We are seeking an organized, strategic, and motivated individual to join our Team. The Senior Innovation & Project Manager will support the Innovation and Operations teams by leading cross-functional initiatives, including product and innovation development, commercialization of new products, packaging updates, product or process improvements, and additional cross-functional strategic initiatives.

This role plays a critical part in ensuring that innovation and strategic initiatives are delivered exceptionally well and on time, meet the company's strategic goals and financial requirements, and are aligned with overall business priorities. The ideal candidate is highly organized, has a strong attention to detail, excels at problem-solving, and is a cross-functional leader able to coordinate and align inputs across sales, operations, R&D/Quality, marketing, and founders. This person should ideally have passion and experience in the food industry.

Our team is committed to supporting your professional growth and providing opportunities to develop and strengthen your skills as you grow alongside our brand. We are a mission-driven organization focused on connecting consumers to the direct source of their food while making a meaningful difference for the land, animals, environment, and the communities we serve.

Key Responsibilities

Product Development

Lead end-to-end proect management of new product launches (innovation, renovation, seasonal items, line extensions).
Build and manage detailed project timelines (Stage-Gate or similar process).
Coordinate with R&D, regulatory, packaging, procurement, and co-manufacturers.
Track and mitigate risks to timeline, cost, and quality.
Work closely with the Operations team and Impact to ensure that:

○ All innovation and renovation projects are mission-aligned with the company's sourcing standards and goals.

○ All innovation projects support the company’s dairy supply chain goals.

Market and Strategic Assessment

● Conduct competitive landscape analysis to identify existing product segment dynamics (price, pack size, nutritionals) and potential strategic points of difference for innovation.

● Ability to build a strategy and elevate strategic decisions to the exec team.

● Work with finance and sales teams for the initial size of prize to help guide prioritization and elevate strategic and Go/No Go decisions with the Executive team.

● Identify new product trends in the category that may have relevance for innovation.

Packaging

● Manage circulation of artwork through the organization for approvals, coordinating with Marketing team, Ops, and Quality; manage certification process (e.g., Organic) and coordinate as needed with print supplier and certifiers.

● Ensure that packaging timelines align with launch windows and material run-out timing.

● Ability to support new packaging vendor exploratory as needed.

Cross-Functional Team Leadership and Other Project Leadership

● Lead weekly product development meetings, setting a clear agenda, action items, and identifying next steps.

● Serve as a centralized point person for innovation, gathering input from cross-functional teams.

● Mitigate risks and identify contingency plans as needed.

● Work with the team to ensure ongoing rebalancing of priorities as new opportunities are developed.

● Spearhead other strategic initiatives, priority projects, and new external partnerships involving information gathering and cross-functional collaboration.

Financial management

● Gather cost inputs from operations and sales to inform margin assumptions; work with finance to ensure that all projects meet business objectives on top and bottom line

Process support

● Assist in the management of the early Stage Gate Process, elevating GO/No-Go decisions in a timely manner.

● Identify opportunities for process improvement and incorporate into new product development process.

Qualifications

● 5–7 years of relevant experience in related project management and working with leadership to spearhead strategic initiatives.

● Proven track record in managing new product timelines and launches.

● Experience working within manufacturing-driven organizations and familiarity with the packaging development process.

● Experience developing business cases with work on market assessment and early sizing of prize to help evaluate and prioritize opportunity exploration.

● Familiarity with stage-gate or structured innovation process.

● Exceptional attention to detail, organizational skills, and written and verbal communication abilities.

● Light travel (10%) may be required at times.

Preferred

● Experience in food, refrigerated, or better-for-you categories; dairy experience a plus.

● Previous background in operations, brand management, or supply chain; open to consumer products consulting experience if more entrepreneurial in nature.

● Prior experience in a fast-paced and entrepreneurial environment.

● PMP experience.

What We Offer

● Support for you as a whole person, not just an employee.

● Opportunities to learn, grow, and take ownership in a fast-growing, mission-driven company.

● A collaborative, values-aligned team that celebrates wins, both big and small.

● Meaningful work that supports family farms, organic regenerative agriculture, and a more transparent food system.

● Full benefits included: health coverage, 401(k), PTO, and more.

Our Commitment

We strongly encourage people from all backgrounds, identities, and life experiences to apply, especially those who have been historically underrepresented in food and wellness. We don’t expect you to meet every qualification. If this role excites you and you believe you’d thrive here, we’d love to hear from you.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic.

About Painterland Sisters

Painterland Sisters is a farmer-owned, women-owned, family-owned organic skyr yogurt brand founded by fourth-generation dairy farmers. Our mission is to reconnect people to the source of their food by using yogurt as a tool for education, transparency, and positive change - supporting family farms, nourishing communities, and caring for Mother Earth through organic regenerative agriculture. With our simply yummy and nutrient-dense yogurt using milk sourced from our organic family farm and others like it ,we are dedicated to supporting American farmers and providing consumers with a wholesome and delicious product.

Painterland Sisters jobs

Senior Innovation and Project Manager