Manager, Core Hydration Product Development

Liquid I.V.; El Segundo (CA); Hybrid; USD 104,460 - 174,100; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision insurance

401k with company match

Paid time off + 13+ holidays

Wellness programs

Employee assistance program

Tech and wellness reimbursement

Liquid I.V. product supply

Infinite hydration

Job summary

Liquid I.V. is seeking a creative, technically proficient Product Development Manager to lead resilience and cost-saving initiatives for core hydration products. You will report to the Director of Core Hydration Product Development and manage 1–2 PD Scientists.

The role combines hands-on formulation with technical leadership, coordinating with cross-functional teams and Unilever counterparts to deliver robust, science-based formulations.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in food science or related field highly desired.
• Deep technical expertise in powdered beverages, nutritional supplements, flavor design and development.
• Strong working knowledge of food science, health and nutrition, QA principles, product development systems and processes.
• Demonstrated analytical and problem-solving skills with ability to design experiments and interpret data.
• Former people manager with experience coaching technical teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical management of core hydration projects, cost savings, and brand improvement.
• Oversee ideation, prototyping, specification development, tech transfer, and in-market support.
• Collaborate with supply chain, procurement, and commercialization on cost-saving initiatives.
• Coordinate with QA on root-cause investigations and corrective actions.
• Deliver product superiority through innovation, cost savings, and resilience projects.
• Develop and coach junior team members and ensure agile PD processes.

Skills

Powdered beverage chemistry

Formulation development

Team leadership

Analytical thinking

Project management

Education

Master’s degree in food science

Job description

About Liquid I.V.

This job description indicates in general the nature and levels of work, knowledge, skills, abilities and other essential functions expected of the role. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required. It is not intended to limit or in any way modify the right of any supervisor to assign, direct, and control the work of employees under his/her supervision. Ability to competently perform all the essential duties of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation, demonstrated commitment to the company’s mission, and the ability to work productively as a member of a team or work group are basic requirements of all positions at Liquid I.V.

About Liquid I.V.

This job description indicates in general the nature and levels of work, knowledge, skills, abilities and other essential functions expected of the role. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required. It is not intended to limit or in any way modify the right of any supervisor to assign, direct, and control the work of employees under his/her supervision. Ability to competently perform all the essential duties of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation, demonstrated commitment to the company’s mission, and the ability to work productively as a member of a team or work group are basic requirements of all positions at Liquid I.V.

We are committed to building an inclusive culture of belonging that not only embraces the diversity of our people but also reflects the diversity of the communities in which we work and the customers we serve. We know that the happiest and highest performing teams include people with diverse perspectives that encourage new ways of solving problems, so we strive to attract and develop talent from all backgrounds and create workplaces where everyone feels seen, heard, and empowered to bring their full, authentic selves to work.

Liquid I.V. is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex including sexual orientation and gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

About Our Team

We are a world-class team of innovators and passionate change-makers, looking to develop transformative hydration solutions and make a meaningful impact on the world around us.

At Liquid I.V., we are committed to building an inclusive culture of belonging that not only embraces the diversity of our people but also reflects the diversity of the communities in which we work and the customers we serve.

Our team members enjoy a flexible and inclusive working environment, a highly collaborative and innovation-forward culture, generous benefits and perks that empower employees to champion their wellbeing every day, as well as an infinite supply of Liquid I.V. for extraordinary hydration.

About The Role

Liquid I.V. is looking for a creative, highly technical and execution focused Product Development Manager to help lead and execute resilience and cost savings initiatives for core business. Reporting to the Director of Core Hydration Product Development, this role will manage and have support from 1-2 PD Scientists. Candidates should bring prior people management experience and a demonstrated ability to coach, mentor, and develop technical talent. The Manager, Core Hydration Product Development, will be an integral team member of LIV R&D Organization and will engage with all levels of the organization cross-functionally along with Unilever counterparts.

The ideal candidate is both hands‑on formulator and a technical leader with expertise in product development of powdered beverages. They are highly technical in their product development approach and are not only capable of designing/executing experiments independently, but to also communicating their findings to both technical and non-technical business partners.

