La Terra Fina
Vice President, Innovation & Marketing
La Terra Fina, Union City, California, United States, 94587
We are a fast-growing, consumer-focused food company specializing in high-quality dips, quiches, and other prepared foods. Our branded portfolio is sold across the club and retail channels in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, with a growing private label presence.
Innovation is at the heart of our growth strategy. We're building on a foundation of culinary excellence, clean-label integrity, and consumer trust to expand into adjacent product categories and enter the food service channel. Our culture is collaborative, entrepreneurial, and committed to quality, with a shared passion for delighting consumers and delivering sustainable growth.
The Vice President, Innovation & Marketing is a key member of the executive leadership team responsible for leading and integrating Product Marketing & Management, Product Development/R&D, and Brand Marketing.
This individual will be both a strategic architect and hands-on leader driving innovation to expand into adjacent categories, ensuring our core business remains vibrant, and strengthening our brand to accelerate growth across multiple channels.
In partnership with the CEO and peers in Sales, Category Management, Operations, Supply Chain, Finance, and Human Resources this leader will shape the company's innovation roadmap, advance brand equity, and align marketing and product strategies to achieve sustainable, profitable growth.
The role oversees a combined team of approximately 14 direct and indirect reports across Product Management, Product Development, and Brand Marketing, with responsibility for developing organizational capability and building future leadership talent.
Requirements
Innovation
Innovation, Product Management & Product Development Develop a 3-5 year Product Strategy Roadmap that balances near-term growth initiatives with long-term category expansion. Champion consumer insights and market trends to identify and validate opportunities in adjacent and emerging food categories. Lead the innovation pipeline from concept to commercialization, ensuring consumer relevance, operational feasibility, and financial viability. Strengthen the Stage-Gate process to balance rigor with speed-to-market and ensure disciplined innovation. Oversee Product Management and Product Development teams to deliver a robust mix of line extensions and breakthrough innovation. Partner closely with Operations and Supply Chain to ensure new product launches meet cost, quality, scalability, and timing expectations. Support the expansion into the food service channel, collaborating with Sales to tailor product solutions to this segment. Ensure all innovation initiatives align with brand positioning and long-term business objectives. Brand Marketing & Communications
Lead the development and execution of the company's brand strategy, including positioning, messaging, and visual identity. Ensure brand foundations and unique selling propositions (USPs) guide all product, marketing, and innovation decisions. Build and activate marketing programs, including consumer marketing, trade/shopper marketing, and retailer campaigns, to drive trial, repeat, and loyalty. Develop differentiated messaging to position the brand effectively against both branded and private label competitors. Strengthen the company's public relations, digital, and social media presence to increase awareness, engagement, and relevance. Build compelling selling stories, packaging, and customer-facing materials that drive retailer engagement and support sales execution. Manage external agency and vendor partnerships to ensure best-in-class creative, insights, and execution. Leadership & Cross-Functional Collaboration
Lead, mentor, and develop a team of marketing, innovation, and product development professionals (three direct and eleven indirect reports). Build organizational capability within Marketing and Innovation to support scalable growth and succession planning. Foster seamless collaboration across Marketing, Sales, Operations, Finance, and Supply Chain to align strategies and ensure flawless execution. Serve as a key member of the Executive Leadership Team, contributing to company-wide strategic planning and performance management. Promote a culture of accountability, innovation, and consumer-centric decision-making. Qualifications
15+ years of progressive leadership across innovation, marketing, and product management within the CPG food industry, including at least 5 years at the VP or equivalent senior level. Proven success in brand building, product innovation, and portfolio management across multiple channels (club, retail, food service). Experience leading R&D/Product Development in partnership with Operations and Supply Chain. Demonstrated ability to translate consumer insights into actionable innovation and brand growth strategies. Strong business acumen, including P&L understanding and performance-driven mindset. Exceptional cross-functional collaboration and executive communication skills. Demonstrated success in building high-performing teams and developing future leaders. Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business, or related field required; MBA preferred. Hybrid work place What We Offer
The opportunity to define and execute the growth strategy for a beloved and expanding consumer brand. A dynamic, entrepreneurial environment with a collaborative leadership team. Competitive compensation and benefits package. The chance to make a visible and lasting impact on the company's next phase of growth.
