Vice President, Innovation & Product Development (Edmonton)
Redwood Employment
Vice President, Innovation & Product Development (onsite) Windsor OR Toronto, ON
Reporting to the Chief Science and Innovation Officer, the VP of Innovation and Product Development will help to lead the development and execution of the organization’s innovation pipeline for our expanding portfolio of Natural Health Products (NHPs). As a key member of the executive leadership team, the VP will oversee product innovation and development across multiple markets, ensuring alignment with our mission to deliver safe, effective, and differentiated health solutions that help Inspire better lives every day.
Specific Key Responsibilities & Duties
Innovation
• Lead the science of innovation, partnered with Marketing, to deliver blockbuster innovations and bring breakthrough ideas to market, measured quarterly through companies innovation scorecard.
• Bring scientific insight and the creative spark required to identify rare, high‑impact opportunities that drive growth.
• Identify new ingredients, emerging clinical research, and novel combinations that can unlock category‑defining products
- Identify and evaluate emerging trends, technologies, and ingredients to inform long-term innovation strategy.
- Foster strategic partnerships with ingredient suppliers and co-manufacturers.
- Help to activate, in collaboration with other cross-functional leaders, organization's global innovation strategy, ensuring alignment with corporate objectives and values.
- Work with other cross-function leaders to ensure the efficiency and effectiveness of companies processes that support innovation and current product introduction.
- Provide creative thought leadership to drive the end-to-end innovation lifecycle, from ideation and feasibility to formulation, launch and post-market evaluation and lifecycle management.
- Oversee the commercialization of products from third party contract manufacturers, ensuring critical milestones are met throughout the launch process
Product Development
- Oversee the team that brings to life cutting-edge concepts developed in conjunction with Sales and Marketing through our stage gate process to ensure technical feasibility
- Ensure best in class flavour/taste/sensory experience for relevant products through adoption of new technologies and competitor benchmarking
- Facilitate ongoing manufacturing support for new and existing formulations at all of our manufacturing sites
- Facilitate and discover cost savings opportunities through new/dual/alternate raw material sourcing
Executive Leadership
- Provide strategic recommendations to the board and/or executive committee members based on knowledge and insight; influence corporate strategy and organizational direction
- Build, coach, and manage a high-performing multidisciplinary team
- Develop budgets, KPIs, and risk mitigation plans for the department.
- Influence across multiple teams and functions, collaborating closely with Legal, Quality, Marketing, Operations, and Commercial teams to ensure alignment on global growth objectives.
- Work collaboratively with other leaders within the organization to ensure company and department-wide goals and objectives are met.
Required Qualifications
- Advanced degree (MSc, PhD, PharmD) in Life Sciences, Nutrition, Pharmacology, Regulatory Affairs, or related discipline.
- Minimum 10 years of progressive leadership experience in product innovation in the Natural Health Products, dietary supplements, functional food, or pharmaceutical industry.
- Knowledge of Canadian NHP Regulations (NNHPD), US FDA (DSHEA), EU (EFSA), and international regulatory frameworks.
- Proven track record of successful global product launches
- Strong understanding of clinical trial design, product substantiation, and emerging scientific research in the health and wellness space.
- Excellent interpersonal, negotiation, and cross-cultural leadership skills.
Apply today!
