[Hiring] Associate Project Manager, Innovation @OLIPOP

Role Description

The Innovation Project Manager is the operational backbone of the Innovation team, translating ideas and priorities into clear plans, coordinated workstreams, and successful execution. This role owns project timelines, team tools, cross-functional communication, and operational processes across the innovation pipeline, working independently to keep complex, fast-moving work on track. The ideal candidate is highly organized, proactive, collaborative, and energized by bringing structure and momentum to complex, fast-moving work.

Key Responsibilities

• Project & Pipeline Management
  • Own project plans, timelines, milestones, and action logs for innovation initiatives from concept through launch.
  • Lead cross-functional execution across Innovation, Commercial, Science & Medical Affairs, R&D, Brand, Insights, Commercialization, Supply Chain, Regulatory, Finance, and Sales aligning partners on priorities, owners, and next steps.
  • Anticipate risks and dependencies before they affect timing, develop mitigation plans, and escalate only when leadership decisions are needed.
  • Own the innovation pipeline tools and launch calendar as the single source of truth for stakeholders.
  • Lead and present monthly pipeline updates, highlighting key milestones, changes, risks, and recommended actions.
• Team Operations
  • Lead weekly Innovation Operations meetings: set agendas, drive decisions, and hold owners accountable for follow-through.
  • Build and manage a team dashboard that gives leadership clear visibility into project status, priorities, and risks.
  • Assess team capacity and competing priorities, recommend trade-offs, and propose priorities for VP approval.
  • Manage the innovation project budget, including vendor costs and POs, and flag variances with recommended adjustments.
  • Identify opportunities to improve how the team works, and design scalable templates, trackers, and workflows that are adopted across the team.
• Business Support
  • Develop and present materials for executive meetings and Stage Gate reviews, building clear narratives that support decision-making.
  • Synthesize complex project information into concise updates, clear recommendations, and decision points for senior stakeholders.
  • Lead research, competitive assessments, and launch-readiness activities for priority business needs.
  • Build a working understanding of OLIPOP's innovation strategy, category trends, and competitive landscape to inform planning and recommendations.

What Success Looks Like

• Innovation projects have clear plans, owners, milestones, and next steps.
• Risks and dependencies are identified early and communicated clearly.
• Stakeholders have reliable visibility to the innovation pipeline.
• Meetings are focused, productive, and followed by consistent action.
• Cross-functional partners feel informed, supported, and clear on expectations.
• Team processes become more efficient without creating unnecessary complexity.

Qualifications

• 5-8 years of experience in project management, Commercialization, Innovation, Marketing operations, or a related field.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple workstreams.
• Proven track record of independently leading cross-functional projects from planning through delivery.
• Sound judgment in balancing speed, risk, and impact, with the ability to work independently and with minimal guidance.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including presenting confidently to senior and cross-functional audiences.
• Proactive, resourceful, and comfortable working in a fast-paced environment with evolving priorities.
• Experience in consumer packaged goods, food and beverage, or product innovation is preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent relevant experience.

Reports To

VP, Innovation

Compensation

$100,000 - $115,000 + Bonus

How We Work

We may be fully remote, but we’re anything but disconnected. OLIPOP has grown from a few passionate people around a table to a nationwide team, and we’ve done it without losing our collaborative spirit or sense of purpose. Connection here is intentional. From cross-functional projects and IRL offsites to thoughtful Slack threads and spontaneous gifs, we make the effort to stay close, even across time zones. Sure, we move quickly, but we lead with trust, transparency, and a shared commitment to doing work that matters.

What We Value

• Mission Connectivity : Everything we do ladders up to our shared goal: supporting human health.
• Indomitable Spirit : When things get messy, we get inventive. We stay curious, adapt quickly, and find the path forward.
• Lead at Every Level : Leadership isn’t about titles, it’s about ownership. We speak up, follow through, and lift each other up.
• Courageous Humility : We’re confident in what we bring and curious about what we don’t know (yet).

What We’re Looking For

• Think big, move fast, and take thoughtful risks.
• Thrive in a high-performance, feedback-rich environment.
• Value real human connection and honest collaboration.
• Are fired up by building something new, and making it better every day.

Submission of Application Materials

Applicants are required to submit only the materials specifically requested as part of the application process. Please do not include any unsolicited materials, as they will not be reviewed or considered.

Unsolicited materials may include, but are not limited to:

• Marketing or promotional concepts
• Business ideas or strategies
• Photographs, videos, or other media
• Presentations, designs, or other creative content

By submitting any materials beyond those explicitly requested, you agree that:

• You are voluntarily providing such materials;
• You irrevocably assign all rights, title, and interest in and to those materials to Olipop Inc.; and
• Olipop Inc. may use, reproduce, modify, distribute, or otherwise exploit such materials for any purpose anywhere in the world, without restriction or compensation.