Associate Product Development Manager, Brand Maintenance

About the Role

Key Responsibilities

• Assist in managing existing beverage product lines, ensuring they remain competitive, compliant, and aligned with brand standards throughout their lifecycle.
• Lead minor product updates and formula optimizations to deliver cost optimization and react to ingredient supply constraints while maintaining consumer experience and brand consistency.
• Guide team through the Technical Stage Gate process from Ideation through Launch, ensuring technical and project management rigor is incorporated into project plans.
• Develop robust learning plans for all commercialization projects.
• Identify potential ingredient alternatives through a strong understanding of Food and Beverage ingredients.
• Collaborate with R&D, Sensory, marketing, regulatory, supply chain, food safety, and quality teams to implement product changes and resolve issues efficiently.
• Track and analyze product performance metrics, consumer feedback, and market trends to identify opportunities for improvement or cost savings.
• Maintain accurate product documentation in PLM-DEVEX, including formulas, specifications, and change logs, ensuring compliance.
• Ensure all brand maintenance activities meet consumer, regulatory, food safety, and internal quality standards, coordinating with legal and QA teams as needed.
• Participate in value engineering and cost-reduction initiatives while preserving product integrity and brand equity.
• Facilitate the execution of product changes through established production change control processes, including communication with stakeholders.
• Support initiatives to improve product sustainability, such as packaging reduction, ingredient sourcing, or waste minimization.
• Provide insights and recommendations during annual planning cycles to shape brand maintenance priorities and resource allocation.
• Lead a team of two direct reports, providing guidance and support to prioritize and manage multiple projects effectively.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in food science, food engineering, biochemistry, chemistry, or related field.
• 7+ years of overall work experience.
• 5+ years of experience in the Food and Beverage CPG industry.
• 4+ years of product development experience from benchtop to commercialization.
• 3+ years of beverage formulation experience.
• Ability to manage multiple product updates and timelines efficiently.
• Strong collaboration skills to work with R&D, marketing, FSQA, regulatory, and supply chain teams.
• Experience with leading a team and supporting career development.
• Capable of interpreting performance data, consumer feedback, and cost metrics to guide decisions.
• Precision in managing product specifications, documentation, and compliance requirements.
• Understanding of food science, packaging, and manufacturing processes.
• Familiarity with FDA, USDA, or other relevant regulatory bodies and standards.
• Experience with PLM systems, Microsoft Office Suite, and data analysis tools.
• On-site role due to laboratory and pilot-plant work.

Nice to Have

• Advanced degrees or certifications such as PMP or Six Sigma.

Benefits & Perks

• Complete insurance package on Day-1 including health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Health savings account and flexible spending account.
• Life and accident insurance, employee assistance program, telehealth services, fertility and transgender benefits.
• 1:1 health coaching and more.
• 401(k) with up to 6% company matching and potential discretionary match.
• Short-term incentive/performance bonuses.
• Flexible scheduling options.
• Vacation pay (up to three weeks), holiday pay for 12 holidays.
• Career development and growth opportunities, tuition/education assistance, access to LinkedIn Learning.
• Scholarship programs for children of employees.
• Parental leave, back-up care, tutoring, adoption assistance, bereavement leave.
• Up to $300 fitness and massage reimbursements.
• Employee appreciation events, discounts, charitable giving.