DS Group

Space Food Club; Mumbai; On-site; INR 2,500,000 - 4,000,000; Full time

Job summary

DS Group in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, is seeking an Assistant General Manager – NPD to drive product development from concept to commercialization. You will lead cross-functional teams, manage timelines, and ensure product quality and compliance.

The role demands deep knowledge of food ingredients, processes, and innovation, with a focus on confectionery, and requires strong project management and stakeholder coordination.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of relevant product development experience in the food industry.
• MSc in Food Science, Food Technology or Chemistry.
• Confectionery experience preferred.
• Strong project management skills and cross-functional collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Develop and/or duplicate products from concept to commercialization as per project brief.
• Understand ingredient interactions and ensure stability across shelf life.
• Lead scale-up trials, define process controls, and transfer technology with stakeholders.
• Interact with suppliers/vendors and liaise with cross-functional partners during vendor programs.
• Provide technical support to internal and external stakeholders and review work.
• Protect and manage IP related to product formulations.
• Identify opportunities to reduce product cost without compromising quality.
• Collaborate with Sales, Marketing, Procurement, QA, Regulatory, Finance, Operations, and Packaging.
• Ensure projects are completed within timelines and budgets using PM tools.

Skills

Project management

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Attention to detail

Independent work

Stakeholder management

Negotiation

Education

MSc Food Science / Food Technology / Chemistry

Job description

Company Name

DS Group

Job Title

Assistant General Manager – NPD

Job Location

Noida Uttar Pradesh

Description

Responsible for product development within the assigned priorities & is expected to identify and manage the technical risks. Must understand the properties & interactions between the ingredients, technological functions of additives for delivering innovative products. Should be able to develop NPD roadmap aligned with market trends & consumer preferences. Applies initiative and creativity in assignments. Should be able to provide technical direction to team members to achieve project objectives.

Would need to interact with cross-functional teams to plan and execute product and process development projects from concept to commercialization in accordance with the given requirements.

Key Responsibilities

Develop and/or duplicate products from concept to commercialization, as per assigned project brief and ensures that these products are suitable for manufacture and are stable throughout shelf life. Must have a deep understanding of interactions between ingredients, recipes and processes.

Understand consumer feedback & preferences & create products that resonate with the target audience

Supervises manufacturing/scale up trials during new product commercialization, including defining process controls, performing line validation & transferring technology engaging key stakeholders along the way.

Is expected to interact with suppliers/vendors and to liaise with cross functional partners in vendor approval programs and material selection, review and approval.

Provides technical and troubleshooting support to both internal and external stakeholders as required. Reviews team’s work and makes recommendations.

Protect & manage intellectual property related to product formulations

Identify opportunities to reduce product cost without compromising quality

Effectively collaborate with relevant intra and cross functional team members including Sales, Marketing, Procurement, QA, Regulatory, Finance and Operations, Packaging etc.

Ensure projects are completed within timelines & budgets preferably using PM solutions (software)

Key Skills/ Qualifications

MSc Food Science/Food Technology/ Chemistry.

15+ years of relevant product development experience in the food industry.

Confectionery, Hard Boiled Candy Experience Preferred

Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously

Must be able to manage and negotiate conflicting priorities, managing key stakeholder expectations along the way.

Attention to detail and ability to work independently

Strong communication and interpersonal skill