Product Development Manager

M2 Ingredients; Vista (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Medical insurance

401(k) plan

Paid time off

Parental leave

Life insurance

Disability insurance

EAP

Career growth

Employee discounts

Job summary

M2 Ingredients seeks a Product Development Manager to lead new product developments and optimize dietary supplements for the US market, with potential Canadian projects. You will drive formulation, regulatory readiness, and production ramp‑up, collaborating with marketing and contract manufacturers to meet timelines and quality targets.

The role requires a strong background in food science, project planning, and cross-functional teamwork, with focus on quality, efficacy, and customer

Qualifications

• M.Sc. in food science, chemistry, biochemistry or related field.
• 5-7 years in dietary supplements or functional foods in product development.
• Experience leading plant trials and production start-up.
• Experience in Natural Health Products development is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end new product development from ideation to commercialization.
• Collaborate with marketing, cross-functional teams and contract manufacturers.
• Oversee benchtop sampling, pilot trials and scale-up to production.
• Ensure quality, safety and regulatory compliance through development stages.
• Support supplier qualification and ingredient efficacy studies.

Skills

Food science

Project planning

Time management

Cross-functional teamwork

Education

M.Sc. in food science, chemistry, biochemistry or related field

Tools

Genesis

Windows

Word

Excel

Job description

Description

The Product Development Manager will lead new product developments as well as product optimization efforts for dietary supplements. The Product Development Manager will be charged to lead product formulation and product operational readiness to ramp up and launch new products on time, with a high level of quality and maximum customer availability. A successful Product Development Manager is a creative and collaborative partner, is driven, organized, and detail oriented and is thoughtful and effective in problem solving and responding to the customers and consumer needs.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Responsible for reporting on food safety and/or quality problems to personnel with the authority to initiate corrective actions.
• Lead concept development in collaboration with marketing, the cross functional team and contract manufacturer (if needed).
• Lead new product development, from discovery and initial feasibility assessment to product qualification, business evaluation and commercialization
• Contribute new ideas within the cross-functional team that drive the innovation pipeline 'at
• M2 Ingredients/Om Mushrooms through scientific and technical insights.
• Lead new product development for dietary supplements with a focus on the US market but projects could include Natural Health Products for the Canadian markets.
• Lead and or oversee benchtop sampling and plant trials to assess the viability of new ingredients & products.
• Lead regular new product development meetings to ensure projects meet deadlines, quality and regulatory standards from ideation to full scale production by engaging the cross functional team on the project timeline and keeping the team informed and accountable throughout the development phases.
• Formulate products according to product development briefs to meet consumer acceptance, functional, nutritional and certification targets.
• Develop and validate through testing the Finish Product Specifications of each new product as it relates to the functional and nutritional benefits of the product.
• Lead small scale consumer/employee acceptance testing and apply learnings to product development efforts
• Manage real time and accelerated stability program for Om & M2 products
• Actively participate in compliant product labeling in collaboration with quality, marketing, and legal teams.
• Actively participate in qualifying new contract manufacturing facilities and conduct site visits for first production runs
• Actively participate in scientific research efforts to support product/ingredient efficacy
• Actively participate in the development and analysis of consumer insight studies in collaboration with the marketing team
• Source high quality dietary supplement ingredients and actively participate in the supplier qualification process in collaboration with the regulatory compliance team
• Act as steward of the product through development- reaching beyond project management to ensure every aspect of a new product meets the highest standards for quality, efficacy, consumer appeal, and financial value for the company
• You’ll be most successful in this role if you have:
• Ability to apply knowledge of food science and dietary supplement formulation to meet consumer needs
• Exhibit skills in prioritization, time management, and project planning.
• Ability to work on ingredients with little industry track record.
• Ability to work with cross functional teams.

Requirements

Qualifications:

• M.Sc. in food Science, chemistry, biochemistry or other relevant science degrees.
• 5-7 years of experience in the dietary supplements or functional food industry in a product development role including experience formulating, leading plant trials and production start up.
• Experience in Natural Health Products development an asset.
• Proficiency with genesis and Windows operating system including word and excel

Benefits & Perks

• Competitive compensation and bonus opportunities
• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• 401(k) with Company Safe Harbor Contribution
• Paid Time Off, Paid Holidays, and Sick Leave
• Paid Parental Leave
• Company-Paid Life and Disability Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Professional development and career growth opportunities
• Employee discounts on OM products