Retail Product Development Manager

This role is hybrid to; NYC, Chicago, IL or Boulder, CO HelloFresh Headquarters

In addition to our core direct-to-consumer business, Factor_ has more recently expanded into the retail channel, making our meals available for purchase at brick-and-mortar stores. We are seeking a strategic, data-driven, and highly collaborative Retail Product Development Manager to own Factor_’s Retail Prepared Meals and adjacent food and beverage categories to support growth in this channel. In this pivotal role, you will champion the end-to-end retail product lifecycle—from driving overarching category strategy and formulation management to leading packaging design and continuous portfolio optimization. Acting as the ultimate product expert and a crucial cross-functional linchpin, you will partner seamlessly with Sales, Operations, DTC Product, and Nutrition teams to bridge deep consumer insights with specific retailer needs. Your core objective is to engineer a winning, scalable retail portfolio that commands attention on the shelf, drives exceptional sales velocity for our partners, and builds enduring brand loyalty through relentless, customer-centric innovation.

Key Responsibilities:

• Retail Product Strategy - Develop a winning retail prepared meals range consisting of core year-round SKUs, seasonal skus and may include the development of exclusive retailer ranges. Identify opportunities for expansion into adjacent categories based on retailer needs, white space and consumer research, as well as products available in our portfolio or ripe for development.
• Portfolio Lifecycle Management - Evaluate existing meals, conduct sales performance reviews, leverage online ratings and commentary as well as market trends to optimize our product portfolio by retailer. 
• Formulation & Spec Management - Ensure the retail product range can consistently be offered to retail partners by planning for necessary formulation, ingredient, and packaging changes, owning the spec creation and management process. 
• Packaging Design - Own packaging design for retail products, ensuring alignment with the broader F_ brand and packaging creative guidelines, meeting retailer compliance standards and functionality and appeal on shelf. 
• Sales Support - Support sales and review meetings with retailers as the product expert, sharing performance insights, industry trends, and product strategy and development opportunities.
• Cross-Functional Management - Partner with key members of the product team to ensure a strong understanding of the DTC product strategy, dietary lifestyles, consumer insights, and product development opportunities with the new formats team. Additionally, partner with operations, nutrition, FSQA, sourcing, retail team members, etc. to ensure the successful management of our retail program.

You are…

• A problem solver - You are resourceful and scrappy and aren’t afraid to roll up your sleeves and figure it out. Where a process doesn’t exist, you’ll create one.  
• Curious & Passionate about Product - you are always looking to learn more about the industry, new products and ways we can delight our customers.
• Data-driven to the core and leverage data to make key business decisions. 
• Detail-oriented – You possess strong organizational skills and demonstrate a methodical approach to your work, documenting new processes.
• A project manager - You have excellent project management skills leading groups, as well as a demonstrated ability to meet deadlines and complete deliverables on time.
• A critical thinker – You use logic to identify opportunities, evaluate alternatives, and present critical information to solve complex problems.
• Highly collaborative - You enjoy working collaboratively with cross-functional teams to get things done.

At a minimum, you have...

• Bachelor degree in Business Administration or other relevant field of study.
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience with a background in physical product management, category management, product marketing or strategic sourcing across food/food tech or CPG industries.
• Strong preference for experience within CPG or retail product development.
• Fluent in Google Suite applications (especially sheets & slides), tableau, Gemini and an ability to quickly learn and leverage a range of other databases and tech tools. 
• Familiarity with retail data platforms (NIQ, SPINS, or Circana/IRI) to track category performance and support buyer conversations.
• Ability to successfully manage multiple cross-functional stakeholders as well as to present to executive level colleagues.
• Success in collaborating with cross-functional teams to get things done
• Travel: <10%

You’ll get…

• Competitive salary, 401k with company match that vest immediately upon participation, and company equity plan based on role
• Generous PTO, including sabbatical, and parental leave of up to 16 weeks
• Comprehensive health and wellness benefits with options at $0 monthly, effective first day of employment
• Tuition reimbursement for continuing education (upon 2 years of service)
• Up to 85% discount on subscriptions to HelloFresh meal plans (HelloFresh, Green Chef, Everyplate, and Factor_)   
• Access to 7 different Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) including those for BIPOC, women, veterans, parents, and LGBTQ+
• Inclusive, collaborative, and dynamic work environment within a fast-paced, mission-driven company that is disrupting the traditional food supply chain

This job description is intended to provide a general overview of the responsibilities. However, the Company reserves the right to adjust, modify, or reassign work tasks and responsibilities as needed to meet changing business needs, operational requirements, or other factors.

Our company is committed to fair hiring practices and complies with all applicable laws, including the Colorado Job Application Fairness Act (JAFA). In accordance with JAFA, we will not request your age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution on your initial application for employment.

