Product Development Manager

Our client is a global leader specializing in natural color solutions catered to the food, beverage, and pet food industries. Recognized worldwide for their commitment to harnessing the power of nature's true colors, this company passionately advocates that natural is best. By innovating and delivering high-quality, naturally derived color products, they support their customers in creating appealing and healthy food products that align with consumer demands for natural ingredients. Their dedication to innovation and sustainability positions them at the forefront of the market, driving advancements that meet both regulatory standards and customer expectations on a global scale.

The company is currently seeking a seasoned Product Development Manager to join their expanding team of experts. This role is pivotal in independently managing the development of new color formulations for a wide range of applications. The Product Development Manager will actively contribute to the company’s growth by taking ownership of the entire product lifecycle, from concept through to successful market launch. Collaborating closely with the commercial teams, this position also functions as a key technical advisor to sales, enhancing customer relationships and driving business success.

The ideal candidate will have a strong academic background in food science, particularly food chemistry, coupled with extensive experience in product development and project management. Working cross-functionally with production, quality assurance, and sales teams, the Manager will ensure smooth coordination and effective development strategies. Experience in analytical chemistry and method development or validation, while advantageous, will further enhance the value brought to the role.

Key responsibilities include leading and managing the Product Development Team, overseeing color formulation projects from initial concept stages through commercialization, and providing technical expertise to support sales strategies and customer interactions. The role demands the ability to scale formulations effectively to production across various global sites, maintain safety compliance, and foster safe working practices within the laboratory and production environments. Additionally, the successful candidate will be adept at operating lab and pilot scale equipment with minimal supervision, training quality control and production teams, and troubleshooting during scale-up phases.

This role demands an individual with excellent project and stakeholder management skills, the ability to analyze technical data, prepare and present detailed reports, and demonstrate exceptional color vision to distinguish subtle differences in color across various applications. Comfortable working in production settings and managing collaborative projects, this professional will serve as a cornerstone in advancing the company's product offerings and market positioning. This position offers the opportunity to lead innovative work in a dynamic organization committed to natural, sustainable solutions, supporting a culture of excellence and continuous improvement.