Who We Are 

At Freshpet, our goal is to change the way people nourish their pets forever.  We strive to strengthen the bond between people and our pets so that we both live longer, healthier, and happier lives while being kind to the planet. We believe that if we can create fresh, real foods that pets love and help them live healthier lives, that their pet parents will also enjoy the many benefits of a rich life shared with a pet.  IT’S AMAZING WHAT CAN HAPPEN WHEN YOU START COMPLETELY FRESH! 

What You Will Do 

Freshpet is evolving from a fresh pet food company into a broader pet health, lifestyle, and longevity platform. To accelerate this transformation, we are building new capabilities beyond food—spanning technology, data, digital services, and strategic partnerships. 
 

The Director of Innovation – Technology & Partnerships will lead the identification, development, and activation of these new capabilities. This role is focused on platform thinking, external partnerships, and technology-enabled growth, working alongside—but distinct from—core pet food innovation. 

This leader will help Freshpet explore what’s next: personalization engines, digital tools, AI-enabled insights, diagnostics, behavior and health monitoring, services, and ecosystem partnerships that deepen consumer relationships and expand our total addressable market. 

How You Will Make an Impact 

Technology-Enabled Innovation 

• Identify and develop technology platforms that enhance Freshpet’s ability to deliver personalized, connected, and data-driven experiences. 

• Explore applications of AI, advanced analytics, digital tools, and connected data to support personalization, decision-making, and consumer engagement. 

• Translate emerging technologies into practical pilots, proofs of concept, and scalable capabilities. 

Strategic Partnerships & Ecosystem Development 

• Lead the discovery, evaluation, and activation of external partnerships across: 

• pet health and wellness technology 

• diagnostics and monitoring 

• data and AI platforms 

• digital services and subscriptions 

• insurance, care, and lifestyle adjacencies 

• Assess build / partner / buy options and develop clear business cases. 

• Manage early-stage partnerships, pilots, and joint initiatives through testing and scale-readiness. 

 
Innovation Pipeline & Execution 

• Own a portfolio of Horizon 2+ technology and partnership initiatives, from concept through validation. 

• Define success metrics, learning agendas, and decision gates for each initiative. 

• Work cross-functionally with Digital, IT, Insights, Marketing, Operations, Legal, and Finance to move ideas forward. 

 
Consumer Insight & Value Creation 

• Ground technology and partnership opportunities in real consumer problems—especially around convenience, confidence, health, and longevity. 

• Ensure solutions are intuitive, valuable, and aligned with Freshpet’s brand promise. 

• Partner with Insights teams to test desirability, usability, and willingness to pay. 

 
Internal Enablement & Change Leadership 

• Help the organization understand and adopt new capabilities by simplifying complexity. 

• Support the SVP in communicating innovation progress, implications, and recommendations to senior leadership. 

• Act as a bridge between external innovators and internal teams. 

What You Will Bring 

• 8–12+ years of experience in innovation, technology strategy, digital product, partnerships, or new business development. 

• Proven experience working with external partners, startups, or technology vendors. 

• Comfort operating in ambiguity and building from concept to pilot to scale. 

• Strong business acumen—able to evaluate economics, risks, and scalability. 

• Experience collaborating with digital, IT, legal, finance, and operations teams. 

• Clear communicator who can translate technical concepts into business impact. 

• Curiosity about emerging trends in AI, personalization, health tech, and digital ecosystems. 

• Passion for improving pet health and consumer experience through innovation. 

What Success Looks Like 

• A portfolio of technology- and partnership-led initiatives that meaningfully expand Freshpet’s capabilities beyond food. 

• Clear pilots and proof points demonstrating consumer value and business potential. 

• Strong external partner relationships and a repeatable model for collaboration. 

• Increased organizational confidence in Freshpet’s ability to innovate in new domains. 

• Tangible progress toward Freshpet’s long-term ecosystem and TAM expansion goals. 

What We Offer 

The range for this position is:  $180,000 - $210,000

At Freshpet, we offer a competitive salary and an excellent benefits package, including medical, dental and vision insurance, basic and optional life insurance, short- and long-term disability protection, flexible spending accounts, and a 401(k) plan with company match, paid parental leave, pet insurance, tuition assistance, a generous PTO plan and so much more! 

Our Commitment to a Diverse Workforce: 

Freshpet is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All employment decisions are made without regards to race, color, national origin, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital or domestic/civil partnership status, genetic information, citizenship status (although applicants and employees must be legally authorized to work in the United States), uniformed service member or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law (“protected characteristics”). 

Disclaimers 

The salary range provided above is the range of the wages that we will pay for the listed position.  A final determination on the wages within this range is based on a number of non-discriminatory factors, including but not limited to the required work location, previous work experience, skill set, and wage rates for comparable positions.  

Freshpet is not accepting unsolicited assistance from search firms for this employment opportunity. Please, no phone calls or emails. All resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at Freshpet via-email, the Internet or in any form and/or method without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of Freshpet. No fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by Freshpet as a result of the referral or through other means.