- Define and lead the enterprise R&D strategy by aligning the innovation portfolio to company growth and brand priorities, setting governance for prioritization, stage‑gate decisions, and risk tolerance, and providing executive oversight from concept through commercialization.
- Ensure technical excellence and scalable innovation by setting clear product and technical standards, guiding R&D leaders on feasibility and manufacturability, building external innovation partnerships, and structuring and resourcing the R&D organization to deliver near‑term launches while building long‑term capabilities.
People Leadership & Organization Design
- Build and lead a high‑performing technical organization by designing scalable structures, developing top talent across Quality, Regulatory, and R&D, establishing clear operating rhythms and governance, and ensuring strong cross‑functional alignment with Operations, Supply Chain, Commercial, and Finance.
- Own strategic resourcing and technical leadership at the enterprise level, including budget and headcount decisions, priority tradeoffs, and serving as the technical voice in executive discussions to support near‑term execution and long‑term scale.
QUALIFICATIONS
- 12+ years of progressive leadership experience in quality, regulatory, and/or R&D roles within the food, beverage, or consumer packaged goods industry. Demonstrated success building and leading technical organizations through periods of growth and transformation.
- Deep expertise in food safety management systems including HACCP, FSMA preventive controls, SQF/BRC certification, and FDA/USDA regulatory requirements. Experience managing regulatory compliance for multi-site manufacturing operations.
- Proven track record leading new product development from concept through commercialization including formulation, pilot production, scale-up, and launch execution. Experience with both internal manufacturing and co-manufacturing models.
- Executive presence and business acumen with ability to influence cross-functional partners, present to boards and investors, and serve as a strategic advisor to the CEO and executive team on technical matters.
- Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Chemistry, Engineering, or related technical field with advanced degree (MS, PhD, MBA) preferred/ideal.
- Experience in high-growth or private equity-backed food and beverage companies with exposure to rapid scaling, M&A integration, and building technical capabilities to support aggressive growth targets.
- Expertise in emerging food categories including plant-based products, functional foods, clean label formulations, or sustainable packaging technologies.
- Strategic Vision & Business Acumen: Ability to translate business strategy into technical priorities, make build-versus-buy decisions, allocate resources effectively, and balance short-term execution with long-term capability building.
- Influence & Stakeholder Management: Executive presence to influence peers, manage up to CEO and board level, build trust with external partners, and represent the company with regulatory agencies and industry associations.
- Change Leadership & Transformation: Proven ability to drive organizational change, implement new systems and processes, build change management plans, and lead teams through periods of growth and transformation.
- Technical Excellence & Innovation: Deep technical expertise combined with curiosity about emerging technologies, ability to evaluate technical risks and opportunities, and commitment to continuous learning and innovation.
- Talent Development & Culture Building: Track record of attracting and developing technical talent, creating inclusive and collaborative team cultures, providing effective coaching and feedback, and building organizational capability for long-term success.
REPORTS TO:
Chief Supply Chain Officer
COMPENSATION:
$220,000-$250,000 base salary + bonus
HOW WE WORK
We may be fully remote, but we’re anything but disconnected. OLIPOP has grown from a few passionate people around a table to a nationwide team, and we’ve done it without losing our collaborative spirit or sense of purpose.
Connection here is intentional. From cross-functional projects and IRL offsites to thoughtful Slack threads and spontaneous gifs, we make the effort to stay close, even across time zones. Sure, we move quickly, but we lead with trust, transparency, and a shared commitment to doing work that matters.
We value thoughtful debate. We give feedback with care and receive it with curiosity, knowing that real growth, both personal and collective, comes from listening as much as leading. Because at OLIPOP, it’s not just about getting things done. It’s about growing together, staying true to what matters, and building something with lasting impact.
WHAT WE VALUE
At OLIPOP, our values aren’t just posters on a wall. They shape how we show up: for each other, for our customers, and for the mission we’re chasing together.
- Mission Connectivity: Everything we do ladders up to our shared goal: supporting human health. Whether launching a new flavor or conducting clinical research, the mission stays front and center.
- Indomitable Spirit: When things get messy, we get inventive. We stay curious, adapt quickly, and find the path forward, most likely with a dedicated Slack thread and a beautifully overbuilt deck.
- Lead at Every Level: Leadership isn’t about titles, it’s about ownership. We speak up, follow through, and lift each other up. If you’ve got ideas and initiative, you’ve got influence.
- Courageous Humility: We’re confident in what we bring and curious about what we don’t know (yet). We give feedback with care, take it with grace, and know that real growth takes both.
WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR
Success at OLIPOP doesn’t come from checking boxes; it comes from living our values, staying curious, and finding energy in both the pace and the purpose. We’re building something big, and we’re looking for people who:
- Think big, move fast, and take thoughtful risks
- Thrive in a high-performance, feedback-rich environment
- Value real human connection and honest collaboration
- Are fired up by building something new, and making it better every day
Startup life at OLIPOP is equally fun and fast-paced. If you’re energized by a dynamic environment, eager to grow, and excited to help shape something meaningful from the inside out, OLIPOP is a one-of-a-kind ride.
