Senior Product Development Manager

About the role

Build your career at Sazerac! With almost 400 years of rich history, Sazerac Company has thrived as an independent, American family-owned company with operations in the United States and around the world. Since the 2000s, Sazerac has averaged double digit growth every year! Sazerac Company produces and markets the most award-winning bourbons and whiskeys in the world, including Buffalo Trace, Pappy Van Winkle, Eagle Rare, Blanton’s, and Sazerac Rye.

The Product Development Manager – BuzzBallz leads and coordinates all BuzzBallz-related new product development (NPD) initiatives across domestic and international markets. This role is responsible for driving disciplined project execution, coordinating technical feasibility assessments, and ensuring strong cross-functional alignment throughout the commercialization process.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate BuzzBallz-related NPD initiatives from concept through commercialization.
• Support the NBD process through technical feasibility assessments, project governance, stage-gate readiness, and cross-functional alignment to ensure successful execution of domestic and global innovation projects.
• Provide responsive technical support and clear communication to internal stakeholders supporting the BuzzBallz Business Unit, including Brand, Product Development, Operations, Supply Chain, Regulatory, Quality, Procurement, and Commercial teams.
• Ensure projects are executed efficiently, risks are communicated proactively, and commercialization activities support business objectives and consumer expectations.
• Ensure all BuzzBallz formulations, commercialization activities, and project documentation comply with company standards and all applicable regulatory, safety, and legal requirements across domestic and international markets.
• Drive consistency and continuous improvement in BuzzBallz project governance, technical reviews, stage-gate processes, and commercialization workflows.
• Support initiatives that improve execution efficiency, strengthen NBD rigor, reduce late-stage project risk, and optimize prioritization of high-value innovation opportunities supporting the BuzzBallz Business Unit.

Qualifications

• Required Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Chemistry, Biology, Engineering, or a related scientific field
• 15+ years of experience in product development, commercialization, manufacturing, or operations within the distilled spirits, beverage alcohol, food, or consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry
• 5+ years of leadership or supervisory experience leading technical teams and cross-functional projects
• Strong analytical, organizational, communication, and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Strong sensory aptitude

Preferred Experience supporting new business development (NBD), commercialization, and production scale-up initiatives, Experience with sensory evaluation programs or analytical testing, Experience leading innovation within the beverage alcohol or ready-to-drink (RTD) category

Physical Requirements

• Ability to travel up to 25%
• Ability to distinguish flavors and aromas through taste and smell
• Ability to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds without assistance

Benefits

Sazerac offers a comprehensive compensation and benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, 401K, paid time off, and more.

Pay

The annual salary range for this role is $128,984.80 - $193,477.20. Final compensation will be based on relevant experience, qualifications, geographic location, and internal pay equity considerations.