Director of Product Innovation
About the role
The Director of Product Innovation will define what's next for Insomnia Cookies, a cult brand known for its innovative bakery and delivery concept. Reporting to the Chief Marketing Officer, this role will oversee the entire innovation pipeline, from concept to launch, ensuring rigorous, efficient, and cross-functional alignment.
Responsibilities
Own the innovation pipeline, from concept to launch, across core product innovation, beverages, brand-building partnerships, and product-adjacent work.
Build the stage-gate process from scratch, designing and standing up a formal stage-gate process with clear go/no-go criteria, owners, and timelines at every stage.
Identify and develop unique, culturally relevant partnerships that can unlock new products, flavors, formats, audiences, and occasions, working closely with Marketing and external partners.
Apply the same stage-gate rigor to new equipment evaluations, packaging redesigns, partnership-driven launches, and other initiatives required to bring products to market successfully.
Set the product innovation strategy and vision, building the multi-year innovation roadmap across cookies, ice cream, beverages, adjacent categories, partnerships, and new formats.
Lead hands-on execution, being in the kitchen, in the data, working directly with partners, and in the room where decisions get made.
Manage the product innovation budget, from R&D investment and ingredient sourcing to partnership economics and launch costs, with clear accountability for the ROI and commercial performance of new products.
Drive cross-functional partnership, working directly with Marketing, Operations, Supply Chain, Finance, and external partners to translate ideas into products that are scalable, profitable, operationally sound, and worthy of the Insomnia brand.
Protect and build the brand, ensuring every product and partnership decision reinforces the Insomnia Cookies identity, creates something our fans will care about, and strengthens our position as the leader in late-night indulgence.
Lead with consumer and market insight, staying ahead of category trends, competitive launches, cultural conversations, emerging partners, and changing consumer tastes, using insight, not just intuition, to prioritize the innovation pipeline and identify where Insomnia can lead rather than follow.
Build the culture, championing an innovation culture rooted in craft, curiosity, collaboration, and hospitality, living Insomnia’s "Always Warm" values in every product decision, partnership, and interaction with the team.
Requirements
10+ years of product innovation, culinary, or product development leadership experience, ideally in multi-unit food/beverage, QSR, or bakery/retail environments.
Direct experience building a stage-gate or innovation process from the ground up — not just operating inside one someone else designed.
A track record of leading teams and owning a P&L, not just developing products individually.
A genuine "get in the weeds" mindset — comfortable moving between strategy conversations and hands-on kitchen or process work in the same day.
Deep expertise across concept development, food science, sensory evaluation, and scaled production — with the judgment to know when craft needs to bend to operational reality (and when it shouldn't).
Experience partnering with senior leadership to translate strategy into execution.
A portfolio of successful national product launches, ideally in a fast-growing, multi-unit brand.
Comfort balancing culinary craft with consumer insight, market data, and business case discipline in prioritizing what gets built next.
Formal culinary training (CIA, JWU, or equivalent) or food science or CPG innovation background.
A genuine passion for hospitality, indulgence, and building something people crave.
Qualifications
Competitive compensation package including base, bonus, and equity.
Comprehensive benefits including health, dental, vision, and 401(k).
A fun, entrepreneurial, cookie-filled culture.
Hybrid Work Schedule - 3 days in office/2 days Remote.
Free cookies, branded swag, and so much more!
Benefits
Free cookies, branded swag, and so much more!
Skills
Genuine "get in the weeds" mindset.
Deep expertise across concept development, food science, sensory evaluation, and scaled production.
Comfort balancing culinary craft with consumer insight, market data, and business case discipline in prioritizing what gets built next.
Portfolio of successful national product launches.
Formal culinary training (CIA, JWU, or equivalent) or food science or CPG innovation background.
Genuine passion for hospitality, indulgence, and building something people crave.
Pay
Competitive compensation package including base, bonus, and equity.
Schedule
Hybrid Work Schedule - 3 days in office/2 days Remote.