Manager, Core Hydration Product Development

About the role

Liquid I.V. is seeking a creative, highly technical, and execution-focused Product Development Manager to lead and execute resilience and cost savings initiatives for core business. Reporting to the Director of Core Hydration Product Development, this role will manage and support 1-2 Product Development Scientists. The ideal candidate brings prior people management experience and a demonstrated ability to coach, mentor, and develop technical talent.

The Manager, Core Hydration Product Development, will be an integral team member of LIV R&D Organization and will engage with all levels of the organization cross-functionally along with Unilever counterparts. The role involves leading technical management of core hydration business continuity, cost savings, and brand improvement projects while upholding product quality and consumer experience. Duties include ideation with marketing, prototyping, specification development, technical transfer, and in-market support. Collaboration with supply chain, procurement, and commercialization teams is also required to identify and implement cost savings initiatives related to ingredients, formulations, manufacturing processes, and packaging. Root cause investigations and implementation of corrective actions for product quality and production challenges are managed in collaboration with quality assurance. Stability/analytical studies for self-owned projects are planned and executed. Operations of the product development space, including organization, ingredient management, SOP development, equipment calibration, and documentation processes, are overseen. Digital R&D systems, documentation processes, and best practices are supported. Partnerships with scientific affairs, sensory science, and innovation partners are established to deliver robust science-based formulations. Project milestones are monitored and maintained, and internal communication with cross-functional partners is led regarding product briefs, formula evaluations, and other deliverables. Direct management and coaching of one Product Development Scientist are provided, including setting clear priorities, project ownership, and development goals. Development of junior members of the team to foster creative and science-based product design is supported. Continuous optimization of PD processes with the goal of delivering smart agile execution, while maintaining product quality and superiority, is pursued. Direct management and coaching of one Product Development Scientist are provided, including setting clear priorities, project ownership, and development goals. Development of junior members of the team to foster creative and science-based product design is supported. Continuous optimization of PD processes with the goal of delivering smart agile execution, while maintaining product quality and superiority, is pursued.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical management of core hydration business continuity, cost savings, and brand improvement projects while upholding product quality and consumer experience
• Deliver including ideation with marketing, prototyping, specification development, technical transfer, and in market support
• Partner with supply chain, procurement, and commercialization teams to identify and implement cost savings initiatives related to ingredients, formulations, manufacturing processes, and packaging
• Collaborate with quality assurance on root cause investigations and implementation of corrective actions for product quality and production challenges
• Deliver product superiority measures with innovation, cost savings, and resilience projects
• Plan and execute stability/analytical studies for self-owned projects
• Oversee operations of the product development space, including organization, ingredient management, SOP development, equipment calibration, and advancing documentation processes
• Support implementation of digital R&D systems, documentation processes, and best practices
• Collaborate with scientific affairs and sensory science partners to deliver robust science-based formulations
• Maintain on-time delivery of critical project milestones, lead internal communication with cross-functional partners as it relates to product briefs, formula evaluation, and other deliverables
• Directly manage and coach one Product Development Scientist including setting clear priorities, project ownership, and development goals
• Develop and support junior members of the team to foster creative and science-based product design
• Continuously optimize PD processes with the goal of delivering smart agile execution, while maintaining product quality & superiority throughout the process

Requirements

• Master’s degree in food science or related field highly desired
• Consumer obsessed with a record of accomplishment of success in developing amazing products for iconic brands
• Deep technical expertise in areas such as powdered beverages, nutritional supplements, flavor design and development, specification development, formulation management
• Strong working knowledge of food science, health and nutrition, food manufacturing processes, quality assurance principles, product development systems and processes, ingredient supply market, as well as scale up and product commercialization
• Demonstrated analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to create both scrappy & detailed experiments, collect and interpret data, draw valid conclusions, and propose solutions
• Experience and proficiency in executing strong co-development agreements with external partners with scope in: IP protection, negotiations, cost structure, and SOW development
• A poised technical leader with the ability to influence and has strong oral/written presentation skills
• Strong working knowledge of R&D program management
• Agile and adaptable to change and demonstrates ability be self-motivated and to motivate others amidst aggressive business objectives and priority shifts
• Former people manager strongly preferred, with experience leading and developing technical or R&D teams
• Proven ability to coach talent, delegate effectively, and foster a high-performing team culture

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in food science or related field highly desired
• Consumer obsessed with a record of accomplishment of success in developing amazing products for iconic brands
• Deep technical expertise in areas such as powdered beverages, nutritional supplements, flavor design and development, specification development, formulation management
• Strong working knowledge of food science, health and nutrition, food manufacturing processes, quality assurance principles, product development systems and processes, ingredient supply market, as well as scale up and product commercialization
• Demonstrated analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to create both scrappy & detailed experiments, collect and interpret data, draw valid conclusions, and propose solutions
• Experience and proficiency in executing strong co-development agreements with external partners with scope in: IP protection, negotiations, cost structure, and SOW development
• A poised technical leader with the ability to influence and has strong oral/written presentation skills
• Strong working knowledge of R&D program management
• Agile and adaptable to change and demonstrates ability be self-motivated and to motivate others amidst aggressive business objectives and priority shifts
• Former people manager strongly preferred, with experience leading and developing technical or R&D teams
• Proven ability to coach talent, delegate effectively, and foster a high-performing team culture