Salary Description
$230,000.00 to $275,000.00
Innovation is at the heart of our growth strategy. We're building on a foundation of culinary excellence, clean-label integrity, and consumer trust to expand into adjacent product categories and enter the food service channel. Our culture is collaborative, entrepreneurial, and committed to quality, with a shared passion for delighting consumers and delivering sustainable growth.
The Vice President, Innovation & Marketing is a key member of the executive leadership team responsible for leading and integrating Product Marketing & Management, Product Development/R&D, and Brand Marketing.
This individual will be both a strategic architect and hands-on leader driving innovation to expand into adjacent categories, ensuring our core business remains vibrant, and strengthening our brand to accelerate growth across multiple channels.
In partnership with the CEO and peers in Sales, Category Management, Operations, Supply Chain, Finance, and Human Resources this leader will shape the company's innovation roadmap, advance brand equity, and align marketing and product strategies to achieve sustainable, profitable growth.
The role oversees a combined team of approximately 14 direct and indirect reports across Product Management, Product Development, and Brand Marketing, with responsibility for developing organizational capability and building future leadership talent.
Requirements
Innovation
Innovation, Product Management & Product Development Develop a 3-5 year Product Strategy Roadmap that balances near-term growth initiatives with long-term category expansion. Champion consumer insights and market trends to identify and validate opportunities in adjacent and emerging food categories. Lead the innovation pipeline from concept to commercialization, ensuring consumer relevance, operational feasibility, and financial viability. Strengthen the Stage-Gate process to balance rigor with speed-to-market and ensure disciplined innovation. Oversee Product Management and Product Development teams to deliver a robust mix of line extensions and breakthrough innovation. Partner closely with Operations and Supply Chain to ensure new product launches meet cost, quality, scalability, and timing expectations. Support the expansion into the food service channel, collaborating with Sales to tailor product solutions to this segment. Ensure all innovation initiatives align with brand positioning and long-term business objectives. Brand Marketing & Communications
Lead the development and execution of the company's brand strategy, including positioning, messaging, and visual identity. Ensure brand foundations and unique selling propositions (USPs) guide all product, marketing, and innovation decisions. Build and activate marketing programs, including consumer marketing, trade/shopper marketing, and retailer campaigns, to drive trial, repeat, and loyalty. Develop differentiated messaging to position the brand effectively against both branded and private label competitors. Strengthen the company's public relations, digital, and social media presence to increase awareness, engagement, and relevance. Build compelling selling stories, packaging, and customer-facing materials that drive retailer engagement and support sales execution. Manage external agency and vendor partnerships to ensure best-in-class creative, insights, and execution. Leadership & Cross-Functional Collaboration
Lead, mentor, and develop a team of marketing, innovation, and product development professionals (three direct and eleven indirect reports). Build organizational capability within Marketing and Innovation to support scalable growth and succession planning. Foster seamless collaboration across Marketing, Sales, Operations, Finance, and Supply Chain to align strategies and ensure flawless execution. Serve as a key member of the Executive Leadership Team, contributing to company-wide strategic planning and performance management. Promote a culture of accountability, innovation, and consumer-centric decision-making. Qualifications
15+ years of progressive leadership across innovation, marketing, and product management within the CPG food industry, including at least 5 years at the VP or equivalent senior level. Proven success in brand building, product innovation, and portfolio management across multiple channels (club, retail, food service). Experience leading R&D/Product Development in partnership with Operations and Supply Chain. Demonstrated ability to translate consumer insights into actionable innovation and brand growth strategies. Strong business acumen, including P&L understanding and performance-driven mindset. Exceptional cross-functional collaboration and executive communication skills. Demonstrated success in building high-performing teams and developing future leaders. Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business, or related field required; MBA preferred. Hybrid work place What We Offer
The opportunity to define and execute the growth strategy for a beloved and expanding consumer brand. A dynamic, entrepreneurial environment with a collaborative leadership team. Competitive compensation and benefits package. The chance to make a visible and lasting impact on the company's next phase of growth.
Salary Description
$230,000.00 to $275,000.00