Innovation Manager

We are the VMS Co-Op, a group of fast growing companies in the Vitamins, Minerals and Supplements (VMS) space. The VMS Co-Op includes OLLY, Smarty Pants and future acquisitions to come! This position's home company is OLLY.

Reporting to the Director of Innovation of VMS, you will have the opportunity in supporting shape the VMS-Co-Oppipeline. As an Innovation Manager, you will play a critical role in leading and supporting the development of new products across the OLLY and Smarty Pants brands. This role requires a strong technical foundation in dietary supplements, a passion for innovation, and the ability to drive projects from the exploratory phase through early-stage development with minimal oversight.

You excel at hands-on work in a development kitchen setting with little to no oversight and think in disruptive ways to solve problems. You work in a fast-paced and agile manner to ensure efficiency and accuracy.

• Partner with Sourcing and Science teams to identify, evaluate, and select novel ingredients for new product initiatives.
• Review and assess raw material documentation during ingredient exploration to ensure compliance and suitability.
• Conduct benchtop evaluation of raw materials to assess organoleptic properties and identify potential formulation challenges.
• Independently draft paper formula cards across various formats, including established (e.g., gummies) and emerging dosage formats.
• Perform early-stage cost modeling to assess formulation cost viability to determine target cost-of-goods to align with financial assumptions.
• Execute benchtop formulations and generate prototypes for internal evaluation.
• Document technical findings and formulation learnings in detailed reports to support seamless handoffs to the Development team.

• Lead early-phase new product development (NPD) work streams, ensuring alignment with project timelines, milestones, and strategic objectives.
• Collaborate closely with Brand, Creative, Science, and Development teams to translate technical insights into data-driven decisions shaping the product concept.
• Support or lead the exploration and development of new product formats and technologies.
• Professionally engage with external partners—including development agencies, flavor houses, contract manufacturers and ingredient suppliers—to support NPD efforts and ensure technical alignment.

• Conduct and document sensory evaluations (taste, texture, aroma) with cross-functional stakeholders, maintaining organized records of feedback and data.
• Monitor and report on emerging ingredient, flavor, and format trends to inform pipeline innovation.

• Maintain accurate and compliant records, including formula cards and lab notebooks, in accordance with Good Documentation Practices (GDP).
• Manage inventory of R&D ingredients, lab supplies, and prototype samples.
• Oversee the organization and cleanliness of the Product Development kitchen and storage areas.
• Coordinate sample shipments to internal and external stakeholders.

• 5+ years of R&D experience in dietary supplements, food or pharma industry. Gummy and other confectionary experience strongly preferred
• Bachelor's degree in food science, Chemistry, or related science field
• Familiarity with FDA guidelines for dietary supplementation and regulatory processes
• Familiarity with commercialization process of CPG and Pharma products with focus on gummies, capsules, probiotic formulations and confectionary goods
• Comfortable working with kitchen tools and supplies and preparing confectionary, solid and/or non-solid dosage formats
• Familiarity with lab equipment (pH meter, Brix Meter, analytical balance, etc.)
• Proficient in Microsoft Office
• Ability to perform medium physical work, stand for extended periods of time, and lift up to 50 lbs occasionally
• Working knowledge of vitamins and dietary supplement formulation, assessing stability data and risks, regulatory standings, and assessing clinical studies
• Ability to execute daily routines and tasks with little to no physical supervision
• Comfortable working…