New Product Development Manager

Earthful.me; Hyderabad; On-site; INR 1,200,000 - 2,400,000; Full time

Job summary

Earthful.me is seeking a hands-on NPD/R&D leader to drive formulation and commercialization of supplements, functional foods, and wellness products. You will manage from concept to trials, coordinating with suppliers, contract manufacturers, and the founders on claims, labeling, and launch readiness.

You will evaluate ingredients, dosages, and packaging options, maintain rigorous documentation, and stay ahead of trends in women's health and preventive wellness.

Qualifications

• 4–8 years hands-on experience in NPD/R&D/product development in supplements, nutraceuticals, functional foods, or FMCG wellness.
• Brand-side experience: led products from brief to launch with contract manufacturers or third-party formulators
• Degree in Food Technology, Food Science, Nutrition, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biotechnology or related field
• Knowledge of regulations for nutraceuticals/functional foods and claims substantiation
• Experience with multiple formats (powders, gummies, capsules, tablets, sachets)
• Strong Excel/Sheets and meticulous documentation

Responsibilities

• Own concept-to-formulation briefs for new products and improvements across supplements, functional foods, and wellness.
• Coordinate with suppliers, manufacturers, and testing labs on samples, COAs, MOQs, and timelines.
• Build claim substantiation files with literature, references, and rationale prior to artwork.
• Ensure launch readiness by translating tech details into consumer benefits and preparing launch decks.

Skills

NPD

R&D

Product development

Formulation

Regulatory compliance

Documentation

Vendor management

Excel/Sheets

Education

Degree in Food Technology/Science/ Nutrition/ Pharmaceutical Sciences/ Biotechnology

Tools

Excel

Google Sheets

AI literature research

Job description

Earthful is a clean-label, plant-based nutrition brand for women's health, backed by Fireside Ventures and V3 Ventures, and recently featured on Shark Tank India. Every product we sell starts as a brief written here. This role owns that journey from idea to a product on the shelf: the formulation, the trials, the evidence behind the claims, and the partners who make it.

Role Overview

You’ll own new product development and improvement of existing products across supplements, functional foods, and wellness, working through contract manufacturers, third-party formulators, and ingredient vendors. You’ll work directly with the founders on what to build, with Regulatory & Compliance on claims and labels, with Procurement on ingredients and packaging, and with Brand, Design, and Growth on launch. The job rewards people who can combine scientific judgment with speed, cost discipline, and follow-through.

What You’ll Own

Concept to Formulation Brief

• Turn product concepts and consumer insight into clear, testable briefs for formulators and manufacturing partners
• Research ingredients, formats, and dosages for new wellness and supplement products
• Benchmark competitor products across India and global markets on formulation, claims, pricing, and positioning
• Develop across formats: powders, gummies, capsules, tablets, sachets, and others as the range grows

Formulation & Product Trials

• Own formulation development, from first sample to approved pilot batch
• Track every iteration — sensory trials, stability results, scale-up outcomes — and decide what moves forward and what is rejected
• Evaluate products on taste, mixability, texture, aroma, appearance, and usability
• Maintain structured documentation of trials, observations, and formulation changes
• Evaluate functional ingredients for dosage, evidence, usage restrictions, and clean-label suitability
• Build the claim substantiation file for each product — literature, references, and product rationale — before artwork is finalized
• Stay current on trends in women's health, gut health, protein, sleep and stress, and preventive wellness
• Coordinate with ingredient suppliers, contract manufacturers, and testing labs on samples, timelines, COAs, specifications, MOQs, and trial batches
• Support sourcing of ingredients and packaging components for new launches
• Compare vendors on quality, responsiveness, cost, and scalability, and give Procurement the technical input to negotiate

Quality & Compliance Support

• Own product specifications, ingredient sheets, and test reports for every product you develop
• Provide accurate label inputs, and work with Regulatory & Compliance on classification and claim alignment before launch

Launch Readiness

• Work with Brand, Design, Operations, and Growth so every product is ready on the launch date
• Translate technical product details into simple consumer-facing benefits
• Brief internal teams through launch decks, product notes, and FAQs

Cost & Existing Product Improvement

• Hold each formulation to a target cost of goods set at the brief stage, and flag early when a design choice puts it at risk
• Use consumer reviews, complaints, and operational feedback to prioritize improvements to existing products
• Use AI tools for literature and competitor research, verifying dosage, regulatory limits, and citations before anything is relied upon

What We’re Looking For

• 4–8 years of hands‑on experience in NPD, R&D, or product development in supplements, nutraceuticals, functional foods, or FMCG wellness
• Brand‑side experience: has taken products from brief to commercial launch through contract manufacturers or third‑party formulators at a D2C or consumer brand — not only in‑house at a manufacturer
• Degree in Food Technology, Food Science, Nutrition, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biotechnology, or a related life‑sciences field
• Working knowledge of FSSAI regulations for nutraceuticals and functional foods, and of claim substantiation
• Hands‑on formulation experience in more than one format (powders, gummies, capsules, tablets, sachets)
• Strong Excel or Google Sheets skills and disciplined documentation habits
• Consumer‑first thinking and curiosity about what makes a product work in the market
• Comfortable in a fast‑moving startup with high ownership and direct access to the founders