Director, Product Development
About The Position
The Director of Product Development will lead innovation and commercialization for Califia Farms portfolio of plant-based beverages, including plant-based milks, creamers, barista, coffees, ready-to-drink beverages, and adjacent platforms. This role is responsible for building and executing a forward-thinking innovation pipeline that delivers exceptional taste, functionality, nutrition, and scalability while aligning with brand positioning and financial targets. The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in plant-based formulation, beverage processing (including aseptic/UHT), ingredient functionality (proteins, emulsifiers, stabilizers), and commercialization within both entrepreneurial and structured CPG environments. This position is based at our Bakersfield, CA manufacturing facility.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Food Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or related field required; Master’s degree preferred
- 15+ years of product development experience in dairy and/or plant-based beverages (foods)
- 5+ years of leadership experience
- Proven track record launching commercialized dairy and/or plant-based beverages at scale
- Deep knowledge of plant protein systems, emulsions, stabilizers, sweeteners, and flavor systems
- Experience with aseptic/UHT processing and co-manufacturing networks
Nice To Haves
- Prior experience at a large, established CPG company with exposure to structured innovation processes and national-scale commercialization
- Experience in dairy/dairy alternatives (oat, almond, soy, coconut, pea-based systems)
- Familiarity with barista functionality and coffee applications
- Sensory evaluation and consumer testing expertise
- Strong commercial and margin acumen
- Technical depth in beverage systems
- Agile decision-maker in fast-paced CPG environments
- Cross-functional collaborator
- Data-driven and process-oriented
- Strategic thinker with executional discipline
Responsibilities
- Innovation Strategy & Portfolio Leadership
- Plant-Based Beverage Formulation & Development
- Commercialization & Scale-Up
- Technical & Regulatory Oversight
- Cross-Functional Leadership
- Team Development & Process Excellence
Benefits
- As a full-time employee, you will be eligible to enroll in Califia’s employee benefits program.
- You may also be eligible to participate in the company’s bonus program which may be subject to change.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Director
