Head of Product Innovation (Food Science)

Location: Must be based in Austin, Texas (Hybrid)

Company

hirify.global is a high-growth functional beverage company scaling its product pipeline across subscription and national retail channels.

What you will do

• Own the innovation roadmap, deciding which products to build based on subscription data, consumer research, and retail velocity.
• Lead R&D and formulation, including benchtop work, sensory testing, stability, shelf life, and nutritional efficacy.
• Drive commercialization from concept to production, managing co-manufacturers and ingredient suppliers to hit COGS and launch targets.
• Ensure regulatory compliance regarding FDA, FTC, labeling, and cGMP standards.
• Manage P&L math, margin architecture, and launch forecasts for every product in the pipeline.
• Build and lead the NPD program management team as the innovation pipeline grows.

Requirements

• 8+ years in food and beverage product development, with at least 3 years leading an R&D or NPD function.
• Proven experience taking powdered beverages, functional foods, or supplements from bench to shelf.
• Strong commercial acumen with experience managing margins, scale-up, and co-manufacturer relationships.
• Deep understanding of regulatory requirements for functional foods and supplements.
• Startup metabolism with the ability to handle high ambiguity and fast context switching.
• Daily use of AI tooling for research, analysis, and documentation.

Nice to have

• Experience with functional mushrooms, adaptogens, or nootropics.
• Track record of launching products into both DTC subscription and major retail.
• Degree in food science, chemistry, or nutrition.
• Experience building or scaling an innovation function from scratch.

Culture & Benefits

• Competitive base salary and performance bonus.
• Meaningful equity stake in the company.
• Comprehensive health benefits and health stipend.
• Generous time off policy.
• Free company products.