President - Food and Beverage Industry Startup

Fully funded startup

100% Remote

30 hours/week

$150K— $500K salary range

Job Overview:

We are seeking an experienced and strategic CPG foods industry expert to lead an early-stage funded startup to execute on our founder’s vision leading the innovation, development, and go-to-market strategies for our CPG foods business focused on pan-Asian sauces and the like. This role will be responsible for overseeing product innovation, ensuring alignment with market trends, driving revenue growth, and solidifying the brand's position in the highly competitive CPG foods industry.

The ideal candidate will have a deep understanding of the CPG food and beverage sector, with specific expertise in product development, consumer trends, competitive positioning, channels, partnerships, formulation, production, sourcing, logistics, revenue growth, and profitability. They will collaborate across teams to develop a strong portfolio of products and ensure a successful market launch, driving both short-term and long-term growth.

Key Responsibilities:

Product Strategy & Development

1. Define and execute the product roadmap based on consumer insights, market research, and business objectives.
2. Lead product innovation efforts by identifying emerging trends and opportunities within the sauce market.
3. Collaborate with R&D, culinary, and operations teams to develop new products, enhance existing offerings, and ensure product quality and consistency.
4. Conduct competitive analysis to maintain a deep understanding of the competitive landscape, and position products to win market share.

Go-to-Market & Commercialization

1. Develop and oversee go-to-market strategies for new product launches, from conception through commercialization.
2. Work closely with marketing, sales, and distribution teams to ensure alignment on product positioning, messaging, pricing, and channel strategies.
3. Lead the pricing strategy to optimize profitability while staying competitive in the market.

Consumer Insights & Market Trends

1. Lead the integration of consumer insights into the product development process, using data and analytics to drive decisions.
2. Identify and capitalize on market trends and emerging consumer preferences to shape product strategies, ensuring relevance and innovation in the sauce category.

Cross-functional Collaboration

1. Work closely with finance, operations, and supply chain teams to ensure products are produced cost-effectively and meet all regulatory and quality standards.
2. Partner with sales teams to create compelling product pitches, supporting growth across key retail and foodservice channels.

Leadership & Team Development

1. Build and manage a high-performing product strategy team, fostering a culture of innovation and excellence.
2. Mentor and develop team members, supporting career growth and professional development.

Financial & Performance Accountability

1. Develop product P&L responsibility, including forecasting, budgeting, and managing financial performance across the product portfolio.
2. Track and report on key performance indicators (KPIs), ensuring that product strategies deliver expected growth, profitability, and market share.

Key Qualifications:

1. 10+ years of experience in general management, business strategy, product management, or marketing roles in the CPG foods industry.
2. Proven track record of leading successful product launches and growing product lines, preferably within the sauce or condiments market.
3. Strong understanding of consumer behavior and market dynamics in the CPG food industry.
4. Experience in pricing, P&L management, and delivering revenue growth.
5. Established leadership and team management skills, with the ability to lead high collaborative cross-functional teams.
6. Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills, with a data-driven approach to decision-making.
7. Excellent communication, negotiation, and collaboration skills.

Preferred Skills:

1. Familiarity with food regulations, ingredient sourcing, and sustainability practices.
2. Experience with e-commerce and omnichannel strategies for product distribution.
3. MBA or relevant advanced degree is a plus.

Opportunity to tailor this role to an ideal candidate's needs and priorities is something the client is very open to exploring!