Associate Manager-Product Development

Stryker Corporation; United Arab Emirates; On-site; Confidential; Full time

Job summary

A global leader in product innovation is seeking a Product Development Specialist in the Personal Care Category. This role involves leading technical initiatives in product formulation, project management, and value engineering for soap products. Candidates must have 7-10 years of relevant experience and a Master's Degree in Chemical Engineering or Cosmetology. The position requires strong competencies in product knowledge and effective communication, aiming to ensure compliance and innovation in product development.

Qualifications

• 7-10 years of experience in the Personal Care Category.
• Strong technical foundation in surfactant chemistry.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary technical contact for soap development.
• Lead formulation and process development for bar soaps.
• Conduct plant trials and provide on-site technical support.
• Drive formulation development based on business objectives.
• Lead value engineering initiatives to optimize formulations.

Skills

Product Knowledge

New Product Development

Food Technology and Trends

Food Regulations

Communicating Effectively

Self and Team Management

Planning & Decision Making

Customer Centricity

Ownership & Result Orientation

Product Formulation Process

Education

Master's Degree in Cosmetology/Chemical Engineering

Job description

Job Summary

This role primarily focuses on product development initiatives, including new category creation, New Product Development (NPD), Existing Product Development (EPD), and value engineering projects. A key area of responsibility is the formulation and process development of soaps, requiring a strong technical foundation in surfactant chemistry and a deep understanding of the structural aspects of soap systems.

Roles & Responsibilities

Product Development & Project Management

• Serve as the primary technical contact for soap bar and noodle development across all markets, addressing formulation‑related queries and defining product specifications.
• Lead the formulation development of various types of bar soaps in alignment with business requirements and market needs.
• Possess strong expertise in process development for bar soaps, ensuring minimal deviation from conventional manufacturing methods while optimizing efficiency and quality.
• Conduct plant trials and provide on‑site technical support at various manufacturing locations, including co‑packers in Egypt, Malaysia, Iraq, and other regions as needed.
• Drive formulation development for new product categories such as Skin Care and Hair Care, based on strategic business objectives.

Value Engineering & EPD

• Lead and deliver assigned value engineering initiatives across multiple sites, focusing on optimization of existing product formulations and processes to enhance cost‑efficiency and performance.
• Drive the revamp and enhancement of current product lines in accordance with business briefs, including formulation updates and process redefinition to meet evolving market and operational needs.

Product Registrations and Futuristic Technologies

• Ensure comprehensive support for documentation and cross‑functional coordination to facilitate timely product registrations across various international markets.
• Continuously track evolving regulatory standards and country‑specific requirements to ensure full compliance of product formulations and claims.
• Organize and lead innovation workshops with internal stakeholders to stimulate interest in emerging categories and technologies, enhancing IFFCO's product pipeline and strategic direction.
• Identify and implement new technologies into product formulations, while driving intellectual property initiatives such as publications and patents to strengthen product claims and unique selling propositions (USPs).

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• On‑Time, In‑Full (OTIF) Delivery of product development and technical outputs in alignment with project timelines and quality standards.
  - Successful Product Launches, ensuring readiness across formulation, process, and cross‑functional coordination.
  - Process Optimization, contributing to improved manufacturing efficiency and reduced operational variability.
  - Quality Support to Manufacturing Sites, ensuring consistent product performance and adherence to specifications.
  - Innovation and Technology Integration, introducing advanced technologies and ingredients to enhance product claims and market differentiation.
• OTIF Delivery of Value Engineering Projects: Ensure timely and complete execution of assigned value engineering initiatives, contributing measurable savings to the business P&L.
  - Production Process Improvement: Drive enhancements in manufacturing efficiency and process reliability through technical interventions and optimization.
  - Timely Execution of Existing Product Development (EPD): Deliver EPD projects in accordance with agreed timelines and stakeholder expectations, ensuring alignment with business objectives and quality standards.
• Timely Product Registrations: Ensure all required documentation and coordination efforts result in on‑schedule product registrations across targeted markets.
  - Regulatory Compliance: Maintain full compliance of product formulations and claims with evolving country‑specific regulations and standards.
  - Innovation Workshop Execution: Conduct at least one innovation workshop annually, generating actionable interest in new categories and emerging technology trends relevant to IFFCO's product strategy.
  - Intellectual Property Development: Publish or file at least one patent annually to support product differentiation, strengthen claims, and enhance the unique selling proposition (USP) of IFFCO products.

Work Experience Requirement

7-10 years of working experience in Personal Care Category

Qualification

Masters Degree – Cosmetology/Chemical Engineering (desirable)

Competencies

• Product Knowledge
• New Product Development
• Food Technology and Trends
• Food Regulations
• Communicating Effectively
• Self and Team Management
• Planning & Decision Making
• Customer Centricity
• Ownership & Result Orientation
• Product Formulation Process