Head of Innovation bei Freshpet

Who We Are

At Freshpet, our goal is to change the way people nourish their pets forever.  We strive to strengthen the bond between people and our pets so that we both live longer, healthier, and happier lives while being kind to the planet. We believe that if we can create fresh, real foods that pets love and help them live healthier lives, that their pet parents will also enjoy the many benefits of a rich life shared with a pet.  IT’S AMAZING WHAT CAN HAPPEN WHEN YOU START COMPLETELY FRESH!

What You Will Do

At Freshpet, we’ve always believed in doing things differently. Innovation is at the heart of how we’ve grown — from rethinking pet food to rethinking what it means to build a purpose-driven company. We are now looking for a Head of Innovation who can help us take the next step: someone who will not only lead our product innovation and product portfolio strategy but also challenge and inspire us to innovate across the business.

This is a unique opportunity. The role requires a rare balance: creativity and commercial discipline, vision and pragmatism, boldness and logic. The person we’re looking for will bring fresh thinking and inspire the organization to stretch further — while grounding that energy in practical strategies that deliver real results. Over time, this individual should be able to grow beyond innovation, taking on broader leadership responsibilities and positioning themselves as a future executive leader at Freshpet.

How You Will Make an Impact

• Shape and Evolve the Product Portfolio Strategy
  • Develop and execute a forward-looking product portfolio strategy aligned with consumer needs, category dynamics, and Freshpet’s mission.
  • Identify and champion opportunities for expansion into new product lines that fuel long-term growth.
• Advance Manufacturing, Technology & AI Innovation
  • Partner with operations and technical teams to introduce new manufacturing technologies that improve quality, efficiency, and scalability.
  • Leverage artificial intelligence and digital tools to improve how we analyze data, spot opportunities, accelerate product innovation, and optimize decision-making.
  • Ensure Freshpet stays ahead of emerging technologies that can transform consumer engagement, marketing effectiveness, and supply chain performance.
• Develop Deep and Trusted Partnerships
  • Build strong, collaborative relationships with suppliers, external partners, and innovators to unlock new capabilities and ensure consistent quality.
  • Foster trusted partnerships internally across marketing, R&D, operations, and commercial teams — creating alignment and shared ownership of innovation goals.
  • Represent Freshpet externally as a leader in the industry, cultivating partnerships that extend our reach and enhance our impact.
• Lead Product Innovation
  • Define our long-term product innovation agenda and bring breakthrough ideas to life.
  • Ensure product innovation integrates consumer insight, brand vision, and operational feasibility.
• Drive Enterprise-Wide Innovation
  • Go beyond products — look across Freshpet for opportunities to innovate in marketing, digital, sustainability, and customer experience.
  • Encourage and enable the company to think bigger and act faster, embedding innovation into how we work every day.
• Be a Change Agent and Leader
  • Inspire teams with vision and creativity, while keeping us grounded in sound business judgment.
  • Build and mentor a pipeline of talent that will drive Freshpet forward.
  • Serve as a thought partner to the President and executive team, influencing key growth decisions and building toward broader leadership opportunities.

What You Will Bring

• A strategic thinker who can see the big picture and connect the dots across the business.
• An innovator at heart, with a proven record of shaping product portfolio strategies and leading product innovation.
• Skilled at developing deep, trusted partnerships both inside and outside the organization.
• Experienced in leveraging AI, digital, and technology-driven solutions to unlock growth and efficiency.
• Comfortable with manufacturing technologies and commercialization, bridging the gap between creative product ideas and operational execution.
• A balanced leader who can inspire creativity but also bring logic, pragmatism, and commercial acumen to every decision.
• Experienced — likely 12+ years in marketing, general management, strategy, or innovation roles in consumer products or related industries.
• A natural leader, able to influence at every level, with the capacity to grow into a future C-level role.
• Passionate about Freshpet’s mission — to nourish pets, people, and the planet — and motivated by the chance to make a real impact.

This role is about more than creating the next product. It’s about shaping Freshpet’s product portfolio strategy, driving product innovation, advancing manufacturing and AI technologies, building deep and trusted partnerships, opening new product lines, and embedding innovation across the company. It’s about helping Freshpet reach its full potential.

What We Offer

The range for this position is:  $225,000 - $265,000

At Freshpet, we offer a competitive salary and an excellent benefits package, including medical, dental and vision insurance, basic and optional life insurance, short- and long-term disability protection, flexible spending accounts, and a 401(k) plan with company match, paid parental leave, pet insurance, tuition assistance, a generous PTO plan and so much more!

Our Commitment to a Diverse Workforce:

Freshpet is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All employment decisions are made without regards to race, color, national origin, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital or domestic/civil partnership status, genetic information, citizenship status (although applicants and employees must be legally authorized to work in the United States), uniformed service member or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law (“protected characteristics”).

Disclaimers

The salary range provided above is the range of the wages that we will pay for the listed position.   A final determination on the wages within this range is based on a number of non-discriminatory factors, including but not limited to the required work location, previous work experience, skill set, and wage rates for comparable positions.

Freshpet is not accepting unsolicited assistance from search firms for this employment opportunity. Please, no phone calls or emails. All resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at Freshpet via-email, the Internet or in any form and/or method without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of Freshpet. No fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by Freshpet as a result of the referral or through other means.

We are interested in every qualified candidate who is eligible to work in the United States. However, we are not able to sponsor visas.