Sr. Manager, Innovation Program Management in Brea, California at SAMYANG AMERICA INC

About Samyang America

Samyang America stands as the #1 Gen Z brand, boldly shaping the future of food culture with innovative flavors, viral trends, and unforgettable brand experiences. We don’t just create food - we craft moments that spark excitement, inspire connection, and celebrate bold individuality.

Our mission is to bring daring, delicious products to the market that resonate deeply with the next generation of food lovers. From iconic spicy noodles to creative new launches, we are driven by passion, creativity, and a commitment to pushing the boundaries of taste and culture.

At Samyang America, you’ll join a dynamic team that thrives on innovation, collaboration, and a shared love for bold flavor experiences. We value fresh ideas, energetic spirit, and the courage to lead trends rather than follow them.

If you’re ready to be part of a brand that’s more than just food - a brand that moves culture and creates unforgettable moments - join our team today!

Position Summary:

The Sr. Manager, Innovation Program Management will work across enterprise transformation and innovation operations. Embedded within the Portfolio Strategy team, this role is responsible for designing and orchestrating an enterprise-level New Product Development (NPD) portfolio that enables long-term, sustainable growth. The role ensures that innovation investments are strategically aligned, governed with discipline, and executed through a scalable operating model.

Key Responsibilities:

• Translate long-term enterprise growth ambitions into a coherent, multi-year NPD portfolio strategy.

• Balance near-term business needs with longer-horizon innovation bets to create durable growth engines.

• Shape and evolve the enterprise innovation operating model, ensuring consistency, transparency, and decision quality.

• Own enterprise-level program and portfolio management for the NPD pipeline, spanning core, adjacent, and transformational initiatives.

• Design and operate portfolio governance frameworks, including stage-gate processes, prioritization criteria, and executive decision forums.

• Develop and maintain integrated multi-year NPD roadmaps aligned to portfolio strategy, capacity, and financial constraints.

• Drive cross-functional alignment across R&D, Commercial, Finance, Operations, and Strategy on priorities, sequencing, and trade-offs.

• Establish portfolio-level performance metrics (value, risk, progress, and resource utilization) and deliver executive-ready insights.

• Identify systemic bottlenecks, risks, and capability gaps; recommend structural, process, or investment interventions.

• Enable consistent program management standards and tooling across project teams while avoiding excessive bureaucracy.

• Support enterprise investment decisions through scenario analysis, portfolio rebalancing options, and data-driven recommendations.

Enterprise Impact

Increased return on innovation investments through disciplined portfolio management.

Improved predictability, speed, and scalability of NPD execution.

Stronger linkage between enterprise strategy, innovation priorities, and execution outcomes.

A sustainable engine for long-term growth.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree required; MBA or advanced degree strongly preferred.

• 10+ years of experience in portfolio strategy, program management, innovation operations, enterprise transformation, or related roles.

• Demonstrated experience managing complex, cross-functional, enterprise-scale portfolios.

• Strong analytical capability, including the ability to connect strategy, financial outcomes, and operational execution.

• Executive-level communication skills with experience supporting senior leadership decision-making.

Preferred:

• Experience designing or running innovation governance or portfolio management frameworks.

• Background in tech, food & beverages, healthcare, life sciences, consumer products, or other innovation-intensive industries.

• Familiarity with stage-gate, agile, or hybrid development methodologies at enterprise scale. Scrum and/or Chief of Staff also applicable.

• Exposure to capacity planning, portfolio optimization, and transformation initiatives.

Leadership Competencies:

• Enterprise and systems thinking.

• Ability to influence and align senior stakeholders without direct authority.

• Comfort operating in ambiguity and driving structure where it does not yet exist.

• Strong change leadership and collaboration skills.

• Results-oriented with rigorous follow-through.

The base salary for this position is between $120,000.00 and $140,000.00 per year. Actual compensation will depend on a variety of factors, including qualifications, experience, and location. This position may also be eligible for additional compensation and benefits, including an annual incentive bonus, medical/dental/vision insurance, life insurance, PTO/FTO, and a 401(k) plan with company match.

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer:

Samyang America is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all individuals. We do not discriminate in employment decisions on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.