NPD Manager - Nutraceuticals & Functional Foods

Earthful; Hyderabad; On-site; INR 1,000,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Job summary

You will collaborate with Regulatory Compliance on claims and labels, with Procurement on ingredients and packaging, and with Brand, Design, and Growth teams to ensure launch readiness and commercial success.

Qualifications

• 4-8 years hands-on experience in NPD or product development in supplements or nutraceuticals.
• Brand-side experience taking products from brief to launch with contract manufacturers.
• Degree in Food Technology, Food Science, Nutrition, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biotechnology, or a related life-sciences field.
• Working knowledge of FSSAI regulations and 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.

Responsibilities

• Own concept-to-brief process for new products with formulators and partners.
• Lead formulation trials with third-party formulators and contract manufacturers, from first sample to pilot batch.
• Evaluate ingredients for dosage, evidence, usage restrictions, and clean-label suitability.
• Coordinate with ingredient suppliers, CMOs, and testing labs on samples, timelines, COAs, specs, MOQs, and trials.
• Ensure launch readiness by collaborating with Brand, Design, Operations, and Growth teams.

Skills

NPD experience

Brand-side experience

Regulatory awareness

Excel skills

Documentation habits

Education

Food Technology/Science degree

Tools

Excel/Google Sheets

Job description

Job Details

• Location: Hyderabad (in-office)
• Function: RD New Product Development
• Reports to: Founders

Role Overview

This is a brand-side NPD role, not a plant or lab role. 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 rather than an in-house pilot plant. 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 with third-party formulators and contract manufacturers, 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
• Ingredient Claims Research
  • 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 womens health, gut health, protein, sleep and stress, and preventive wellness
• Vendor Manufacturer Coordination
  • 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 (Suggested Additions)
  • 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 Were Looking For

• 4-8 years of hands-on experience in NPD, RD, 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

Disclaimer: This job posting has been aggregated from external source. Role details, content, and availability are subject to change. Applicants are advised to confirm the latest information directly on the company website before applying.