We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities or other needs during the application process and employment. To request an accommodation, please contact The People Team at recruiting@drinkolipop.com.
We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. OLIPOP will consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, religion, gender (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, veteran status, or any other characteristics protected by law.
Submission of Application Materials
Applicants are required to submit only the materials specifically requested as part of the application process. Please do not include any unsolicited materials, as they will not be reviewed or considered.
Unsolicited materials may include, but are not limited to:
- Marketing or promotional concepts
- Business ideas or strategies
- Photographs, videos, or other media
- Presentations, designs, or other creative content
By submitting any materials beyond those explicitly requested, you agree that:
- You are voluntarily providing such materials;
- You irrevocably assign all rights, title, and interest in and to those materials to Olipop Inc.; and
- Olipop Inc. may use, reproduce, modify, distribute, or otherwise exploit such materials for any purpose anywhere in the world, without restriction or compensation.
Ready to apply?
Apply to OLIPOP
R&D Manager, Brand Maintenance & Productivity
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ABOUT OLIPOP
At OLIPOP, we’re on a mission to positively impact consumer health at scale. And we’re doing it through something simple: soda. But not just any soda, a new kind of soda: one that’s delicious, refreshing, and actually good for you.
This mission is deeply personal for our CEO, Co-Founder, and Formulator, Ben Goodwin. Like many of us, Ben grew up consuming the Standard American Diet: lots of soda and processed foods that prioritized convenience over nutrition. But at 14, he took his health into his own hands. After making significant changes to his nutrition and exercise, he lost 50 pounds and saw a transformation in his energy, mood, and emotional clarity.
Those changes sparked a deep curiosity about the connection between nutrition and health. Ben became a relentless student of the gut microbiome and the ways it supports overall wellness. The more he discovered, the more passionate he became about finding credible, science-backed ways to make consumer health accessible to everyone.
The mission was clear. The vehicle? Less so. After exploring the possibilities, Ben landed on an unexpected yet familiar choice: soda. It was something he loved as a kid, and he knew millions shared that same nostalgia. But this wouldn’t be just any soda. With most Americans falling short on daily fiber, Ben set out to create a version with more fiber and less sugar, one that was perfectly balanced. The result? A deliciously refreshing soda with 6 to 9 grams of fiber and 2 to 5 grams of sugar, delivering science-backed benefits without sacrificing the classic taste people crave.
In 2018, the first OLIPOP cans hit the shelves, bringing Ben’s vision to life with a functional soda that anyone could enjoy. And by reimagining soda, we’re also reshaping culture. That means creating products that support health for all and building a business grounded in humanistic values: empathy, integrity, and a belief in better for everyone. From the ingredients we source to the culture we foster, we’re committed to proving that business (and beverage!) can be a force for good, and that soda has the power to bring people together.
So join us, and let’s write a new American soda story together. One we can all feel good about. One OLIPOP at a time.
THE ROLE
The R&D Manager, Brand Maintenance & Productivity is responsible for maintaining the integrity, quality, and efficiency of the existing beverage portfolio. This role leads formula stewardship, cost optimization initiatives, and technical execution of brand maintenance projects. The position is a hands-on technical leadership role that manages a team of R&D Scientists or Technicians while actively contributing to formulation, experimentation, and plant trial execution. This role works cross-functionally with Procurement, Quality, Regulatory, and Supply Chain teams to ensure the portfolio remains consistent, scalable, and optimized for both sensory performance and operational efficiency.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Brand Maintenance & Formula Stewardship
- In collaboration with Quality and Regulatory departments, own technical stewardship of the existing beverage portfolio, ensuring formulas remain consistent, compliant, and scalable across manufacturing locations.
- Manage formula and specification updates related to ingredient changes, supplier transitions, regulatory updates, process improvements, and ongoing specification refinement based on production learnings ensuring all changes are clearly communicated, reviewed, and aligned with manufacturing partners for accuracy and execution readiness.
- Evaluate and mitigate potential risks to product quality, sensory, or manufacturability when changes are introduced.
Productivity, Cost Optimization & Supply Continuity
- Identify and lead cost savings initiatives across the portfolio, including ingredient optimization, supplier qualifications, and specification improvements.
- Partner with Procurement to validate alternative suppliers and ingredients.
- Own ingredient and formula specification R&D technical approvals.
- Conduct technical assessments to ensure cost improvements do not negatively impact sensory quality, product stability, or processability.
- Develop technical justification, validation plans, and implementation strategies for productivity initiatives.
Sensory Validation & Technical Problem Solving
- Design and execute sensory evaluation protocols to validate formula, ingredient, and process changes across the existing portfolio.
