Director of Product Development

Position Summary

The Director of Product Development is a senior scientific, technical, and functional leader responsible for setting the direction and leading the end-to-end development, formulation, commercialization, and continuous improvement of new and existing products across the Company's portfolio. This role provides leadership throughout the complete product development lifecycle from concept and technical feasibility through ingredient evaluation, formulation, reformulation, prototype and pilot‑scale development, scale‑up, validation, technology transfer, commercial manufacturing, product costing, launch, and post‑launch optimization.

The Director is accountable for ensuring that product concepts are successfully translated into scientifically sound, commercially viable, and consistently manufacturable products. Working closely with the Founder & CEO and cross‑functional partners including Research, Quality Assurance, Quality Control, Process Engineering, Procurement, Manufacturing, Planning, Regulatory, and other business functions, the Director provides scientific direction, evaluates technical and commercialization risks, and drives cross‑functional execution to ensure products meet the Company's standards for quality, efficacy, stability, manufacturability, cost, regulatory compliance, and consumer experience.

The ideal candidate will bring significant scientific and technical depth within nutraceutical or dietary supplement product development, including a strong understanding of biochemistry, ingredient functionality and interactions, formulation science, stability, and manufacturing processes. Experience across adjacent categories including functional foods and nutrition bars, chocolate and confectionery products, cosmetics and personal care products, or environmentally responsible and sustainability focused products is highly desirable.

This position requires a hands‑on leader who combines scientific rigor, sound technical judgment, and practical commercialization experience with the ability to establish priorities, lead technical teams, influence cross‑functional partners, and drive multiple product development initiatives through successful execution in a fast‑paced, vertically integrated manufacturing environment.

• Bachelor's degree in Biochemistry, Chemistry, Food Science, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nutrition, Chemical Engineering, or a related scientific discipline; advanced or graduate degree preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive product development, formulation, or related technical experience, including at least five (5) years in a leadership role, preferably at the Director level or above. Significant experience within nutritional supplements, nutraceuticals, dietary supplements, food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and personal care products, or a closely related industry is required
• Strong working knowledge of biochemistry, formulation science, ingredient functionality and interactions, stability, bioavailability, and product performance, with extensive knowledge of dietary supplement and nutraceutical product development processes across multiple dosage forms, including tablets, capsules, powders, liquids, and other relevant delivery formats.
• Experience with additional product categories such as functional foods, nutrition or meal‑replacement bars, chocolate or confectionery products, cosmetics and personal care products, and environmentally responsible products is preferred
• Strong understanding of applicable FDA requirements, DSHEA, FTC requirements, labeling regulations, product claims, and regulatory considerations related to dietary supplements, food products, cosmetics, and personal care products
• Demonstrated ability to translate product concepts and scientific objectives into commercially scalable formulations and manufacturing processes
• Experience collaborating and communicating effectively with Quality, Manufacturing, Procurement, Process Engineering, and other technical and non‑technical functions throughout product development and commercialization
• Strong understanding of raw material qualification, specifications,…