Product Development & Category Manager

Vale Concepts; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company equity

Medical, Dental, and Vision

Unlimited matcha!

Company funded Orca card

Job summary

Vale Concepts seeks a Product Development & Category Manager to own Vale's end-to-end product pipeline—from concept through commercialization—serving as the bridge between Marketing, Operations, Manufacturing and Quality in Seattle.

You will manage timelines, coordinate cross-functional deliverables, and ensure packaging, regulatory deliverables, and product information are accurate, with a focus on scalable systems and fast, high-quality launches.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science or related field.
• 3–6 years in food product development or CPG.
• Experience with co-manufacturers and packaging development.

Responsibilities

• Own the end-to-end product development pipeline from concept to commercialization.
• Build and maintain development timelines and launch calendars.
• Coordinate cross-functional deliverables to keep launches on schedule.
• Manage samples, testing, approvals, and commercialization.
• Develop packaging specs and regulatory deliverables.
• Improve documentation and standardize launch workflows.

Skills

Project management

Communication

Attention to detail

Multi-launch management

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Food Science or related field

Job description

About Vale

Vale is on a mission to make exceptional matcha simple. We believe premium matcha shouldn't require complicated preparation or years of experience to enjoy. Through thoughtfully designed products, beautiful packaging, and uncompromising quality, we're redefining how people experience matcha every day.

As we continue to grow, we're looking for someone who thrives in bringing products to life—from the first idea through launch and into ongoing optimization.

Position Summary

The Product Development & Category Manager will own Vale's end-to-end product development pipeline, serving as the primary bridge between Marketing, Operations, Manufacturing, Quality, and external suppliers.

This role is responsible for ensuring new products launch on time, packaging and regulatory deliverables are complete, product information is accurate, and every stakeholder has what they need throughout commercialization.

The ideal candidate is equal parts project manager, product developer, food scientist, and operator—someone who enjoys building systems, sweating the details, and turning great ideas into successful products.

Responsibilities

Own the Product Development Pipeline

• Manage the complete product development lifecycle from concept through commercialization
• Build and maintain product development timelines, launch calendars, and project trackers
• Coordinate all cross-functional deliverables to ensure launches stay on schedule
• Identify project risks early and proactively resolve bottlenecks
• Lead recurring cross-functional product development meetings

Product Development

• Partner with Marketing to translate product concepts into commercially viable products
• Coordinate formulation development with manufacturing partners
• Manage product sampling, revisions, testing, approvals, and commercialization
• Oversee pilot runs, production trials, and first production approvals
• Support continuous improvement of existing products based on customer feedback and manufacturing learnings
• Evaluate new ingredients, suppliers, and product opportunities

Product Information Management

• Product specifications
• Manage sample requests and approvals
• Track ingredient changes and packaging updates
• Ingredient lists
• Formulas
• Packaging specs
• Nutrition information
• UPCs
• Case pack information
• Product dimensions
• Shipping specifications
• Manufacturing documentation
• Product launch checklists

Marketing Support

• Accurate product information
• Ingredient education
• Claims support
• Product launch timelines
• Packaging approvals
• Product photography samples
• Website product specifications
• Retailer documentation
• Sales sheets and specification documents

Process Improvement

• Build scalable systems for product development
• Improve documentation processes
• Standardize launch workflows
• Develop SOPs across commercialization
• Continuously optimize cross-functional collaboration

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Food Engineering, Nutrition, or related field
• 3–6 years of experience in food product development, commercialization, or CPG
• Experience working with co-manufacturers or food manufacturing facilities
• Experience with packaging development and print production
• Knowledge of food regulations, ingredient specifications, and quality systems
• Exceptional project management and organizational skills
• Ability to manage multiple product launches simultaneously
• Excellent communication skills with both technical and creative teams
• Strong attention to detail

Success in This Role

Within your first year, you'll:

• Own Vale's entire product development roadmap
• Build a best-in-class commercialization process that keeps launches on schedule
• Create a centralized source of truth for every product specification and packaging asset
• Ensure all packaging and regulatory deliverables are accurate and launch-ready
• Improve communication between Marketing, Operations, and manufacturing partners
• Help Vale bring innovative new products to market faster while maintaining exceptional quality

Benefits

• Company funded Orca card
• Company equity
• Medical, Dental, and Vision
• Unlimited matcha!