Job Description

  • Formulate and drive the overall product development strategy, ensuring alignment with the company's business direction, consumer demands, and long-term growth objectives.
  • Lead the end-to-end product development process, covering product ideation, concept evaluation, formulation development, testing, commercialization, and product lifecycle management.
  • Manage and develop the Product Development team, establishing clear objectives, project priorities, and performance standards to ensure effective execution of development initiatives.
  • Oversee new product development projects and product improvement programs, ensuring timely delivery while meeting established quality, cost, and profitability expectations.
  • Drive product innovation across relevant food and dessert categories by identifying emerging market trends, consumer preferences, new ingredients, and innovative product concepts.
  • Manage product costing, pricing considerations, and gross margin expectations to ensure commercial viability and alignment with business targets.
  • Identify, evaluate, and manage external manufacturing partners, OEM producers, and raw material suppliers to ensure reliable sourcing, product consistency, and cost efficiency.
  • Build and maintain strong business relationships with key suppliers, manufacturing partners, packaging providers, and other external stakeholders.
  • Work closely with Marketing, Sales, R&D, Procurement, Quality Assurance, and Production teams to translate market opportunities into commercially successful products.
  • Conduct market and consumer research, analyze customer feedback, and evaluate competitive products to identify opportunities for new product launches and portfolio enhancement.
  • Explore new technologies, ingredients, production methods, and packaging innovations to improve existing products and create competitive advantages.
  • Coordinate product testing, pilot production, and factory-scale trials with manufacturing partners to ensure product formulations and specifications are suitable for mass production.
  • Review and validate product formulations, specifications, and production requirements before final commercial approval.
  • Establish standardized product development procedures, project management frameworks, and performance measurement systems to improve operational effectiveness.
  • Monitor product development timelines, budgets, and project outcomes, providing regular updates, strategic insights, and recommendations to senior management.
  • Drive continuous improvement and foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and accountability within the product development function.

Job Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Food Engineering, or a related discipline.
  • Minimum 6 years of relevant experience in Product Development, Research & Development (R&D), Product Innovation, or related functions within the Food & Beverage industry.
  • Previous experience leading a product development team or managing cross-functional product innovation projects.
  • Proven ability to manage the complete product development cycle, from initial concept through product commercialization and market launch.
  • Strong technical knowledge of food formulation, ingredient selection, product testing, manufacturing processes, and product quality standards.
  • Solid understanding of product costing, cost optimization, pricing structures, and gross margin management.
  • Experience working with OEM manufacturers, contract manufacturing partners, raw material suppliers, and packaging vendors.
  • Strong commercial mindset with the ability to translate consumer insights and market trends into commercially viable products.
  • Experience in dessert, bakery, beverage, tea, coffee, confectionery, or café-related businesses would be an advantage.
  • Excellent strategic planning, project management, and problem-solving capabilities.
  • Strong leadership, communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
  • Proficient in Microsoft Office and Google Workspace.
  • Good command of written and spoken English.