Commercial Product Development Manager

Top Notch Consultancy; Kuwait; On-site; KWD 35,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Top Notch Consultancy seeks a Commercial Product Development Manager to drive growth and manage third-party manufacturing partnerships in Kuwait. You will lead product initiatives, coordinate with cross-functional teams, and translate consumer insights into viable product ideas.

The role requires 8+ years in FMCG product development, strong vendor management, and project management using modern collaboration tools. MBA is a plus for strategic leadership and cost optimization.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Food Technology, or Supply Chain; MBA preferred.
• 8+ years in commercial product development in FMCG/Food industry.
• Experience launching products via third-party partnerships.
• Strong understanding of the commercial product lifecycle.
• Excellent vendor management and negotiation skills.
• Familiarity with cost modeling and landed costs.
• Project management skills with modern collaboration tools.
• Ability to bridge Marketing, R&D and Supply Chain.

Responsibilities

• Identify growth opportunities for commercial products aligned with strategic goals.
• Prepare feasibility forms capturing concept rationale, preliminary costings, and market potential.
• Work closely with external manufacturers to develop, test, and finalize products for launch.
• Collaborate with R&D, Quality, Supply Chain, Sales, and Marketing teams to ensure alignment.
• Identify and assess suitable co-manufacturers or private label vendors; lead negotiations and ensure IP/SLAs.
• Monitor vendor performance for reliability, innovation and compliance.
• Act as project manager for all commercial product initiatives using MS Project.
• Lead periodic cross-functional reviews to track development, timelines and gates.
• Coordinate with Finance, Legal and Procurement on contracts, IP, and landed costs.
• Translate consumer insights into viable commercial product ideas; support packaging and claims.

Skills

Vendor management

Negotiation

Project management

Cost modeling

Cross-functional collaboration

Strategic mindset

Marketing flair

IP awareness

Education

Bachelor's degree

MBA

Tools

MS Project

Job description

About the job Commercial Product Development Manager

Our client in the FMCG industry is seeking a talented Commercial Product Development Manager to join their team in Kuwait. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in commercial product development, with a focus on driving successful product launches and managing third-party manufacturing partnerships. This position offers the opportunity to lead innovative product initiatives and contribute to the strategic growth of the brand in a competitive market.

Responsibilities :

1. Commercial Product Development
   • Identify white spaces and growth opportunities for commercial products aligned with strategic goals.
   • Prepare and present Commercial Product Feasibility Forms capturing concept rationale, preliminary costings, and market potential.
   • Work closely with external manufacturers to develop, test, and finalize products for launch.
   • Collaborate with R&D, Quality, Supply Chain, Sales, and Marketing teams to ensure alignment across all functions.
2. Vendor Engagement & Management
   • Identify and assess suitable co-manufacturers or private label vendors.
   • Lead negotiations and ensure clarity on quality standards, IP rights, MOQ, lead times, and SLAs.
   • Monitor vendor performance, ensuring reliability, innovation, and compliance.
3. Internal Collaboration & Project Coordination
   • Act as project manager for all commercial product initiatives, using tools such as MS Project.
   • Lead periodic reviews with cross-functional stakeholders to track development, timelines, and decision gates.
   • Coordinate closely with Finance, Legal, and Procurement on contracts, IP, and landed cost calculations.
4. Marketing Integration
   • Translate consumer insights into viable commercial product ideas.
   • Collaborate with Brand and Trade Marketing teams to position and support the product effectively in the market.
   • Support packaging development, storytelling, and claim substantiation efforts for new products.
5. Logistics & Cost Optimization
   • Work with the Supply Chain team to map logistics scenarios, including cost-to-land models, shelf-life implications, and warehousing needs.
   • Explore and recommend optimal sourcing geographies or vendor clusters to reduce lead time and logistics risk.

Requirements :

• Bachelors degree in Business, Marketing, Food Technology, or Supply Chain; MBA preferred.
• Minimum 8 years of experience in commercial product development in the FMCG/Food industry, ideally with experience in co-manufacturing or private label management.
• Demonstrable experience in launching successful products through third-party partnerships.
• Deep understanding of the commercial product lifecycle.
• Strong vendor management and negotiation skills.
• Working knowledge of intellectual property rights and product ownership clauses.
• Familiarity with cost modeling, including landed cost components.
• Project management expertise with the use of modern collaboration tools.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to bridge Marketing, R&D, and Supply Chain.
• Consumer-focused with a strategic mindset and marketing flair.