New Product Development Specialist

Third Wave Coffee; Bengaluru; On-site; INR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

Third Wave Coffee is seeking an NPD-focused team member to help create innovative beverages for our cafes. You will move ideas from concept to national rollout, working across departments to ensure quality, feasibility, and brand alignment.

The role emphasizes collaboration, curiosity, and hands-on testing of recipes, with travel to vendor meetings and café visits as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field with interest in beverage R&D and product development.
• 1–3 years experience in Beverage R&D, Product Development, café operations, or F&B industry.
• Passion for coffee, beverages, and culinary innovation; strong collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Assist in developing innovative coffee, tea, and non-coffee beverages aligned with brand positioning.
• Research global food & beverage trends and identify opportunities for new product innovation.
• Conduct product trials, recipe development, tastings, and documentation.
• Collaborate with suppliers to source ingredients and improve products.
• Coordinate with Marketing, Operations, Supply Chain, QA, and Training to launch new products.
• Visit cafés regularly to ensure product quality and feasibility.

Skills

Creative mindset

Collaboration and communication

Multi-project management

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Food Technology, Hospitality, Hotel Management, Culinary Arts, or related field

Tools

Microsoft Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

At Third Wave Coffee, we're constantly exploring new ways to delight our customers. As part of the New Product Development (NPD) team, you'll help create innovative coffee and non-coffee beverages that define the future of our menu. From brainstorming ideas to launching products across our cafes, you'll play a key role in shaping memorable customer experiences.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist in developing innovative coffee, tea, and non-coffee beverages aligned with brand positioning and customer preferences.
• Research global food & beverage trends and identify opportunities for new product innovation.
• Conduct product trials, recipe development, tastings, and documentation.
• Collaborate with ingredient suppliers and vendors to source new ingredients and improve existing products.
• Coordinate with Marketing, Operations, Supply Chain, Procurement, Quality Assurance, and Training teams to successfully launch new products.
• Support pilot launches, gather customer and operational feedback, and refine recipes before national rollout.
• Visit cafés regularly to ensure product quality, consistency, and operational feasibility.
• Maintain product specifications, SOPs, costing sheets, and technical documentation.
• Monitor competitor offerings and industry innovations to generate fresh ideas.
• Support continuous improvement of existing beverages based on customer insights and business requirements.

Who We're Looking For

• Bachelor's Degree in Food Technology, Hospitality, Hotel Management, Culinary Arts, or a related field.
• 1–3 years of experience in Beverage R&D, Product Development, Café Operations, or the Food & Beverage industry.
• Passion for coffee, beverages, and culinary innovation.
• Creative mindset with strong curiosity and willingness to experiment.
• Excellent collaboration and communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Comfortable travelling for vendor meetings, sourcing activities, product trials, and café visits.

Preferred Skills

• Understanding of coffee brewing methods and beverage preparation.
• Knowledge of food safety and quality standards.
• Basic understanding of ingredient functionality and beverage costing.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint.