Job Description

Job Title: Senior Manager - New Product Development (NPD) - Food & Wellness Brand

Location

: Mumbai

Experience

: 4 to 10+ years

Employment Type

: Full-Time

About the Role

We are looking for a highly driven, creative, and technically strong

Senior Manager - New Product Development (NPD)

to lead the end-to-end development of innovative food & beverage products. This pivotal role involves ideating future-ready product lines, crafting recipes, ensuring nutritional balance, driving packaging innovations, and overseeing testing & commercialization.

If you're passionate about bringing new food ideas to life from concept to shelf and thrive in a fast-paced, consumer-focused environment, we want you on our team!

Key Responsibilities

Product Ideation & Conceptualization

Identify market trends, consumer needs, and white space opportunities to propose new product concepts Lead brainstorming sessions with cross-functional teams to drive innovation Conduct feasibility studies for proposed products, including market, technical, and financial viability

Recipe & Formula Development

Develop innovative recipes/formulations aligned with taste, nutrition, and cost objectives Ensure product compliance with regulatory standards and internal quality norms Optimize recipes for scalability and shelf stability

Prototyping & Product Testing

Lead kitchen/lab trials and pilot batches, and conduct organoleptic testing Collaborate with QA and R&D to ensure robust testing protocols Analyze sensory and performance data for improvements

Packaging Innovation

Work closely with packaging and design teams to introduce functional and sustainable packaging solutions Stay updated on global packaging trends and materials Conduct compatibility and stability tests with packaging options

Nutritional Balance & Compliance

Ensure all products meet nutritional goals based on target demographic (e.g., low sugar, high protein, clean label) Collaborate with regulatory and legal teams for nutritional labeling and compliance documentation

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Work with Marketing, Sales, Procurement, and Supply Chain teams to ensure a smooth go-to-market process Liaise with third-party manufacturers and co-packers as needed

Qualifications & Skills

Bachelor's or master's degree in Food Technology, Food Science, Nutrition, or related fields 4 to 10+ years of experience in New Product Development (preferably in FMCG, F&B, Health Foods, or Consumer Packaged Goods sectors) Proven experience in end-to-end product development lifecycle Strong understanding of functional ingredients, food processing, and sensory science Hands-on experience with R&D trials, shelf-life studies, and nutritional optimization Excellent project management, analytical, and interpersonal skills Creativity, curiosity, and a consumer-first mindset

What You'll Get

Opportunity to shape future food innovations with a high-impact brand Work in a collaborative and agile environment with cross-functional leadership Exposure to cutting-edge food tech, global ingredient trends, and packaging innovation Competitive salary, learning opportunities, and flexible culture

Location: Mumbai

(On-site role with occasional travel to R&D centers, plants, or vendor locations)

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: ₹60,000.00 - ₹150,000.00 per month

Work Location: In person