- In collaboration with Quality, investigate product performance issues including sensory deviations, shelf-life concerns, and process variability. Design and execute experiments to identify root causes and implement corrective actions.
- Interpret sensory, analytical, and process data to inform technical decisions and risk assessments.
- Document findings, conclusions, and recommendations to support cross-functional decision-making and leadership updates.
Commercialization & Manufacturing Support
- Lead plant trials related to brand maintenance, formula renovations, and productivity projects. Develop protocols, success criteria, and post-trial reporting documentation with clear technical recommendations.
- Translate bench-scale formulations into scalable manufacturing processes and support troubleshooting during scale-up.
- Serve as key R&D technical contact for manufacturing plants during process, formula, or specification updates.
Team Leadership
- Directly manage a team of R&D Scientists, providing guidance on experimental design, data interpretation, and project prioritization.
- Balance hands-on technical contribution with effective delegation to ensure efficient project execution.
- Support technical skill development in areas such as formulation, commercialization, sensory evaluation, and manufacturing support.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- 6–8+ years of product development in the food and beverage industry. Experience with carbonated beverages strongly preferred.
- 0-2 years of experience managing and developing technical team members.
- Bachelor’s degree in Food Science or a related field.
- Excellent mathematical and analytical skills
- Proven experience supporting commercialization and plant-scale manufacturing.
- Familiarity with regulatory requirements and quality standards in the beverage industry.
- Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to troubleshoot technical issues.
- Strong project management skills and ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously.
- Experience with ingredient supplier qualification and cost optimization.
- Effective communication and teamwork skills.
- 25-40% travel to manufacturing plants, suppliers, and team offsites
- Close proximity to our lab in Burlingame. Ability to work onsite 4 days a week.
REPORTS TO:
Sr. R&D Manager
COMPENSATION:
$110,000 - $130,000
HOW WE WORK
We may be fully remote, but we’re anything but disconnected. OLIPOP has grown from a few passionate people around a table to a nationwide team, and we’ve done it without losing our collaborative spirit or sense of purpose.
Connection here is intentional. From cross-functional projects and IRL offsites to thoughtful Slack threads and spontaneous gifs, we make the effort to stay close, even across time zones. Sure, we move quickly, but we lead with trust, transparency, and a shared commitment to doing work that matters.
We value thoughtful debate. We give feedback with care and receive it with curiosity, knowing that real growth, both personal and collective, comes from listening as much as leading. Because at OLIPOP, it’s not just about getting things done. It’s about growing together, staying true to what matters, and building something with lasting impact.
WHAT WE VALUE
At OLIPOP, our values aren’t just posters on a wall. They shape how we show up: for each other, for our customers, and for the mission we’re chasing together.
- Mission Connectivity: Everything we do ladders up to our shared goal: supporting human health. Whether launching a new flavor or conducting clinical research, the mission stays front and center.
- Indomitable Spirit: When things get messy, we get inventive. We stay curious, adapt quickly, and find the path forward, most likely with a dedicated Slack thread and a beautifully overbuilt deck.
- Lead at Every Level: Leadership isn’t about titles, it’s about ownership. We speak up, follow through, and lift each other up. If you’ve got ideas and initiative, you’ve got influence.
- Courageous Humility: We’re confident in what we bring and curious about what we don’t know (yet). We give feedback with care, take it with grace, and know that real growth takes both.
WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR
Success at OLIPOP doesn’t come from checking boxes; it comes from living our values, staying curious, and finding energy in both the pace and the purpose. We’re building something big, and we’re looking for people who:
- Think big, move fast, and take thoughtful risks
- Thrive in a high-performance, feedback-rich environment
- Value real human connection and honest collaboration
- Are fired up by building something new, and making it better every day
Startup life at OLIPOP is equally fun and fast-paced. If you’re energized by a dynamic environment, eager to grow, and excited to help shape something meaningful from the inside out, OLIPOP is a one-of-a-kind ride.
We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities or other needs during the application process and employment. To request an accommodation, please contact The People Team at recruiting@drinkolipop.com.
We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. OLIPOP will consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, religion, gender (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, veteran status, or any other characteristics protected by law.
Submission of Application Materials
Applicants are required to submit only the materials specifically requested as part of the application process. Please do not include any unsolicited materials, as they will not be reviewed or considered.
Unsolicited materials may include, but are not limited to:
- Marketing or promotional concepts
- Business ideas or strategies
- Photographs, videos, or other media
- Presentations, designs, or other creative content
By submitting any materials beyond those explicitly requested, you agree that:
- You are voluntarily providing such materials;
- You irrevocably assign all rights, title, and interest in and to those materials to Olipop Inc.; and
- Olipop Inc. may use, reproduce, modify, distribute, or otherwise exploit such materials for any purpose anywhere in the world, without restriction or compensation.
Ready to apply?
Apply to OLIPOP