Functions and duties of this role include, but not limited to:

• Lead technical management of core hydration business continuity, cost savings and brand improvement projects while upholding product quality and consumer experience
• Deliver including ideation with marketing, prototyping, specification development, technical transfer, and in market support
• Partner with supply chain, procurement and commercialization teams to identify and implement cost savings initiatives related to ingredients, formulations, manufacturing processes and packaging
• Collaborate with quality assurance on root cause investigations and implementation of corrective actions for product quality and production challenges
• Deliver product superiority measures with innovation, cost savings, and resilience projects
• Plan and execute stability/analytical studies for self‑owned projects
• Oversee operations of the product development space, including organization, ingredient management, SOP development, equipment calibration and advancing documentation processes
• Support implementation of digital R&D systems, documentation processes, and best practices
• Collaborate with scientific affairs and sensory science partners to deliver robust science‑based formulations
• Monitor and maintain on‑time delivery of critical project milestones, lead internal communication with cross‑functional partners as it relates to product briefs, formula evaluation and other deliverables
• Directly manage and coach one Product Development Scientists including setting clear priorities, project ownership, and development goals
• Develop and support junior members of the team to foster creative and science‑based product design
• Partner with manager and colleagues to continuously optimize the PD processes with the goal of delivering smart agile execution, while maintaining product quality & superiority throughout the process
• Develop strong working relationships with innovation partners, suppliers, contract manufactures to meet and or exceed timelines
• Travel as necessary to represent team at industry conferences, tradeshows, supervise formula development, pilot, and/or production runs, work onsite at CM R&D facilities as needed to meet project approval milestones

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in food science or related field highly desired.
• Consumer obsessed with a record of accomplishment of success in developing amazing products for iconic brands.
• Deep technical expertise in areas such as powdered beverages, nutritional supplements, flavor design and development, specification development, formulation management.
• Strong working knowledge of food science, health and nutrition, food manufacturing processes, quality assurance principles, product development systems and processes, ingredient supply market, as well as scale up and product commercialization.
• Demonstrated analytical and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to create both scrappy & detailed experiments, collect and interpret data, draw valid conclusions, and propose solutions.
• Experience and proficiency in executing strong co‑development agreements with external partners with scope in: IP protection, negotiations, cost structure, and SOW development.
• A poised technical leader with the ability to influence and has strong oral/written presentation skills.
• Strong working knowledge of R&D program management.
• Agile and adaptable to change and demonstrates ability be self‑motivated and to motivate others amidst aggressive business objectives and priority shifts.
• Former people manager strongly preferred, with experience leading and developing technical or R&D teams. Proven ability to coach talent, delegate effectively, and foster a high‑performing team culture.

What We Give

• 100% company‑paid medical, dental and vision insurance for employees (PPO, HMO and Kaiser options).
• A 401k plan with company match, short and long‑term disability coverage.
• A generous PTO and sick policy that includes 13+ paid annual holidays.
• Wellness classes (fitness, mental health, nutrition, finance, etc.).
• An Employee Assistance Program, including membership for guided meditation for all employees.
• Monthly tech and wellness reimbursement.
• An infinite supply of Liquid I.V. for endless hydration!

Work Environment

• This role is (HYBRID) and based in El Segundo, CA with an expectation to work from the office 1-2 days per week. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship.

The compensation band for this position is $116,100 - $174,1000 annually. The exact salary is determined by various factors including experience, skills, education, geographic location, internal company equity, and budget. The listed range is applicable only to the annual base salary and does not include additional perks, benefits, or applicable bonus eligibility comprising the total compensation package.

This job description indicates in general the nature and levels of work, knowledge, skills, abilities and other essential functions expected of the role. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required. It is not intended to limit or in any way modify the right of any supervisor to assign, direct, and control the work of employees under his/her supervision. Ability to competently perform all the essential duties of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation, demonstrated commitment to the company’s mission, and the ability to work productively as a member of a team or work group are basic requirements of all positions at Liquid I.V.

We are committed to building an inclusive culture of belonging that not only embraces the diversity of our people but also reflects the diversity of the communities in which we work and the customers we serve. We know that the happiest and highest performing teams include people with diverse perspectives that encourage new ways of solving problems, so we strive to attract and develop talent from all backgrounds and create workplaces where everyone feels seen, heard, and empowered to bring their full, authentic selves to work.

Liquid I.V. is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex including sexual orientation and gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

You can find the Unilever privacy note here