Role Overview

An opportunity to lead the end-to-end New Product Development (NPD) journey in the Namkeen and Frozen Foods categories - from concept creation to market success. In this role, you will shape category strategy, drive innovation, and manage third-party manufacturing partnerships to deliver high-quality, competitive products. This is a chance to make a direct impact on the packaged foods landscape by building products that delight consumers and accelerate category expansion.

Roles & Responsibilities

NPD & Product Development

- Lead end-to-end development of Namkeen and Frozen Food product lines from concept to launch.

- Manage formulation, trials, sensory evaluation, and shelf-life testing.

- Benchmark against market competitors to ensure strong positioning.

- Collaborate with packaging, quality, and procurement teams for product readiness.

Category Management

- Define category strategy including pricing, assortment, pack sizes, margins, and customer segmentation.

- Track performance, sales trends, and consumer insights to optimize portfolio.

- Identify gaps and build product pipelines to drive growth.

Vendor & Manufacturing Management

- Identify and onboard contract manufacturers across categories.

- Conduct facility audits, negotiate terms, and oversee production quality.

- Partner with supply chain to ensure cost efficiency, availability, and timely replenishment.

Go-To-Market (GTM)

- Support GTM planning with launch timelines, marketing inputs, packaging briefs, and positioning.

- Work cross-functionally with sales, marketing, and operations for seamless execution.

- Monitor post-launch performance and drive continuous improvement.

Compliance & Quality

- Ensure adherence to food safety norms and regulatory requirements.

- Partner with QA teams to maintain consistent quality across batches.

Qualifications & Experience "Qualifications

- Bachelor's/Master's in Food Technology, Food Science, Biotechnology, Agriculture, or related fields.

- Certification in NPD, Category Management, or Food Safety preferred.

Experience:

- 5+ years in Namkeen, Snacks, Frozen Foods, Savory Foods, or packaged food categories.

- Proven track record of launching products end-to-end in consumer food environments.

- Experience managing co-manufacturers and cross-functional teams.

Skills/ Key Competencies "Skills & Key Competencies

- Strong knowledge of food formulation, processing, and quality standards.

- Commercial acumen with ability to drive margins and P&L metrics.

- Vendor negotiation and development expertise.

- Analytical and category planning capabilities.

- Ability to thrive in fast-paced, entrepreneurial setups.

- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.