The Construction Manager will oversee multiple construction and CAPEX projects. This will include capital improvement projects, retrofits & renovations, and new builds. The Construction Manager will be responsible for managing design, planning (cost & schedule), and execution (quality assurance and job site safety & compliance) for our current & future HelloFresh Fulfillment Centers.  You will manage enhancement projects and building construction to make our facilities best in class! 

You will… 

• Manage planning and execution of capital construction projects
• Responsible for the financial management of assigned projects that can be in excess of $10M
• Play a critical role in formulation of construction budget; develop RFPs, negotiate terms and conditions with professional entities.
• Manage review process of all project design documents (drawings and specifications) 
• Establish agreed upon project expectations and adherence to the approved budget and work effectively with end user(s), such as Fulfillment Operations, Engineering, Logistics, etc. - and other necessary outside professionals (architects, engineers, developers, estimators, equipment planners, etc.) to establish the  scope and budget for a project
• Liaise with outside contractors regarding bidding, planning, scheduling, and execution 
• Make frequent site visits to survey the progress of work on all assigned construction projects to assure quality control & monitor performance to contract. 
• Interface with local/state agencies regarding permits and inspections 
• Monitor performance of contracts and recommend payment for appropriate services rendered. This includes review and submission of all letters of approval, invoices, change orders, support documentation, etc. 
• Manage business relationships with external contractors. 
• Prepares project status reports regularly and effectively communicates the status of all major & minor construction projects to Leadership and stakeholders. 

You are… 

• Data-driven – make decisions based on facts rather than gut-feelings
• A connector of complex problems at all levels through excellent written and verbal skills
• Impeccable organization, detail, and project management
• Agile - works in an ever-changing environment; demonstrates a data-driven focus in all work.
• Experienced in leading teams and encouraging collaborations at all levels and departments of an organization.
• A natural owner - Super reliable and thoughtful in managing your responsibilities, cares about the outcome and quality of work and earns the trust of your colleagues
• Customer-focused: aim to achieve a customer experience and product that is second to none
• Communicative and send clear messages verbally and in written form to set direction, and convey updates on issues, operational status, and goals during daily/weekly stand-ups and leadership reviews
• Equipped to manage projects, gather data, organize ideas, form recommendations and implement solutions
• Dedicated to providing the best possible experience for the HelloFresh customer 

You have… 

• Degree in Construction Management, Architecture, Engineering or a related field a plus 
• 4+ years’ experience in construction or project management,in e-commerce fulfillment/distribution experience preferred.
• Food industry experience a plus but not required 
• Significant working knowledge of Federal, State, and local laws and regulations related to facility buildouts 
• Experience managing multiple projects of scope and scale simultaneously 
• Proven history negotiating contracts for facility expansion (contractors, sub-vendors, landlords, permit offices, site management, etc.) 
• Understanding of Building, Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing Codes 
• Proficient in Microsoft Word and Excel 
• Ability to read and interpret complex construction drawings 
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills 
• Requires heavy travel to assigned project locations (50 - 80%)

You’ll get…

• Competitive hourly rate, 401K company match that vests immediately upon participation, & team bonus opportunities
• Generous PTO and flexible attendance policy 
• Comprehensive health and wellness benefits with options at $0 monthly, effective first day of employment
• Up to 85% discount on subscriptions to HelloFresh meal plans (HelloFresh, Green Chef, Everyplate, and Factor_)   
• Access to Employee Resource Groups that are open to all employees, including those pertaining to BIPOC, women, veterans, parents, and LGBTQ+
• Inclusive, collaborative, and dynamic work environment within a fast-paced, mission-driven company that is disrupting the traditional food supply chain

This job description is intended to provide a general overview of the responsibilities. However, the Company reserves the right to adjust, modify, or reassign work tasks and responsibilities as needed to meet changing business needs, operational requirements, or other factors.

Our company is committed to fair hiring practices and complies with all applicable laws, including the Colorado Job Application Fairness Act (JAFA). In accordance with JAFA, we will not request your age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution on your initial application for employment.

Summary of Position
The Procurement Analyst will be a key member of Imbibe’s Supply Chain & Operations team, responsible for managing raw materials used in flavor production to optimize inventory levels and mitigate risk. Partnering closely with Sales, R&D, and Operations, this individual will proactively address challenges and ensure a seamless flow of materials to support customer expectations and production schedules. In this role, the Procurement Analyst will lead initiatives to strengthen supply chain resilience, including overseeing raw material procurement and aiding in secondary sourcing initiatives. A strong emphasis will be placed on building and maintaining effective relationships with suppliers and co-manufacturers to ensure smooth operations across the entire supply chain.

