Product Development Director; Food​/Beverage Manufacturing

Human Technologies, Inc. is assisting a national manufacturer of food and beverage products with their search for an experienced Director of Product Development at their Palm Coast, FL location. This is an exciting opportunity for a creative product development professional with a strong background in culinary arts and a proven record in innovative development and commercialization of new products.

• The salary range is $130,000 - $145,000 / year, depending on experience
• This is a full-time, salaried, direct-hire position
• Location:
  
  Palm Coast, FL
• This role can be hybrid after the first few months
• The company offers fantastic benefits and a positive, fun work culture

Summary:

This role will lead the innovative development of new food and beverage related products, overseeing the process from conception to commercialization and delivery. The Director will manage a team of Product Development Managers and will coordinate with other internal departments in the execution of new product development and launch, including purchasing, quality, marketing, and production.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science or Culinary Arts
• 8+ years of product development experience in the food and/or beverage manufacturing industries
• 4+ years of leadership and team management experience
• Experience in market research/analysis and consumer trends
• Experience managing the full process from initial conception to product launch/commercialization
• Experience managing product development projects and effectively coordinating with internal departments and stakeholders
• Strong, professional verbal and communication skills
• Proven ability to develop creative and innovative food and beverage products
• Background in gourmet foods, seasonings, teas, or specialty retail
• Knowledge of SQF/HACCP regulatory standards is preferred

Job duties:

• Develop and execute product development plans for food seasonings, teas, and other products.
• Conduct research on and analyze competitive market trends and consumer preference data to drive new product concepts.
• Lead development of new product ideas and cross-functional collaboration to bring new SKUs and seasonal programs to market.
• Partner with marketing, sales and retail teams to pilot new products and collect insights.
• Manage and lead a team of Product Development Managers and Coordinators.
• Oversee product lifecycle, from concept to launch to retirement.
• Own category dashboards and lifecycle analytics, leveraging POS, e-commerce, and supply chain data to optimize SKU mix, forecast demand, and identify discontinuation or re-formulation opportunities.
• Collaborate with internal teams and departments, including sales, marketing, supply chain/sourcing, quality, and production.
• Develop and oversee timelines, costing, and margin targets for product initiatives.
• Drive SKU launches for retail, wholesale, e-commerce, and seasonal programs.
• Align product pipeline with production, distribution, and operational capacity.
• Ensure products meet brand expectations for flavor, consistency, packaging, and guest experience.
• Collaborate with QA on labeling, certifications, and ingredient integrity.
• Set goals, track KPIs, and report progress.