Head - New Product Development - D2C Beauty Brand

Head of New Product Development (NPD)

Location: Delhi (In-office, 6 days/week)

About the Role :

Our client, a fast-growing and profitable D2C beauty brand, is building the next phase of growth through new product innovation.

This role will own the entire NPD engine, with a clear goal:

- Build and scale a pipeline of products that will drive 7080% of revenue over the next 2 years.

You will work closely with the founder to identify opportunities, launch products rapidly, and scale winners aggressively.

This is a high-velocity, hands-on operator rolenot a slow, process-driven R&D function.

What Youll Be Responsible For (Performance Objectives) :

1. Build a High-Impact Product Pipeline

- Identify and prioritize high-potential categories and opportunities

- Develop a pipeline of products aligned with revenue and margin goals

- Focus on products that can scale to X Cr/month revenue

2. Launch Products at High Speed

- Drive rapid product development cycles (concept launch)

- Run multiple pilots simultaneously

- Reduce time-to-market significantly vs traditional cycles

3. Drive Product-Market Fit Through Iteration

- Test formulations, positioning, pricing, and packaging quickly

- Kill weak products early and double down on winners

- Use real market feedback to refine products post-launch

4. Build Differentiated, Consumer-First Products

- Translate consumer insights into clear product advantages

- Create strong differentiation in:

i. Formulation

ii. Packaging

iii. Positioning

5. Own Product Economics & Commercial Viability

- Ensure strong:

i. Margins

ii. Cost structures

iii. Pricing strategies

- Balance innovation with profitability

6. Drive Cross-Functional Execution

- Work closely with:

i. R&D

ii. Supply chain

iii. Marketing

iv. Procurement

- Ensure fast, aligned execution across teams

7. Build a Lean, High-Output NPD Function

- Manage vendors, labs, and partners efficiently

- Drive execution with speed, frugality, and ownership

- Avoid slow, approval-heavy processes

What Were Looking For :

- 8-12 years of experience in NPD / product innovation / R&D

- Strong experience in beauty, personal care, FMCG, or wellness

- Proven track record of launching and scaling consumer products

Strong understanding of:

i. Formulations

ii. Packaging

iii. Regulatory requirements

- Experience working in fast-paced, D2C or high-growth environments

- Strong commercial and consumer understanding

Culture Fit (Non-Negotiable) :

Our client is looking for someone who:

- Moves fast and executes aggressively (not slow product cycles)

- Is hands-on and deeply involved in execution

- Is comfortable with experimentation and failure

- Takes full ownership - no delays, no excuses

- Operates with frugality and resource constraints

- Is motivated by building something large + ESOP upside

This Role Is NOT a Fit If You: :

- Come from slow, process-heavy FMCG environments

- Prefer long development cycles and multiple approval layers

- Are more focused on research than execution

- Avoid ambiguity or rapid iteration

- Are optimizing mainly for salary hikes

Why This Role :

- Opportunity to build the core growth engine of the business

- Direct impact on future revenue (7080% from new products)

- Work closely with the founder on high-impact decisions

- Strong wealth creation opportunity via ESOPs

Hiring Process :

- Deep dive into your most significant product launches

- Scenario-based discussions on product decisions

- Founder interviews focused on ownership, speed, and mindset