Innovation Manager
JuneShine
Administration
San Diego, CA, USA
USD 110k-120k / year
Posted on Sep 16, 2025
The Task at Hand:
Big ideas? You'll make them real!
As our Innovation Manager, you'll partner with the VP of Product to dream up, test, and launch what's next for JuneShine Brands! From first sip to full-scale production, you'll keep innovation flowing - creating new products, leveling up the classics, and experimenting with flavors, formats and ingredients. You'll drive fast-moving projects from concept to launch and make sure every drop is top-notch.
Who You Are:
- Energized by a fast-paced, team-first environment
- Equal parts creative thinker + technical doer
- Experienced in turning napkin ideas into shelf-ready products
- Fluent in cross-team collaboration (Marketing, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Quality)
- A builder who hits deadlines and raises the bar
What You'll Do:
- Lead the Innovation department and all correlating initiatives
- Collaborate with Supply Chain to execute NPI (New Product Innovation) timelines in accordance with the product roadmap
- Oversee new product development, ingredient validation, and prototype formulation
- Maintain inventory of raw materials for R&D, working with Supply Chain to source new inputs
- Optimize internal R&D lab processes for batching, carbonating, filling, and pasteurizing samples
- Implement tasting panel processes and revise formulas based on feedback
- Evaluate shelf-life performance and provide samples for customer presentations
- Ensure formulations meet quality specifications and COGS (Cost of Goods) expectations
- Lead SKU optimization and reformulation initiatives
- Partner with Quality to scale formulas, finalize nutritional panels, and establish production specs
- Manage 3rd-party lab relationships for testing and regulatory compliance
Must-Haves:
- Must be 21 years of age or older at the time of application
- Open to tasting alcohol and/or THC products as part of sensory testing — yes, it’s part of the job
- 5+ years of experience in product development, innovation, or R&D in the beverage, CPG, food or THC/psychopharmacology industries
- Hands-on experience with product formulation, shelf-life testing, and scale-up to commercial production
- Proven success leading cross-functional innovation projects from concept to launch
- Strong knowledge of regulatory compliance, nutritional labeling, and food safety standards
- Experience managing an R&D lab, including equipment, calibration, and safety protocols
- Travel and schedule flexibility is required (up to 20 days per year)
- JuneShine Brands’ expanding external manufacturing network may occasionally require unscheduled travel beyond standard expectations to address time-sensitive issues related to external manufacturing, 3PL partners, distribution, or external storage
Nice to Haves:
- Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Chemistry, Biology, or related field
- Prior experience in alcoholic beverage, kombucha, or functional beverage innovation
- Familiarity with carbonation, pasteurization, and sensory testing processes
- Demonstrated success reducing COGS while maintaining product quality
- Experience managing external manufacturing or 3PL partners
Compensation:
- $110,000 - $120,000 a year
- The final salary offer will be determined by several factors, including years of expertise, skills, and experience
- Unlimited Paid Time Off
- Healthcare Benefits; up to 90% contribution for employees and 25% for dependent medical
- Voluntary vision, dental, and accidental plans offered
- 401k with up to 4% company match
- 12 weeks paid Equal Parental Leave, $500 Baby Bonding Bucks, and sustainable baby gift
- Booch, Spirit, Beer, and Soft Good Perks
- And so much more!
Additional:
Who We Are
Our Purpose: To make quality, purpose-driven beverages
Our Business: Our vision is to create the next-generation beverage platform, comprising distinct brands, each with its own ethos and purpose. Despite being a multi-billion dollar industry, it lacks options that cater to the next generation of drinkers who will demand more from their alcohol than a mere buzz. Disrupting this industry is a worthy, and massive opportunity.
Our Culture: Our core values are Quality, Transparency, and Team-First. We derive much of our management policy from a book we give you upon hiring, ‘Let My People Go Surfing', by Yvon Chouinard (founder, owner, Patagonia). Our policy is to allow workers flexible hours, provided the work gets done with no negative impact on others. Our ‘let my people go surfing’ policy demands that we hire very unique individuals; those with a combination of self-motivation, self-discipline, and energy.
JuneShine Brands is a purpose-driven organization composed of a diverse and dynamic group of individuals with varied backgrounds, passions, and beliefs. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where everyone’s unique perspectives are valued. We seek to hire self-motivated, independent thinkers, who embrace challenging the status quo. Join us at JuneShine Brands where you’re encouraged to bring your authentic self to your craft every day. As a proud equal opportunity employer, we are dedicated to ensuring fairness and equity in our hiring practices.
You must reside in the United States to be considered for this position.