Innovation Program Manager

Benefits:

• 401(k) matching
• Company parties
• Competitive salary
• Dental insurance
• Employee discounts
• Free food & snacks
• Health insurance
• Opportunity for advancement
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Training & development
• Tuition assistance
• Vision insurance
• Wellness resources
  
  
  

Title: Innovation Program Manager

Department: Production

Reports To: Founding Brewer

Salary Range: $70,000-$90,000

Hendler Family Brewing Company is looking for an Innovation Program Manager to join our team. Working closely with leadership, production, and commercial teams, the Innovation Program Manager supports the development and refinement of products and processes across our multi-brand craft beverage company, including beer and non-beer beverages. This highly cross-functional position bridges creative development, technical brewing and beverage knowledge, and experience in practical production realities. It requires a blend of strategic thinking, technical expertise and project management skills.

The Innovation Program Manager will work closely with a wide variety of stakeholders throughout the life cycle of each product. Success in this role requires strong technical judgment, disciplined project coordination, and a collaborative, hands-on approach to turning new ideas into well-executed, scalable offerings that reflect both our craft standards and business goals. This is a new position.

Essential Duties:

Technical Innovation and R&D

• Translate creative concepts into scalable, production-ready processes
• Oversee production of pilot batches on a dedicated innovation brewhouse
• Lead the creation and refinement of products across beer, RTDs, and alternative beverage formats
• Identify opportunities for process optimization, quality improvement, and efficiency gains across brewing, cellar, and packaging operations
• Provide technical expertise on formulation, ingredient selection, supplier evaluation, and process design
• Ensure innovations are practical, repeatable, and scalable
• Support regulatory awareness and compliance considerations for new beverage categories and ingredients
• Partner with internal and external stakeholders to ensure readiness for commercialization
• Consult in equipment purchases or repurposing of existing equipment or facilities
  
  
  

Collaboration & Project Management

• Act as a key liaison between executive leadership, marketing/sales, and production
• Balance a high volume of concurrent projects with varying priorities and levels of complexity
• Maintain clear documentation, workflows, and handoff procedures
• Champion and strengthen our culture of continuous improvement
• Foster a collaborative environment while setting clear priorities and managing time effectively in response to company needs
  
  
  

Job Requirements:

• 5 years of experience in craft beverage innovation, R&D, or related technical roles (experience in process improvement, QA/QC, or food science is a plus)
• Strong technical knowledge of brewing and non-beer beverage production processes, ingredients, and quality systems
• Proven ability to manage complex, overlapping projects
• Hands-on experience with pilot systems, test brewing, or scaled experimentation
• Ability to work effectively with both executive leadership and production teams
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
  
  
  

Physical Requirements and Work Environment:

• Ability to work in frequently loud environments
• Ability/knowledge to safely work with chemicals present in the brewery
• Conditions can run from wet, hot and cold conditions, depending on season
  
  
  

About Us

The Hendler Family Brewing Company IS PROUDLY INDEPENDENT AND FAMILY-OWNED.

HFBCo was founded in 2011 by three brothers, Jack, Eric and Sam Hendler and is still family owned to this day. Our mission? Create high-quality products that honor tradition and the spirit of inspired innovation. With an entrepreneurial heart and a passion for people, we take pride in learning from and contributing to our vibrant community.

HFBCo is proud to offer the following benefits to our valued employees:

• Medical, Dental, Vision start on day one
• Matching 401k
• Paid time off, Vacation, Sick time, Company holidays
• Training and industry related education
• Membership in Master Brewers Association of the Americas
• Employee Meals
• Free case of our beer weekly (must be 21 years of age)
  
  
  

HFBCo is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. If you require assistance or accommodation due to a disability, please contact us at hr@hendlerfamilybrewingco.com.