Product Development Specialist

Foods you love. Brands you trust. And a career that empowers you to grow.

At Nestlé USA, we’re all working towards the same goal - to delight and deliver for our consumers. With a rich portfolio of beloved brands, including DiGiorno, Toll House, and Coffee mate, in 97% of U.S. households, we have a unique opportunity - and responsibility - to be there for every moment in our consumers’ lives.

Joining Nestlé means becoming part of an inclusive workplace that inspires innovation, encourages strategic thinking and creativity, and celebrates your achievements. No matter where you work within the organization, you are empowered to challenge the status quo, embrace risk‑taking, and pioneer new ideas. Our supportive and collaborative environment encourages bold ambitions and continuous learning so that everyone can grow and thrive.

This position is not eligible for Visa Sponsorship.

Position Summary:

The Product Development Specialist within the Technical Applications Group at Nestlé Nutrition will support the Healthy Snacks category, encompassing products for infants, toddlers, and older children. This role will act as the technical lead to identify solutions, deliver innovation and renovation agenda, and drive optimization and improvement projects managing for cost, quality and compliance. Additionally, they will represent the Technical Applications Group as the subject matter expert, ensuring effective knowledge transfer to the factories.

Responsibilities:

• Implementation of Innovation & Renovation Strategy for the Supported Product Categories in the Market
  • Lead product development activities from concept to commercialization to introduce new products and processes within factories, ensuring safety, stability, and legality.
  • Act as the technical lead and apply leadership, coaching and influencing skills to steer the project on-time, on-budget, meeting key success criteria and consumer desire.
  • Partner with global experts within Nestlé to leverage innovative capabilities and drive product superiority.
• Drive Continuous Improvement of Existing Products/Processes Enabling Local Business Need and Supply Demands:
  • Lead technical projects utilizing product development expertise across manufacturing operations, raw material sourcing, quality improvements, cost savings, and compliance. Take ownership and lead those initiatives with good project management practices.
  • Drive quality initiatives using Nestlé systems for ingredient qualification, supplier onboarding, technical acceptance, and regulatory compliance. Lead recipe optimizations to enhance manufacturability while ensuring compliance.
  • Apply problem‑solving skills and scientific knowledge to unlock operational excellence.
• Ensure Adherence to All Product, Process and Material Standards
  • Lead the onboarding, evaluation, and qualification of raw materials and suppliers including assessment for allergens and claims.
  • Identify, influence, and lead the development of the product and process standards in compliance with Nestlé requirements, external regulations and industry benchmarks.
• Provide First Line of Support to Factories & Co‑Manufacturing partners:
  • Provide subject matter expertise, especially in the areas of ingredient, recipe and processing to ensure consistent production of high‑quality products.
• Continuous Improvement of Technical Skills and Personal Development
  • Define, develop, and coach the competencies and training materials required for product/process mastership to enable manufacturing excellence.
  • Acts as an ambassador for TAG when representing globally or externally.

Qualifications:

• BS or MS degree in Food Science, Food Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related field.
• 3+ years of experience in product development within the CPG industry.
• Preferred…