Head - New Product Development

GO DESi; Bengaluru; On-site; INR 1,200,000 - 2,000,000; Full time

Job summary

GO DESi in Bengaluru is seeking a seasoned professional for New Product Development & Innovation Strategy. This role entails creating and executing a robust NPD roadmap, managing product formulations, and overseeing team leadership in the food industry. The ideal candidate has a Bachelor's in Food Science and over 8 years of experience in product development within the FMCG sector. You will lead the process from concept through market launch while ensuring compliance with food safety standards.

Qualifications

• 8–10 years in NPD/R&D/Product Development in FMCG food.
• 5+ years in a leadership role managing NPD teams.
• Successful history of launching consumer food products.

Responsibilities

• Create and manage NPD roadmap aligned with business strategy.
• Lead formulation and recipe development for new products.
• Ensure all products meet food safety standards and regulations.

Skills

Product development

Market research

Team management

Regulatory compliance

Cost management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Food Science or related field

Master's degree in Food Technology or related

Job description

New Product Development & Innovation Strategy

• Develop & Execute NPD Roadmap: Create and manage a robust product roadmap aligned with business strategy, market trends, and growth targets. Balance short‑term launches (seasonal, tactical) with long‑term innovation (platform development, category expansion).
• Identify Market Opportunities: Conduct market research, consumer trend analysis, and competitive intelligence to identify unmet consumer needs and growth opportunities in traditional sweets, healthy snacks, functional foods, and adjacent categories.
• Concept Development: Lead ideation workshops, evaluate new product concepts, and prioritize NPD projects based on strategic fit, commercial potential, technical feasibility, and risk assessment.

Product Formulation & Technical Development

• Formulation & Recipe Development: Lead or oversee development of product formulations, recipes, and process specifications that meet consumer taste/texture expectations, cost targets, and regulatory requirements. Work with food technologists and R&D specialists.
• Process Optimization: Identify optimal manufacturing processes, ingredient combinations, and processing parameters that ensure product consistency, quality, shelf stability, and manufacturability at scale.
• Cost Management: Develop products within target cost parameters; identify cost‑reduction opportunities through ingredient sourcing, process efficiency, and packaging optimization; achieve 15–20% cost reduction targets where applicable.
• Quality & Compliance: Ensure all products meet FSSAI/food safety standards, HACCP protocols, GMP requirements, and internal quality standards. Obtain required certifications (FSSC 22000, organic, etc.).

Testing, Validation & Consumer Insight

• Sensory & Consumer Testing: Lead consumer tests, focus groups, taste panels, and quantitative surveys to validate product concepts and inform product improvements.
• Shelf‑Life & Stability Testing: Oversee accelerated shelf‑life studies, microbial testing, and quality checks to ensure products maintain quality throughout the intended shelf life.
• Nutritional Validation: For functional/health‑positioned products, ensure nutritional claims are substantiated, validated by third parties, and compliant with regulations (FSSAI, NIN guidelines).

Packaging & Go-to-Market Development

• Packaging Strategy: Define packaging requirements (material, size, design, messaging) that support product positioning, protect product quality, and align with consumer expectations and regulatory requirements.
• Launch Readiness: Develop comprehensive go‑to‑market plans including launch timeline, channel strategy, trade support, consumer marketing, and sales enablement. Coordinate with internal teams on launch execution.
• Product Documentation: Maintain comprehensive product documentation (formulations, process specs, SOP, allergen declarations, nutritional facts) for regulatory, quality, and training purposes.

Team Leadership & Capability Building

• Lead NPD Team: Manage and mentor a team of food technologists, product developers, and support staff. Set clear objectives, provide coaching, and foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement.
• Capability Development: Identify knowledge gaps; drive training and skill development in food science, process technology, consumer research, and product innovation.

Requirements

• Mandatory: Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Chemical Engineering, or related discipline.
• Preferred: Master's degree in Food Technology, Dairy Technology, or Food Business Management.
• Minimum 8–10 years of experience in NPD/R&D/Product Development in FMCG food industry.
• Minimum 5+ years in a leadership/management role overseeing NPD teams and projects, including:
  • Successfully launching 8+ consumer food products from concept to market.
  • Managing P&L for NPD products; achieving margin and growth targets.
  • Experience scaling products from pilot to full manufacturing scale.
  • Experience navigating food safety, regulatory compliance, and FSSAI approvals.