Vice President, Innovation

About Us

Mattson is one of the country’s most successful food and beverage innovation firms. For nearly 50 years, we have partnered with CPG, foodservice, and food and beverage ingredient clients, ranging from startups to iconic industry brands. Our passion is creating big business opportunities for clients.  

We help them figure out where to play and more importantly, how to win. But we’re unique in that we don’t stop there. We help clients execute upon the growth strategies and/or product concept opportunities we’ve identified by:

• Formulating early prototypes through full development
• Scaling-up and Commercializing
• Testing with Consumers
• Creating and/or Positioning the Brands for Success

Our mission is to invent the future of food, one product at a time.

We are a 65 person, employee-owned company that operates at a fast pace, enabling our clients to be smarter and quicker in getting new ideas to market.  We provide hands-on resources, industry expertise, insights, and award-winning creativity across food and beverage categories, segments, and channels.

About the Position

This is, first and foremost, a business and relationship development position.

As a key member of Mattson’s Relationship Leaders team you will be responsible for identifying and developing new client relationships, scoping and writing proposals, and managing the engagements you bring in.

You’ll be responsible for leading the client relationships that you develop, but will be supported by cross-functional teams uniquely qualified for each part of the engagement (e.g., creative, product development, commercialization, brand positioning, design, consumer and customer insights). As an exciting organization with a wide array of subject matter experts, we are all deeply steeped in (and passionate about) the work for our clients. We want you to be successful and thrive in our high touch, relationship-based business. 

All candidates should have the following:

• Many deep, professional relationships in the food & beverage industry, especially with people who would be in a position to engage Mattson 
• Proven track record of success in product innovation
• Ability to take the initiative and work independently
• Bias toward rolling up your sleeves and digging into the work
• Comfort in selling all of our services one-on-one
• Skill to deliver world-class client and project management
• Enthusiasm for utilizing cutting-edge innovation techniques (e.g., Generative AI)

The ideal candidate will have demonstrated success in a similar role (business development and relationship management) in a client service organization.

Skills and Experience We’re Seeking

• Business Development: Proven track record of leveraging network and personal outreach to identify and develop new client relationships and write and win compelling proposals
• Leadership: Ability to successfully lead client relationships (including comfortably recommending innovation, business, and PD strategies to senior F&B executives) AND internal Mattson teams, coordinating across different Mattson functions and delivering world-class client service
• Creativity: Demonstrated success in conceiving compelling new product ideas that deliver on client strategy and aspirations, and presenting them persuasively
• Business Analytics: Ability to view and frame opportunities from client perspective, e.g., building basic product P&Ls, proactively anticipating and addressing challenges and barriers, identifying potential sources of competitive advantage, etc.
• Broad Proficiency: Ability to design, sell, and direct work across all of Mattson's practice areas from front-to back-end innovation.

About You

• BA/BS in marketing, business administration, or related field, or in food science, nutrition, or culinary. Degrees/experience in both areas will set you apart. MBA strongly preferred.
• At least 15 years relevant work experience in the food & beverage industry (i.e., consulting, brand management, sales, innovation, market research) 
• Flexibility, with personality and collaboration skills necessary to work cross functionally with all departments.
• Excellent communication skills; can present ideas effectively and persuasively.
• Must be able to travel with advance notice.

What’s in it for You?

A job at Mattson will immerse you in the world of food.  You must be passionate about food and beverage.  The more you can articulate your passion, the more interested we will be in interviewing you.  At Mattson, food is not just our business; it’s our life.

We offer a rich package of benefits, including 401K, health, dental, Health Savings Account, Flexible Spending Account, participation in our ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan), which provides you the opportunity for profit-sharing. Also, delicious breakfast and lunch are served fresh every Monday-Friday in our office. Oh and we also like to have fun. It’s food, after all!

This job is based at our SF Bay Area Innovation Center, where we house a 20,000 square foot food development lab, interactive Food Studio, consumer research facility, and an on-site pilot manufacturing plant. Come join us and see why we’re the greatest thing since sliced bread.