NPD Manager / Head

Company Overview

Not specified.

Job Summary

We are seeking an experienced NPD (New Product Development) Manager / Head to lead the end-to-end development of innovative food products for a stealth-mode D2C food startup. The role involves working closely with the founder to develop, scale, and commercialize new food concepts that bring restaurant-style flavors to home kitchens. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in food R&D, product development, and vendor management, contributing to the growth of a new-age food brand.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end product development from concept creation, trials, scale-up, to product launch.
• Manage R&D activities focusing on spices, seasonings, Ready-to-Cook (RTC), Ready-to-Eat (RTE), snacks, frozen foods, or nutraceuticals/functional foods.
• Collaborate with third-party manufacturers and vendors to ensure quality, consistency, and timely delivery of products.
• Drive innovation by developing new formulations and improving existing products based on market trends and consumer feedback.
• Oversee product trials, scale-up processes, and commercialization strategies to ensure successful market entry.
• Work directly with the founder and cross-functional teams to align product development with business goals and brand positioning.

Qualifications

• 5–10 years of experience in Food NPD / R&D.
• Strong expertise in spices, seasonings, RTC, RTE, snacks, frozen foods, or nutraceuticals/functional foods.
• Proven experience managing third-party manufacturers and vendors.
• Food Technology qualification mandatory; NIFTEM graduates preferred.
• Demonstrated project ownership with a stable career track record.
• Hands-on experience in food product development and commercialization.
• Excellent problem-solving, project management, and communication skills.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, early-stage startup environment.

Preferred Skills

• Experience working with new-age food startups.
• Knowledge of scale-up processes and regulatory compliance.
• Familiarity with market trends in healthy, functional, or innovative food categories.
• Strong network within the food manufacturing and vendor ecosystem.

Experience

• 5 to 10 years of relevant experience in food product development, R&D, or related fields.
• Experience in category-specific product development, especially in spices, seasonings, RTC, RTE, snacks, or nutraceuticals.

Environment

• The role is based in Gurgaon (Sector 32).
• The work environment is fast-paced and dynamic, typical of an early-stage startup.
• Collaboration with cross-functional teams and external vendors.
• The role may involve office-based work with potential for flexible arrangements depending on company policies.

GrowthOpportunities

• Opportunity to lead product innovation and development at a high-growth startup.
• Potential to advance into senior leadership roles within the company's product and R&D divisions.
• Involvement in building a new-age food brand with significant market impact.

Benefits

• Not specified.