Director of Innovation

About Us:
Since 1935, we’ve been on a mission to bring a little extra happiness to everyday life and inspire connections over food. We select the finest ingredients the world has to offer, craft premium products made with love, and never settle for shortcuts. We believe that when we share our food, we share a part of ourselves — and that’s the only way we’d put our name on it. 

Today, our small family company has grown into a national leader in specialty olives, peppers, and sauces under the leadership of CEO Jeff Mezzetta, and our commitment to quality has never wavered. With an 80-year legacy behind us and a bright future ahead, we’re seeking passionate, driven candidates to help us bring our cherished family traditions to a new generation.

The ideal candidate will have an immediate connection to our Core Ingredients:  

• Crunchy Crunchy: We are hungry for excellence.
• Own It: We think and act as an owner – with appetite, initiative, and responsibility.
• Connection: We build authentic relationships that foster trust and open communications.
• Vibrance: We come to work eager and passionate about fulfilling our vision. When we share our work, we share a part of who we are.

The Role:

Mezzetta is looking for a Director of Innovation to join our Marketing team, based in our Larkspur Landing office. You will be extremely flexible and enjoy a “high-change” environment where priorities shift from day to day. Someone who connects through positive and respectful interaction, has a bias for action, and creates extraordinary experiences, solutions and ideas will be at the top of our list. The Director of Innovation will report directly to the Owner and CEO and will work closely with the CEO to collaborate on the development of Mezzetta’s pipeline and new product development. The Director of Innovation is responsible for driving profitable growth and launching aggressive innovation plans in current and new categories.

What you'll do:

• Design, develop and implement 3-5 year innovation pipeline plans which are aligned to the company’s vision for growth, collaborating with CEO, R&D, Finance, Operations and Sales.
• Define Innovation learning and research agenda. Integrate consumer, marketplace, technical and business trends and insights into innovation plans and projects.
• Implement stage gate process for filtering ideas based on size of business opportunity, strategic fit and financial return. Proven ability to test concepts to accurately gauge opportunity and profitability.
• Take ideas from concept through commercialization by working closely with cross-functional teams.
• Evaluate disruptive go-to-market products for further testing and feasibility analysis.
• Demonstrate strong leadership to ensure plans are executed to drive desired results.
• Create and maintain connection with brand marketing team to ensure alignment with brand strategies and enable strategic integration and execution transition.
• Develop and manage budgets; make needed adjustments to hit targets.
• Ensure high-level of organizational alignment across Sales, Finance, Operations, PMO, R&D, etc. to achieve goals. Lead Mezzetta Leadership Team (LT) in monthly Innovation Steering Committee meetings to ensure pipeline alignment and transparency, incorporating or addressing LT feedback in innovation concepts.
• Lead and develop current and future team.

What you'll need to be successful: 

• 10 or more years of relevant Marketing experience, with a minimum of 5 years’ experience leading Innovation, preferably in packaged goods and/of food industry.
• Proven track record of achievement and advancement.
• Experience in front end innovation in packaged goods and/or food industry.
• Strong thought leadership, people leadership and GM mindset.
• Familiar with Nielsen, Spins and other marketing databases and tools.
• Must be effective at developing goals, leading teams and holding people accountable. As a small company, managers are expected to be able to effectively delegate, but willing to roll up their sleeves as necessary.
• Must have demonstrated experience with pricing analysis, share analysis, volume forecasting, category and competitive reviews.
• Ability to triangulate a variety of data inputs/ sources and translate strategy into commercially viable actions
• Managed risk taker and willingness to explore new ideas, new methods, new tools/ approaches
• P&L ownership for brand and/or innovation pipeline for commercially viable launch
• Partnership builder across internal teams (R&D, Operations, PMO, Finance, Brand Marketing)
• Must be an autonomous, curious thinker and problem solver.

Our Commitment to an Inclusive Workplace:
At Mezzetta, we embrace diversity and strive to create an inclusive environment where you know you belong. Part of that commitment includes a zero-tolerance policy and being an Equal Opportunity Employer that prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. All employment decisions at Mezzetta are solely based on merit, qualifications, abilities and business needs, without regard to race, color, religion or belief, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, age, marital status, national origin, disability, military or veteran status, family or parental status, pregnancy, or any other status protected by law. All of us share in the responsibility of fulfilling this commitment and creating a culture where our team can thrive.