Essential Job Duties

• Collaborate continuously with Sales, R&D, and Operations to support and manage raw material demand for flavor production.
  • Review raw material risks or issues that arise during product development and take proactive action to minimize their impact on the final product.
  • Manage new raw material setups with co-manufacturers to ensure accurate and timely setup. 
• Collaborate with Supply Chain Planning and Customer Service to ensure timely availability of raw materials required for production, supporting on-time fulfillment of customer orders.
  • Analyze raw material planning parameters on a monthly basis to ensure sufficient inventory to meet customer demand while minimizing expiration costs.
  • Support the resolution of raw material shortages to minimize impacts on customer orders.
  • Manage the purchase of raw materials including order placement, tracking and follow up to ensure on-time delivery to support production schedules.
  • Monitor the receipt of inventory to ensure proper invoices are presented to accounting and resolve discrepancies as they arise.
  • Evaluate customer forecasts to determine their impact on raw material requirements and inventory levels.
  • Perform monthly inventory reconciliation to ensure ERP system inventory is accurate and in-line with Imbibe’s co-manufacturers.
  • Oversee the expired raw material process between Imbibe and our co-manufacturer to ensure timely resolution.
• Analyze raw material price increases to assess their impact on final products and benchmark costs against multiple sources to support negotiations.
• Maintain accurate raw material records within the formulation system and recommend enhancements to improve data accuracy.
• Facilitate samples to support secondary sourcing projects to strengthen supply chain resilience.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with Imbibe suppliers and co-manufacturers.
• Lead special supply chain projects as assigned by leadership.
• Other tasks as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, supply chain management, or other relevant field.
• 2+ years of experience in procurement or purchasing.
• Proven experience in data analysis and forecasting, with the ability to translate data into meaningful business insights.
• Demonstrated knowledge of core business processes, including order-to-cash and procurement cycles.  
• Familiarity with risk assessment and risk management practices in a business context.
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Excel.
• Strong communication and presentation skills with the ability to communicate information and exchange ideas with high attention to detail.
• Results oriented and takes ownership of goals and objectives.
• Ability to work independently and comfortable with changing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to remain in a stationary sitting position 75% of the time. 

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with ERP systems (e.g. Microsoft Dynamics NAV) is highly valuable.
• Experience with PMS systems (e.g. Workfront) is highly valuable.
• Experience in the Food and Beverage industry is preferred. 

Working Conditions

• Office setting
• Hybrid schedule

job purpose: The Senior Director of Product Development will lead the end-to-end innovation, formulation, and commercialization of high protein, milk-based beverages. This role is responsible for translating consumer insights, nutritional science, and business strategy into scalable, differentiated products that win in the marketplace. The position provides strategic and technical leadership across R&D, product design, process development, and cross functional execution. This leader will serve as the technical authority for dairy based protein beverages, ensuring products meet targets for nutrition, sensory performance, quality, regulatory compliance, and cost, while accelerating speed to market.

responsibilities:

Product & Innovation Leadership

• Own the product development strategy for high protein milk-based beverages, aligned with portfolio, growth, and brand objectives.
• Lead the creation of differentiated formulations and drive innovative pipelines from concept through launch, including renovation, line extensions, and breakthrough platforms.
• Apply consumer insights, sensory science, and nutrition trends to guide product design.

Technical & Scientific Excellence

• Serve as subject-matter expert in dairy chemistry, protein functionality, stabilization, and shelf-life optimization.
• Lead formulation development addressing challenges such as viscosity, sedimentation, flavor masking, heat stability, and protein solubility.
• Oversee bench-top, pilot, and commercial scale-up activities, ensuring technical feasibility and manufacturing robustness.
• Ensure compliance with food safety, regulatory, and labeling requirements (FDA, USDA, global as applicable).

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Partner closely with Marketing, Operations, Quality, Procurement, Regulatory, and Supply Chain to ensure seamless commercialization.
• Provide technical guidance during capital projects, co-manufacturing selection, and process optimization.
• Influence senior leadership through data-driven recommendations, risk assessments, and scenario planning.

Team & Capability Building

• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing product development and R&D team.
• Establish best-in-class development processes, stage-gate governance, and technical standards.
• Foster a culture of innovation, scientific rigor, and continuous improvement.

Business & Portfolio Impact

• Manage development budgets, timelines, and resource allocation.
• Balance innovation ambition with cost targets, margin goals, and operational constraints.
• Support IP strategy, supplier partnerships, and external collaborations.

skills/qualifications required:

• Advanced degree (MS or PhD preferred) in Food Science, Dairy Science, Chemical Engineering, Nutrition, or related field.
• 12+ years of progressive experience in product development within dairy, beverages, or nutrition focused CPG.
• Proven leadership in high protein or functional beverage development (RTD, UHT, ESL, refrigerated).
• Demonstrated success taking products from concept to commercial launch at scale.
• Experience working with cross-functional and global teams.
• Understanding and knowledge of Dairy protein systems (whey, casein, milk protein concentrates/isolates), UHT / HTST processing and aseptic technologies, emulsion and stabilization systems, sensory optimization and flavor systems, shelf-life testing and quality validation, and regulatory and nutrition labeling considerations

how fairlife nourishes you:

At fairlife, we believe in better — and that includes how we support our people. We offer a comprehensive suite of benefits and well-being resources designed to support you physically, emotionally, socially, and financially, both in and out of work.

