About Pairwise: 

Pairwise is transforming how people eat by bringing healthier, better-tasting fruits and vegetables to market. Using our CRISPR technology platform, we create produce that delivers more convenience, flavor, and nutrition—like seedless blackberries and pitless cherries. We partner across the agriculture and food value chain to deliver innovations that consumers love and growers value.

 

About This Role:

We are seeking a Director / Senior Director of Food Product Management to lead the strategy and commercialization of breakthrough fruit and produce innovations. This role is about bringing new food products from greenhouse to grocery aisle, not managing software or IT platforms. The ideal candidate has deep experience in produce, food, or agriculture product commercialization and knows how to translate science into products that succeed with consumers, retailers, and growers.

 

Essential Functions:

 

Product Strategy & Development

 

  • Define the vision and roadmap for fruit and produce innovations, ensuring strong consumer, grower, and retail alignment.
  • Translate market insights and consumer research into clear product requirements and positioning.
  • Partner with R&D, regulatory, and commercial teams to advance products through development, trials, and launch readiness.

 

Go-to-Market Leadership

 

  • Build and execute launch strategies for new produce products (e.g., cane berries portfolio).
  • Lead consumer research, pricing strategy, and product value propositions to maximize market success.
  • Develop marketing and retail positioning in collaboration with Commercial, Marketing, and Communications teams.
  • Monitor product performance post-launch, adjusting strategies to drive adoption and consumer delight.

 

Cross-Functional Leadership

 

  • Serve as the connection point between R&D, Commercial, Grower Engagement, Regulatory, and Marketing.
  • Drive visibility and accountability for product milestones across the company.
  • Represent Pairwise in discussions with retail and grower partners to ensure market fit.
  • Mentor and grow product management talent within the organization.

 

Required Education & Experience:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, Food Science, Business, or related field required; MBA or advanced degree preferred.
  • 10–15 years of product management or commercialization experience in produce, CPG, or food/agriculture industries.
  • Demonstrated success in taking food or produce products from concept through launch and scaling.
  • Strong go-to-market skills: consumer insights, pricing, channel strategy, and retail execution.
  • Proven ability to collaborate across functions and with external partners, especially growers and retailers.
  • Excellent communication and leadership presence to influence at all levels.
  • Must be based in Central California with ability to travel regularly.

 

Offerings:

  • Comprehensive Benefits Plan, including Medical, Dental, Vision, HSA/FSA, 401k, Life Insurance, Short-Term & Long-Term Disability, and more!
  • Flexible PTO (use what you need, when you need it), in addition to company holidays.
  • Casual work environment.
  • Mission-driven organization focused on creating healthier fruits and veggies.
  • A cutting-edge, driven community looking to lead the industry in innovation and nutrition.

 

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit and use hands to finger, handle or feel, and techniques that require fine motor skills and repetitive motions. The employee is occasionally required to stand and walk. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. The employee is regularly required to talk or hear. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

 

EEO Statement:

We're an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.

 

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At Pairwise we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyways. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

 

No Recruiters please.