Innovation Director

There’s Always a Seat at Our Bar 

The Lagunitas Brewing Company began on a kitchen stove in Northern California in 1993 and has always looked to the future – whether supporting local communities by turning beer into money for the cause, or fueling stories, songs, and experiences with our IPA. Wherever you go: Beer Speaks, People Mumble. 

What You’ll Get

• Benefits – Awesome coverage for: Medical, Dental & Vision
• Time off - Approx 33 days off in your first year (combo of vacay, holidays and personal days)
• Retirement – up to 5% contribution on 401K plan
• BEER – and non-alcoholic Lagunitas beverages
• Schwag – 50% off food and merch
• Gym Membership - $50 monthly reimbursement for that beer belly (or at least to prevent it)
• Pet Insurance – keep your fur babies covered with pet insurance options
• Skills to Pay the Bills – professional development, 24/7 operation
• Opportunities – Expand your horizons in CA, Chicago . . . the world!
• It’s Friday, Ya’ll – Get Paid every other Friday, starting at: $140,608-$158,184

The Gist

The Insights team at The Lagunitas Brewing Company is responsible for the development of all new initiatives for the company, including front-end development, incubating, and scaling new brands.

Reporting to the Chief Marketing Officer, the Innovation Director will be critical to the future of Lagunitas, responsible for identifying white space initiatives to create a long term vision for Innovation that can deliver significant growth in beer and beyond. This role will lead the overall innovation process to identify, develop and implement breakthrough initiatives, including new products/packaging, categories, and business models.

This role will have 2 direct reports, who will be responsible for 360 process and program management for all innovation projects for the organization.

What You’ll Do

• Develop a comprehensive innovation strategy and process/framework to drive profitable revenue while maintaining our craft legacy that looks at both near term, next 2 years & long term 2-5 years.
  • Build innovation capability and infrastructure across the organization, including new models of agile/entrepreneurial thinking and new problem solving systems and tools that build an ecosystem of innovation and experimentation
  • Leverage the new Innovation Lab to incubate for the future – developing concepts, overseeing commercialization for regional launches & evaluating commercial success 
  • Lead the deployment of the innovation HUB & brand Innovation strategies through the business to ensure we have a consolidated pipeline for the next 2-5 years
• Lead the innovation process to strategically identify new platforms and business models for growth for the next 2-5 years, which includes
  • Holistically manage the innovation process across renovation, transformation, and breakthrough initiatives, including management of external agencies and internal alignment with key stakeholders (briefs, process management, course correction where relevant)
  • Push for relentless focus on the consumer and the future to get to breakthrough and new ideas
  • Balance qualitative & quantitative analysis, turning insights into meaningful recommendations and actions
  • Challenge the status quo and always push for an agile and entrepreneurial way in (‘what if we were a start-up?’)
• Recommend key initiatives to stakeholders following the innovation process, which include
  • Define a clear front-end road map for new initiatives, considering feasibility, desirability, and viability
• Oversee the development and commercialization of front end initiatives, from formula and recipe development, to test market execution
  • Lead cross functional teams across innovation, operations, supply chain, legal, regulatory, and insights to take ideas from concept stage to end product, ready for purchase
  • Work collaboratively with all parties to analyze results, determine what worked and what didn’t, and to make recommendations on scaling
• Oversee the direction of NPI stage-gate process for renovations and transformation projects on existing brands among cross-functional team and with the Leadership Team, ensuring agility with discipline

What We’re Lookin’ For

• How You Work
  • Results-oriented with ability to demonstrate impeccable integrity and honesty.
  • Strong organization and communication skills – a self-starter who can discern and address the needs of the organization.
  • Ability to manage competing priorities within a dynamic environment.
  • Innovative thinker who can develop creative solutions, with flexibility to flourish in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.
  • A curious and humble learner, eager to collaborate with key stakeholders
• Your Qualifications
  • Requires a bachelor’s degree; Post-graduate degree preferred.
  • A minimum of 10-12 years of Innovation and Insights experience in CPG, having worked with brand teams and outside partners; ideally experience will include work with both client and market research agency roles
  • Demonstrated track record of launching successful new products within CPG category
• Your Prior Experience
  • CPG experience, adult beverage industry experience preferred
  • Understands adult beverage products, route to market, retail and distributor operations;
  • Familiarity with a diverse variety of consumer research and innovation concepts, practices, and procedures.
• Your Prior Experience - Technical
  • Strong technical experience with advanced skills relevant to function - including syndicated data systems (Nielsen, IRI, Spectra) and Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint) strongly preferred.
  • Familiar with consumer panel data and shopper data
• Passion for Lagunitas and the beer business

Key Relationships

• Reports to the CMO
• Two direct reports: Senior Innovation Manager, Commercialization Project Manager
• Frequent interaction with the broader cross-functional team including Brewing, Supply Planning, Creative, Brand and Sales

Physical Requirements

• Flexible work from home policy. Required to be in the Petaluma office at least 3x per week, with Tuesdays & Thursdays being mandatory and one flex day
• Ability to use a computer keyboard and calculator.
• Ability to travel about 20% of the time.

Come as You Are 

At Lagunitas, we welcome people (and dogs) from all walks of life. Anyone, regardless of their race, creed, nation of origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability status, veteran status, marital status, or age, has a home here. Love, progress, and acceptance will always have a seat at our bar.