Description:

Company: GoDesi Mandi (FMCG - Indian Sweets & Snacks)

Location: Bengaluru

Job Description:

1. New Product Development & Innovation Strategy

- Develop & Execute NPD Roadmap: Create and manage a robust product roadmap aligned with business strategy, market trends, and growth targets. Balance short-term launches (seasonal, tactical) with long-term innovation (platform development, category expansion).

- Identify Market Opportunities: Conduct market research, consumer trend analysis, and competitive intelligence to identify unmet consumer needs and growth opportunities in traditional sweets, healthy snacks, functional foods, and adjacent categories.

- Concept Development: Lead ideation workshops, evaluate new product concepts, and prioritize NPD projects based on strategic fit, commercial potential, technical feasibility, and risk assessment.

2. Product Formulation & Technical Development

- Formulation & Recipe Development: Lead or oversee development of product formulations, recipes, and process specifications that meet consumer taste/texture expectations, cost targets, and regulatory requirements. Work with food technologists and R&D specialists.

- Process Optimization: Identify optimal manufacturing processes, ingredient combinations, and processing parameters that ensure product consistency, quality, shelf stability, and manufacturability at scale.

- Cost Management: Develop products within target cost parameters; identify cost-reduction opportunities through ingredient sourcing, process efficiency, and packaging optimization; achieve 15-20% cost reduction targets where applicable.

- Quality & Compliance: Ensure all products meet FSSAI/food safety standards, HACCP protocols, GMP requirements, and internal quality standards. Obtain required certifications (FSSC 22000, organic, etc.).

3. Testing, Validation & Consumer Insight

- Sensory & Consumer Testing: Lead consumer tests, focus groups, taste panels, and quantitative surveys to validate product concepts and inform product improvements. Ensure product resonates with target consumers.

- Shelf-Life & Stability Testing: Oversee accelerated shelf-life studies, microbial testing, and quality checks to ensure products maintain quality throughout the intended shelf life.

- Nutritional Validation: For functional/health-positioned products, ensure nutritional claims are substantiated, validated by third parties, and compliant with regulations (FSSAI, NIN guidelines).

4. Packaging & Go-to-Market Development

- Packaging Strategy: Define packaging requirements (material, size, design, messaging) that support product positioning, protect product quality, and align with consumer expectations and regulatory requirements.

- Launch Readiness: Develop comprehensive go-to-market plans including launch timeline, channel strategy, trade support, consumer marketing, and sales enablement. Coordinate with internal teams on launch execution.

- Product Documentation: Maintain comprehensive product documentation (formulations, process specs, SOP, allergen declarations, nutritional facts) for regulatory, quality, and training purposes.

5. Team Leadership & Capability Building

- Lead NPD Team: Manage and mentor a team of food technologists, product developers, and support staff. Set clear objectives, provide coaching, and foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement.

- Capability Development: Identify knowledge gaps; drive training and skill development in food science, process technology, consumer research, and product innovation.

Requirements:

Mandatory: Bachelor's degree in food science, Food Technology, Chemical Engineering, or related discipline

Preferred:

- Master's degree in food technology, Dairy Technology, or Food Business Management

- Minimum 8-10 years of experience in NPD/R&D/Product Development in FMCG food industry

- Minimum 5+ years in a leadership/management role overseeing NPD teams and projects

- Successfully launched 8+ consumer food products from concept to market

- Managed P&L for NPD products; achieved margin and growth targets

- Experience with product scaling from pilot to full manufacturing scale

- Experience navigating food safety, regulatory compliance, and FSSAI approvals