NPD Lead – Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods
Company Overview
A gut health company dedicated to creating honest, transparent, and science-backed wellness and nutraceutical products. The company offers a diverse portfolio including synbiotic formulas, probiotics, prebiotic fibers, detox blends, and functional dairy products. Their products feature clinically tested bacterial strains and natural ingredients designed for both adults and children, with a mission to make gut health simple, accessible, and empowering for all.
Job Summary
The NPD (New Product Development) Lead will spearhead the development of innovative nutraceuticals and functional food products, including next-generation proteins and dairy innovations. This role involves transforming ideas into commercially viable products through all stages of development—from concept and formulation to trials, scale-up, and launch. The ideal candidate will have a hands-on approach, a passion for building and experimenting, and the ability to shape the future of the company's wellness portfolio.
Responsibilities
- Lead the end-to-end development of new nutraceutical and functional food products, ensuring alignment with company goals and market needs.
- Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams including R&D, marketing, and manufacturing to translate concepts into scalable products.
- Design and oversee product formulation, conducting trials and evaluations to optimize quality, efficacy, and consumer appeal.
- Manage product trials, scale-up processes, and commercialization activities to ensure successful product launches.
- Stay updated with industry trends, scientific advancements, and regulatory requirements to inform product innovation.
- Build a culture of experimentation and ownership, fostering continuous improvement and innovation within the product development team.
Qualifications
- 6–15 years of experience in Nutraceuticals, Dairy, FMCG, or Functional Foods R&D or NPD.
- Hands-on experience with Nutraceuticals, Proteins, Probiotics, Yogurt/Fermented Dairy, or Wellness products.
- Strong understanding of formulation, product trials, and commercialization processes.
- Experience working in both established organizations and startup/growth environments.
- Technical expertise in product development, formulation, and scale-up.
- Entrepreneurial mindset with curiosity, ownership, and a passion for building innovative products.
- Educational qualifications: Degree in Food Science, Nutrition, Dairy Technology, or related fields.
Preferred Skills
- Prior experience in the Nutraceutical, Dairy, or Gut Health categories.
- Knowledge of probiotic formulations and natural ingredients.
- Familiarity with regulatory standards and quality assurance in food and supplement manufacturing.
- Strong project management and cross-functional collaboration skills.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment with a hands-on approach.
Experience
- 6 to 15 years of relevant experience in product development, R&D, or NPD within the food, nutraceutical, or wellness sectors.
- Experience in both corporate and startup environments is highly valued.
Environment
This role is based in Mumbai, India, with a focus on hands-on product development activities. The work environment involves close collaboration with R&D, marketing, and manufacturing teams, and may include laboratory work, product trials, and scale-up processes. Flexibility to adapt to a fast-paced startup culture is essential.
Salary
Not specified
GrowthOpportunities
Potential career growth into senior leadership roles within product innovation, R&D, or strategic management
Benefits
Not specified