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, effective day one!
• Supplemental health plans (hospital indemnity, accident, and critical illness insurance)
• Paid Time Off to recharge and support work-life balance
• Paid parental leave & adoption assistance (up to $10,000)
• Parental support & family care benefits, including childcare resources and lactation support
• 401(k) to support retirement planning with up to 9% in employer match
• Wellness reimbursement (up to $500 for qualified wellbeing expenses)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for emotional wellbeing and work-life support
• Company-paid life insurance and short-term disability
• Employer HSA funding (for HDHP participants)
• Tuition reimbursement (up to $10,000) and student loan repayment ($200/month)
• Learning & development programs to unlock your full potential
• Rewards & recognition, matching gifts, free product, and Business Resource Groups

fairlife’s nourish program is designed to meet you where you are — supporting your individual wellbeing journey while enabling you to do your best work every day.

position location: Chicago Illinois

travel requirements: 40%

exempt/nonexempt: Exempt

Summary of Position

The Scientist is a mid-level product developer. This individual is skilled in the formulation, scale-up, and commercialization of food and beverage products but may have more weighted experience in a certain area. They are proficient in self-management and project prioritization to meet business and client needs and play a key role with keeping a project team on task. This individual has a developing knowledge of the food and beverage industry, holistically, and is a keen innovator amid an ever-changing trend landscape.

Essential Job Duties

• Work to formulate high quality products for clients, assuming responsibility for the design, planning, and execution of varying complexity projects.
• Batch and prepare formulas for processing at the bench and pilot plant scale, with an in-depth working knowledge of relevant processing equipment.
• Conduct analytical testing on raw and finished product samples including but not limited to pH, titratable acidity, total solids/moisture, particle size, Brix, density, viscosity, and color.
• Apply critical thinking, food science and business principles to work through complex, challenging scenarios at bench, pilot, and commercial scales. Leverage internal and external resources for troubleshooting and root cause analysis.
• Interact with clients on a regular basis to maintain project momentum and engagement.
• Drive progress and deliver results on multiple priorities, projects, and timelines concurrently.
• Provide technical support for varying complexity/risk product trials.
• Monitor progress of shelf life for given projects through data analysis and synthesis into comprehensive technical reports.
• Execute other duties as assigned within established SOPs and participate in SOP revision, optimization, and creation with other stakeholders. Participate in training and onboarding initiatives as needed and lead training for any direct reports.
• Follow all Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) guidelines and assist in enforcing policies throughout the organization.
• This role may require travel to manufacturing plants (<20%).
• This role may include supervision of other teammates as well as management of entry or junior-level roles (typically 1-2 direct reports).

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in food science, chemistry, biochemistry, engineering, or related field.
• Minimum 4 years’ experience in a food/beverage manufacturing facility and/or laboratory setting.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office suite including Outlook, Excel, SharePoint, and Word.
• Skilled in data synthesis and technical writing/communication.
• Collaborative and team-oriented mindset and detailed work style.
• Proficiency in self-management and prioritization skills to meet client and business needs.
• Comfortable with a brisk working pace and environment of changing priorities.
• Must be able to sit, stand, or remain in a stationary position for extended periods of time.
• May occasionally need to move, lift, or transport containers of ingredients weighing up to 50 lbs.
• Exposure to food and beverage product tastings which may include allergens.
• Occasional travel to manufacturing plants where exposure to confined spaces, loud noise, excessive heat/cold, and/or wet/slippery conditions is possible.

Preferred Qualifications

• 5+ years of progressive experience in beverage product development, ideally with both CPG and flavor house exposure.
• Demonstrated success leading formulation and commercialization of diverse beverage platforms, including high- and low-acid ready-to-drink products, ready-to-mix powders, functional beverages, and concentrates/syrups.
• Proven mastery in beverage flavor applications, including flavor system design, customization, masking strategies, and performance troubleshooting.
• Advanced expertise in powdered beverage systems, with deep understanding of solubility, stability, sensory optimization, and manufacturing techniques.
• Hands-on experience with natural color applications in beverages, including stability optimization and color-flavor harmony.
• Skilled at synthesizing technical data into clear, actionable insights and reports.
• Effective communicator with the ability to deliver compelling presentations to both internal stakeholders and external clients.

Working Conditions

• Typical office setting for most desk work and paperwork including use of standard office equipment.
• Typical food/beverage laboratory and pilot plant setting for all hands-on development work including the use of standard laboratory equipment.
• 15 floating WFH days